Adoption process
For the Love of Birds is a group of dedicated foster homes in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, we do not have a central location. As our adoptable birds are living in our volunteer’s homes, we only allow approved applicants to meet our birds. If an adoptable bird is participating in our Help with Rehoming program, the bird’s current family has the final say on who can adopt their bird.
The first step in the adoption process is completing and submitting the Adoption Application. The application must be completed on a laptop or desktop. You cannot use a cell phone or iPad as these will not work. Be sure to complete all questions that have an asterisk or your application will not be submitted.
Please include your current home address; a PO box is not acceptable. Be sure to include two (non-relative) personal references and veterinary references for pets you currently have or have had in the past. Your references should be people who know you well, have been to your home and are familiar with other people and animals living in your home. All current pets in your home must be up to date with vaccines, seen annually for wellness exams and birds must be disease tested for psittacosis and PBFD.
After successful contact with your personal and veterinary references, we schedule a phone call with each potential adopter. Our adoption coordinator needs to speak with each adult in the home to confirm they are on board with the adoption. Please note that home inspections/ videos are required. We will not adopt to anyone under 21, to households with smokers (cigarettes, vape, etc), nor do we adopt birds as gifts or surprises. After an application is approved, we will recommend a bird(s) for you to meet or you can let us know if you are interested in one of our available birds. Our priority is adopting our birds to homes where they will be happy and thrive.
As we do not ship our birds, we require potential adopters to live within easy driving distance of the bird’s foster home (foster home locations are listed in each bird’s biography). Small birds like finches and budgies may be adopted during the first visit. Small/medium birds like conures and senegals require two visits. Medium to large parrots, require at least three visits before adopting. The reason for this is threefold:
- This provides the potential adopter with time to consider whether the bird is a good match with their family & lifestyle and gives you time to get your house ready for the bird to move in.
- Second, it gives the bird several opportunities to meet you and get acquainted with you. Many birds are hesitant with new people during the first meeting.
- Finally, it allows the foster home to watch how you interact with the bird and how the bird interacts with you. They can tell you about the bird's preferences and behavior, and educate the potential adopter on bird husbandry as needed.
Please note that we require a waiting period of at least 6 months if you have brought new pets, bird or other animals, recently into your home, before you can adopt from our rescue. Each bird (and other animals) require a transition period to be comfortable with their new family and in their new home. Please don't shortchange your companion animal by bringing another family member in too soon.
We will NOT adopt birds to homes that already have a bird of the same species, but different gender. We do not support breeding; mistakes happen and increased hormone levels in the birds can result in negative behaviors, as well as impact the health of the female.
We will not adopt large or loud birds to apartments, townhomes,
condo dwellers or rowhouses - No Exceptions. While screaming may not bother you, your neighbors will likely not feel the same.
Adoption fees are listed below. Our birds are adopted out with their cage, toys and food to get you started. All of our birds are disease tested for Psitticosis (Chlamydia psitacia) and PBFD (parrots only) and the adopter will be provided with the test results. Birds under one-year-old are also tested for polyoma.
For The Love of Birds holds a permit for the care and sale of exotic birds from the State of New Jersey, Division of Fish and Wildlife. All exotic birds that are not exempt in New Jersey must have a hobby permit filed with the state if the adopter resides in New Jersey. We will issue you a 20-day temporary permit at the time of adoption. We must file a copy of this temporary hobby permit each year with the Division of Fish and Wildlife. You will need to file for a hobby permit during the first 20 days you have the bird. Exempt birds are budgies, cockatiels, canaries, zebra finches, rock pigeons and society finches. Additionally, all other exotic birds are required to have a band or microchip and have a hobby permit from the State of New Jersey, Division of Fish and Wildlife. YOU DO NOT NEED A SEPARATE PERMIT FOR EACH ANIMAL IN YOUR POSSESSION. If you already have a valid Individual Hobby Permit, you can add additional animals for a fee of $2.00 each by writing to the Division of Fish and Wildlife or you can wait until the end of the year and list additions on your renewal form which will be sent to you. If you do not reside in New Jersey, you do not need to file a New Jersey F&W hobby permit.
Adoption Fees
- Parakeet: $60 or $90/pair
- Dove: $45 or $65/pair
- Canary/Finch: $50 for single or $75 for pair
- Cockatiels: $75 or $125/pair
- Lovebirds: $100 or $150/pair
- Parrotlet/BeeBee Canary/ Rosey Bourke: $125
- Conures : $250
- Meyers: $250
- Jardine: $250
- Senegal: $250
- Lory: $250
- Caique: $350
- Pionus: $350
- Amazons: $450
- Eclectus, Mini Macaws & Small Cockatoos: $450
- Large Cockatoos: $525
- African Grey: $550
- Large Macaw: $600
* Note: All birds are disease tested and are adopted out with their cage, toys, perches and food.
* Small Birds receive an avian veterinarian exam if indicated, otherwise, the adopter should take the
bird to an avian veterinarian within two weeks of adoption, weather permitting, for a wellness visit.
* Medium and Large Birds receive an avian exam and testing upon intake, as standard. The adopter will be provided with a copy of the medical records. The adopter should take the bird to their own avian vet within a few weeks of the adoption so that their vet has a baseline of the bird's health and has the medical records on file.
* We offer a 10% discount on adoption fees to Military Personnel and Veterans
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