How to Sell Lorikeets in the United States | PetzLover
To sell lorikeets in the United States, sell only healthy, banded, US-bred birds that are eating reliably, check that your sales stay within the federal Animal Welfare Act exemptions and your state and city rules, and write an ad that is honest about the daily nectar routine, runny droppings and noise. Then screen buyers on diet, cleaning and experience, and hand the bird over in person with its food and a written care sheet.
Buyers will often have read how to buy a lorikeet, so expect questions about diet, iron and droppings.
Key points
- Under USDA rules, small sellers are exempt from licensing, for example those selling 200 or fewer pet birds of 250 grams or less a year.
- Have an avian vet check each bird and keep the record for the buyer.
- Write the exact nectar or pellet brand and the daily routine in the ad and care sheet.
- Tell buyers plainly that lorikeets are loud, messy and may fight other birds.
What rules apply when you sell lorikeets?
- USDA licensing: under the federal Animal Welfare Act, people who sell pet birds as dealers may need a USDA license. The rules exempt small sellers, for example someone who sells 200 or fewer pet birds weighing 250 grams (about 9 ounces) or less, or 8 or fewer larger birds, bred on their premises in a year. A hobby breeder with a few clutches is usually far below that.
- Origin: the Wild Bird Conservation Act has barred most imports of CITES-listed birds, including lories and other parrots, since 1993, and the Lacey Act makes it illegal to trade wildlife taken in violation of US or foreign law. Sell only birds whose origin you can show.
- State and city rules: exotic bird rules, sales permits and zoning vary. Check with your state agriculture or wildlife agency and your city before you sell.
How do you get a lorikeet ready for sale?
- Wait until a youngster eats nectar or pellets on its own, reliably, and record what and how much.
- Note the species, hatch date, leg band number and whether it was hand-raised.
- Book an avian vet exam. PetMD lists psittacosis (chlamydiosis), Tyzzer's disease and psittacine beak and feather disease among lory illnesses; ask your vet which tests make sense and keep the results.
- Check the diet for iron: PetMD warns that lories develop iron storage disease on high-iron foods and that pellets should stay below 100 ppm iron.
- Write a one-page care sheet with the nectar recipe, feeding times, fruit you offer and cleaning routine.
Do not sell a bird with feather loss, discharge, weight loss or changed droppings until a vet has seen it. Runny droppings are normal for lories; changes in color or amount are not.
How much should you charge for a lorikeet?
Check current lorikeets for sale near you for the same species and age. Published figures differ widely:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| PetMD, 2023 | A rainbow lory usually costs at least $500 to $1,000 and can climb to $2,000 |
| The Vet Desk, 2026 | $250 to $700 for a lorikeet from a breeder; about $25 to $50 at the rare rescue |
Hand-raised, banded, vet-checked birds of a sought-after species sit at the top. Price the cage separately or say clearly that it is included, and remember that PetMD calls for at least 36 by 24 by 36 inches for one adult.
What should your lorikeet ad include?
You can post your lorikeet ad on PetzLover for free. Answer the questions careful buyers ask:
- Species, with the common and scientific name, sex if DNA-tested, and hatch date.
- Leg band number, hand-raised or parent-raised, and how tame the bird is.
- Diet: nectar or pellet brand, fruit, and how often you feed.
- Health: last avian vet visit and any test results.
- Personality and noise: playful, nippy, talking, loudest times of day.
- Behavior with other birds: PetMD says lories are highly territorial.
- What is included and your general pickup area.
Use recent photos and a short video of the bird eating and playing. Keep your phone number out of the ad text and talk through messages first.
How do you screen lorikeet buyers?
- Have you kept lories or other parrots before? PetMD rates lorikeet care as intermediate.
- Can you make fresh nectar every day and remove it within a couple of hours?
- Where will the cage go, and can you clean the area daily?
- Do you have other birds? How will you keep them apart?
- Do you rent or share walls? These are very vocal birds.
- Which avian vet will you use?
- What will happen to the bird over a 15- to 30-year life?
Be cautious with anyone who wants several birds at once, plans a seed diet, will not talk by phone or video, or wants the bird shipped unseen. A buyer who asks about diet and iron is a good sign.
How do you hand over a lorikeet safely?
- Meet in person, ideally at your home or the buyer's, with the bird in a secure carrier.
- Take payment at the handover. Never accept a check for more than the price and refund the difference; the FTC describes this as a fake check scam.
- Give a written receipt with the species, band number, hatch date, price and health disclosures.
- Send home a supply of the same nectar or pellets, the vet record and the care sheet.
- Offer advice by message for the first weeks.
If the bird is an adult leaving a home rather than a youngster from your aviary, also read how to rehome your lorikeet responsibly, and share how to take in a rehomed lorikeet with the new owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a USDA license to sell lorikeets?
Probably not as a small breeder. Animal Welfare Act rules exempt, for example, sellers of 200 or fewer pet birds of 250 grams or less, or 8 or fewer larger birds, bred on their premises each year. Your state or city may still have its own rules.
Can I sell a wild-caught or imported lorikeet?
Avoid it. The Wild Bird Conservation Act has barred most imports of CITES-listed birds since 1993, and the Lacey Act prohibits trading wildlife taken illegally. Sell only US-bred birds whose origin you can document.
How much is a rainbow lorikeet worth?
PetMD says a rainbow lory usually sells for at least $500 to $1,000 and up to $2,000, and The Vet Desk gives $250 to $700 for a lorikeet from a breeder. Compare local listings of the same species and age.
What should I tell buyers about the lorikeet diet?
Give the exact nectar or low-iron pellet you use, how you mix it and when you feed. PetMD warns that mixed nectar spoils quickly and that spoiled nectar can cause dangerous yeast infections.
Can I ship a lorikeet to a buyer?
A handover in person is safer for the bird and protects you from scams. If a buyer insists on shipping without meeting, treat it as a warning sign.
Helpful guides
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Lorikeet in the United StatesLorikeets are playful, loud nectar-eating parrots that live 15 to 30 years: buy a US-bred bird you have seen eating, and be ready to mix fresh nectar every day and clean up runny droppings.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Lorikeet in the United StatesAsk why the lorikeet is leaving, what it eats and how it behaves, see it in its current home, get an avian vet check and quarantine, then keep its nectar routine and settle it slowly.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Lorikeet Responsibly in the United StatesTry fixes first, then write an honest rehoming ad about the nectar routine, droppings, noise and nipping, disclose health history, screen adopters for daily care, ask a modest fee and hand over in person with food and records.