How to Post a Parakeet Wanted Ad and Get Replies in the United States
To post a "parakeet wanted" ad that gets replies, say that you want a budgie and which kind (age range, sex, American or English type, tame or not), describe your cage, experience and avian vet, give a realistic budget and your area, and offer to collect in person. Owners placing a budgie want proof of a good home, so a specific, honest ad gets more serious replies.
In the US most people mean a budgie (budgerigar) when they say parakeet, but owners of Indian ringnecks, monk parakeets and lineolated parakeets read wanted ads too, so name the species. The same ad can draw fake sellers, so this guide also covers the deposit and shipping scams aimed at people looking for birds.
Key points
- Say budgie or budgerigar so owners of other parakeet species do not reply by mistake.
- Be specific: age range, sex, American or English type, tame or not.
- Describe your setup: cage size, other birds and your avian vet.
- Give a realistic budget; budgies typically cost about $15 to $40.
- Collect in person, and never pay a deposit for a bird you have not seen.
What should a parakeet wanted ad include?
- A clear headline, for example: Wanted: young male budgie as a companion, Denver area.
- The kind of budgie you want, and anything you will not accept.
- Your experience and the birds you have now.
- Your cage: PetMD advises at least 18 x 18 x 18 inches for one budgie and 30 x 18 x 18 for two.
- Your avian vet, or the one you plan to use.
- Your budget, your area and how far you can travel to collect.
You can post your wanted ad for free, and owners message you there. Keep your phone number out of the ad text, and add a photo of your cage set up: it shows owners at a glance that the bird will have room.
Write as yourself. A few lines on why you want a budgie, who lives at home and how much time you spend there tell an owner more than a list of demands.
Which budgie should you ask for?
| If you want | Ask for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A hand-tame first pet | A young, hand-raised budgie | PetMD notes hand-raised budgies are used to handling |
| A companion for your budgie | A budgie of the same sex | A male and female will probably breed |
| A calmer, bigger bird | An English (show) budgie | Bred for shows; larger than pet-type budgies |
| A settled adult | A rehomed adult with records | Its health and habits are known |
| Any budgie in need | Any age or sex | More owners can reply |
Age is easy to check when an owner replies: a vet writing for The Vet Desk says head bars run down to the cere until the first molt at about four months, and the eyes stay solid black until then. Sex is only a guess before about six months unless the bird has been DNA tested.
What budget should you put in a parakeet wanted ad?
The Vet Desk's January 2026 cost guide puts typical parakeet prices at about $15 to $40. A budget in that range is realistic for a pet budgie; a rehomed adult may be offered free or for a small fee, and an included cage adds value.
Plan for the rest too. The Vet Desk gives $70 to $300 for a first avian vet visit and $250 to $1,000 or more a year to keep a pet bird, so saying in your ad that you have budgeted for vet care reassures owners.
Are you looking for a companion for your budgie?
PetMD describes budgies as flock birds, and a single budgie needs more of your attention. If you want a friend for your bird:
- Ask for the same sex unless you want chicks; Animal Diversity Web notes that budgies can breed year-round when food is plentiful and raise several broods in a row.
- Plan a quarantine: keep the newcomer in a separate cage and room until an avian vet has checked it. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that adult budgies can shed polyomavirus for up to 90 days after exposure.
- Introduce the birds slowly, cage beside cage, before they share.
- Choose another budgie, not another species: Merck advises not housing budgies with other species.
How do you avoid scams when looking for a parakeet?
The Better Business Bureau describes the usual bird scam: a buyer pays for a bird found online, the bird never arrives, and the seller adds charges for shipping or health problems.
- A seller who replies at once with a perfect bird far away.
- A deposit to hold the bird before you have seen it.
- Shipping, crate or insurance fees for a free budgie.
- Payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency.
Stop replying, use the Report Scam button on the listing and report losses at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What should you do when an owner replies?
- Ask for recent photos or a short video, the hatch date and band, the sex and how it was determined, and the diet.
- Ask about health: vet visits, lumps, feather problems or illness in the flock.
- Talk by phone or video, then meet to see the bird in person.
- Bring a small carrier, and agree the price in writing.
- Keep the bird apart from yours and book an avian vet exam within one to two weeks.
Owners may have read how to respond to a parakeet wanted ad. While you wait, browse parakeets near you, or read how to buy a parakeet or how to get a free parakeet safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a good parakeet wanted ad?
Say you want a budgie, then give the age range, sex, type, your cage and experience, your vet, your budget and your area. Specific ads get more serious replies.
What budget should I give for a parakeet?
Budgies typically cost about $15 to $40, according to The Vet Desk's 2026 guide. Rehomed adults may be free or cost a small fee, and a cage included adds value.
Should I pay a deposit to hold a parakeet?
No, not for a bird you have not seen. Deposit demands for unseen birds are the classic bird scam, and genuine owners will let you meet the budgie first.
Can I ask for a parakeet to be shipped to me?
It is safer to collect in person. Shipping offers from strangers fit common scams, and you lose the chance to see the bird first.
Should I ask for a male or female budgie?
For a companion, choose the same sex as your bird unless you want chicks. Remember that sex is only a guess in young budgies unless the bird has been DNA tested.
What should I do with a new budgie in the first weeks?
Keep it apart from other birds, feed what it is used to and book an avian vet exam within one to two weeks. Change its diet slowly, toward pellets.
Can I ask for an English budgie in a wanted ad?
Yes. English, or show, budgies are larger than pet-type birds and, according to The Vet Desk, usually quieter. Say that you want an English budgie and that you welcome replies from breeders who show their birds.
Helpful guides
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Parakeet Wanted" Ad in the United StatesReply to a parakeet wanted ad only if your budgie matches the request, describe it honestly, verify the requester by message, call and meeting, and hand over in person without shipping or overpayment.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Parakeet (Budgie) in the United StatesBuy a young, alert budgie you have seen in person, check its age by its head bars and eyes, ask about sex, diet and vet history, budget typically $15 to $40 for the bird, and see an avian vet within two weeks.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Parakeets (Budgies) in the United StatesSell only weaned, healthy budgies with an honest age, sex and type, price near the typical $15 to $40 range, screen buyers for a 7- to 15-year commitment and hand over in person with records and food.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Parakeet Safely in the United StatesAnswer only local free parakeet offers you can see in person, ask about the budgie's age, sex, diet and health, pay nothing up front, and book an avian vet exam within one to two weeks.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Parakeet for Free Without Risk in the United StatesScreen every applicant, meet before you decide, rehome bonded budgies together, and hand over in person with records, food and a signed agreement; never release a parakeet outdoors.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Parakeet in the United StatesAsk about a rehomed budgie's age, sex, diet and health, meet it in its current home, check it for lumps and lameness, keep its routine the same at first and see an avian vet within two weeks.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Parakeet Responsibly in the United StatesTry simple fixes first, then list your budgie honestly with its age, sex, health and habits, screen new homes, ask a small fee, hand over in person, and never release a parakeet outdoors.