How to Sell Lovebirds in the United States | PetzLover
To sell lovebirds in the United States, sell only fully weaned birds, have each one DNA-sexed and checked by an avian vet, name the species and color mutation honestly, and price near typical prices of about $120 to $160 by species (The Vet Desk, 2026). Then screen buyers on cage size, daily time and other birds at home, and hand each bird over in person with a care sheet.
This guide is for home breeders and for owners selling young birds or a pair. Lovebirds are small and inexpensive, which makes it easy to sell to the first caller; a few checks find homes that will last the 15 to 20 years a lovebird can live.
Key points
- The peach-faced lovebird is outside the CITES appendices; Fischer's and masked are on Appendix II, which matters only for imports and exports.
- USDA licensing exempts people who sell 200 or fewer home-bred pet birds of 250 grams or less a year, counted per household.
- VCA says young lovebirds leave the nest at 5 to 6 weeks; sell only once a chick is fully weaned and eating on its own.
- Males and females look alike, so state the sex only from a DNA or blood test.
- Typical prices: about $120 for a Fischer's, $150 for a peach-faced and $160 for a masked lovebird (The Vet Desk).
What rules apply when you sell lovebirds?
- CITES: the treaty's parrot listing leaves out the peach-faced lovebird, with the budgie, cockatiel and ring-necked parakeet. The World Parrot Trust lists Fischer's and masked lovebirds on Appendix II. Neither status affects a sale between two US residents.
- USDA licensing: the Animal Welfare Act rules (9 CFR 2.1) exempt anyone who sells 200 or fewer pet birds of 250 grams or less a year that were born and raised on their premises. The cap covers the whole household; above it, ask USDA APHIS about a license.
- State and local rules: for example, California's restricted-species list (14 CCR 671) names the monk parakeet as its only parrot, so lovebirds are not on it, but cities and other states may limit breeding, numbers of birds or sales. Check with your state agriculture or wildlife agency and your city.
- Unsold birds: never release them. The World Parrot Trust records feral peach-faced lovebirds in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.
When is a baby lovebird ready to sell?
VCA Animal Hospitals gives lovebird clutches of 3 to 7 eggs that hatch in 18 to 24 days, with young leaving the nest at 5 to 6 weeks. Leaving the nest is not the same as being weaned: wait until each chick eats on its own and holds its weight before it goes.
- Confirm the chick is fully weaned and eating seed, pellets and fresh foods on its own.
- Have it DNA-sexed. VCA says there are no obvious external differences between males and females.
- Book an avian vet exam for the parents and chicks, and keep the records.
- Record the band number if the chick is banded, and the hatch date.
- Write a care sheet with its diet, cage set-up and handling routine.
Breed only healthy adult pairs, and plan homes before you set up a nest box. Chewy notes that females can be prone to excessive egg laying, and that a bird you suspect is egg-bound needs an avian vet immediately.
How do you describe species, color and sex honestly?
- Species: peach-faced (rosy-faced), Fischer's or masked. Chewy explains that Fischer's and masked lovebirds belong to the eye-ring group, with a white ring around the eye.
- Names: Chewy notes the masked lovebird is sometimes wrongly called the black-masked lovebird; use the standard name in your ad.
- Crosses: the World Parrot Trust notes that hybridization between Fischer's and masked lovebirds may be of concern. If your birds are crosses, or you are not sure, say so.
- Color: peach-faced lovebirds have been bred into hundreds of color mutations, Chewy says. Name the mutation as you know it, and do not guess at a rarer one to raise the price.
- Sex: state it only from a DNA or blood test, and include the certificate. Breeders quoted by Chewy consider males the better pets, so buyers will ask.
How should you price lovebirds?
| Bird | Typical price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fischer's lovebird | About $120 | The Vet Desk, January 2026 |
| Peach-faced lovebird | About $150 | The Vet Desk, January 2026 |
| Masked lovebird | About $160 | The Vet Desk, January 2026 |
| Adult pet being rehomed | $20 to $100 adoption range; $50 at Phoenix Landing | The Vet Desk; Phoenix Landing |
| Rare color mutation | Above the species price | Chewy says rare colors can set the price |
A tame, hand-fed, DNA-sexed bird with vet records sits at the top of the local range. Compare current lovebirds for sale of the same species near you before you set a price, and price a pair as two birds unless the cage is included.
How do you write a lovebird ad and screen buyers?
- Title: species, color, age and sex, for example "Hand-fed DNA male peach-faced lovebird, 10 weeks, weaned".
- Photos: clear daylight photos, and a short video of the bird stepping up.
- Temperament: say how tame it is. VCA warns lovebirds can be very territorial and will chase larger birds and pets.
- Needs: a cage of at least 2 by 2 by 3 feet (VCA) and daily time with people.
- Records: DNA certificate, band and vet exam.
- Terms: price, what is included and collection in person.
Post your lovebird ad free on PetzLover, and buyers can message you there. Keep your phone number and home address out of the ad text.
| Ask | A good answer |
|---|---|
| One bird or a pair? | A single bird with daily attention, or a pair with a plan for eggs |
| What cage do you have? | At least 2 by 2 by 3 ft, with bar spacing for a small parrot |
| Which other birds or pets live there? | Separate cages; no shared cage with cockatiels or other parrots |
| Are you adding it to a lovebird you already have? | A slow, separate-cage introduction; Chewy warns an older lovebird might kill a newcomer |
| Which avian vet will you use? | A named clinic |
How do you take payment and hand over lovebirds safely?
- Meet in person, at your home or a public place near a vet clinic, and let the buyer see the bird step up.
- Take payment at the handover in a form you can confirm. Refuse overpayments, refunds of the difference and shipping agents.
- Sign a simple bill of sale with the species, color, hatch date, band, sex, price and date.
- Send the care sheet, DNA certificate, vet records and a few days of its usual food.
- Advise an avian vet visit within 7 days, as VCA recommends, and quarantine from other birds until then.
Never ship to a buyer you have not met; requests to use a shipping agent are a common sign of a scam. Buyers may have read how to buy a lovebird, so expect questions about sex, pairs and aggression.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I sell a lovebird for?
The Vet Desk gives typical prices of about $120 for a Fischer's, $150 for a peach-faced and $160 for a masked lovebird. Rare colors and tame, DNA-sexed birds sell for more; adult pets often go for an adoption fee of $20 to $100.
Do I need a license to sell lovebirds?
Usually not for a small home breeder. The Animal Welfare Act rules exempt people who sell 200 or fewer home-bred pet birds of 250 grams or less a year, counted per household. Check state and city rules on breeding and sales too.
Do I need CITES papers to sell lovebirds in the US?
No. CITES covers trade between countries, and the peach-faced lovebird is not in the appendices at all. Fischer's and masked lovebirds are on Appendix II, which matters only for imports and exports.
When can baby lovebirds go to new homes?
Only when fully weaned and eating on their own. VCA says young lovebirds leave the nest at 5 to 6 weeks, but leaving the nest is not the same as weaning, so judge each chick by its eating and weight.
Should I sell lovebirds in pairs?
Only if the buyer wants a pair. Chewy says many breeders keep lovebirds as single pets, and VCA says pairs often bond more with each other than with their owners. A male and female pair will breed, so tell buyers the sexes.
How do I find out whether my lovebird is male or female?
With a DNA or blood test from an avian vet or lab. VCA says there are no obvious external differences between the sexes.
