How to Sell Quaker Parrots Legally in the United States

Pet for Sale6 min read

A breeder at home with a hand-tame young monk parakeet

To sell Quaker parrots legally in the United States, first make sure the sale is allowed in your state and in the buyer's, because the monk parakeet is banned or permit-only in several states, including California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Kansas and Tennessee. Then sell only weaned, healthy, closed-banded chicks with a hatch date and DNA sex in writing, price them against current listings of the same color, and meet every buyer in person.

Asking where a buyer lives is not rude. It protects the bird and keeps you out of a sale that one of the two states forbids.

Key points

Pennsylvania makes it unlawful to sell or offer a monk parakeet for sale, and California, Kentucky, Kansas and Tennessee bar keeping one without a permit or outside zoos.
Ask every buyer which state the bird will live in: Georgia bars bringing one in without a special permit, and Virginia exempts only captive-bred birds with a seamless closed band.
Federal licensing exempts people who sell 200 or fewer pet birds of 250 grams or less a year that they bred themselves (9 CFR 2.1).
The Vet Desk gives typical breeder prices of $250 to $900, and $500 to $1,500 for blue Quakers.
Never release unsold birds and never sell to anyone who plans to; feral Quakers nest on power equipment.

Is it legal to sell Quaker parrots where you and the buyer live?

Your state: Pennsylvania makes it unlawful to import, possess, sell, offer for sale or release a monk parakeet (58 Pa. Code 137.1). California, Kentucky and Kansas bar keeping one without a state permit, and Tennessee allows its Class V species only in zoos, so breeding Quakers for sale is not an option there.
The buyer's state: Georgia bars bringing a Quaker in without a special permit from the State Veterinarian's Office (Rule 40-13-12-.06), and Virginia requires a permit unless the bird is captive-bred and closed-banded with a seamless band (4VAC15-30-40).
Other states: VCA Animal Hospitals notes that Quakers are illegal in many states and need a permit in others. Ask the buyer to confirm their state's rule with its wildlife or agriculture agency, and keep their answer in writing.
USDA: anyone who sells 200 or fewer pet birds of 250 grams or less a year, born and raised on their premises, is exempt from federal licensing (9 CFR 2.1). Quakers weigh 80 to 150 grams (VCA). Ask USDA APHIS if you sell more or resell birds you did not breed.
CITES: the species is on Appendix II (World Parrot Trust), which controls import and export, not a sale between two US residents.

How do you prepare Quaker chicks for sale?

VCA notes that Quakers are prolific breeders in captivity, laying 5 to 8 eggs that hatch in 24 days. A large clutch makes it tempting to sell early, so plan homes before each clutch, not after.

Wean each chick fully and make sure it eats on its own before it leaves.
Fit a seamless closed band while the chick is young and record the number; a buyer in Virginia needs it to keep the bird without a permit.
Have each chick DNA sexed, since VCA notes there are no external differences between males and females.
Book an avian vet exam and keep the report. The CDC notes that birds can carry psittacosis without looking sick, so ask your vet which tests suit your flock.
Start chicks on a varied, pellet-based diet; VCA warns that Quakers fed mainly seed are prone to obesity, liver disease and atherosclerosis.
Handle the chicks daily. Merck notes that hand-reared Quakers can be very affectionate and fairly good talkers.

Breed only healthy adults, and stop if earlier chicks are still waiting for homes.

How should you price Quaker parrots?

Price benchmarks for Quaker parrots (The Vet Desk, 2025 and 2026; Phoenix Landing)
Bird	Typical price	Note
Green Quaker from a breeder	$250 to $900	Varies with breeder, region, age and sex
Blue Quaker	$500 to $1,500	Color mutations cost more
Adult from a rescue	$50 to $300	Phoenix Landing lists $300 for quakers
Buyer's set-up	$300 to $1,000	Cage, perches, ladders, toys and dishes

Compare live listings of the same color in your region, and say what your price includes, such as the band, DNA certificate and vet check. A cage or starter food can justify a higher price; a vague "rare color" claim cannot. Name colors you can prove from the parents.

How do you write a Quaker parrot ad that finds the right buyer?

Use both names, Quaker parrot and monk parakeet, plus the color.
Give the hatch date, sex and whether it was DNA tested, band number, diet and the date of the vet check.
Describe the voice honestly: PetMD calls Quakers a bit louder than budgies, and the World Parrot Trust describes shrill screeches, squawks and chatter.
Say what the bird already says or mimics, without promising a talker.
Mention that Quakers are known for chewing (Merck) and like to build with twigs, so buyers plan for toys.
State that you sell only to buyers in states where Quakers are legal and will ask which state they live in.
Add recent photos and a short video, and keep your phone number and home address out of the ad text.

You can post your Quaker parrot ad free on PetzLover, and it appears among Quaker parrots for sale. Buyers who have read how to buy a Quaker parrot legally will ask about bands and state law, so have the answers ready.

How do you vet buyers and take payment safely?

A breeder handing a monk parakeet in a travel cage to a new owner

Ask which state and city the bird will live in, and whether any permit applies there.
Ask about earlier birds, their avian vet, cage size (VCA's minimum is 2 by 2 by 3 feet) and who is home during the day.
Ask about lease or HOA rules on noise.
Be wary of buyers who will not meet, want shipping through their own agent, or send a check for more than the price; the FTC warns about fake check scams.
Meet at your home or an avian vet clinic, and take payment in person by cash or a method you can confirm.
Sign a bill of sale with both names, the bird's color, sex, hatch date, band number, price and the records handed over.

Offer to take a bird back if the buyer's plans change, so it is not passed on to a state where it is banned. Owners who cannot keep a Quaker can follow how to list a Quaker parrot for adoption, and how to adopt a Quaker parrot shows what adopters expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to sell Quaker parrots?

Federal rules exempt anyone who sells 200 or fewer pet birds of 250 grams or less a year that were born and raised on their premises (9 CFR 2.1). Your state may still ban the species or require a permit, so check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency first.

Can I sell a Quaker parrot to a buyer in another state?

Only if Quakers are legal there. Georgia, for example, bars bringing one in without a special permit from the State Veterinarian's Office, and Pennsylvania prohibits possessing one. Ask the buyer to confirm their state's rule in writing.

What price should I ask for Quaker parrots for sale?

The Vet Desk gives typical breeder prices of $250 to $900, and $500 to $1,500 for blue Quakers. Compare current listings of the same color in your region.

Do Quaker parrots need a closed band?

Not in every state, but Virginia exempts captive-bred Quakers from its permit only if they are closed-banded with a seamless band. A band also records the bird's identity, so band every chick.

When are Quaker chicks ready to sell?

Only when they are fully weaned, eat on their own and have been checked by an avian vet. Selling an unweaned chick to an inexperienced owner puts its health at risk.

Can I sell Quakers if I live in California?

Not without a state permit. California lists the monk parakeet as a restricted, detrimental animal, and importing, transporting or possessing one without a permit is unlawful under 14 CCR 671. Ask the California Department of Fish and Wildlife about your situation.