You want a parrot. But online shopping feels risky. Scams lurk everywhere. Sick birds arrive in boxes. Your money disappears into fake accounts.
Bird markets overflow with dealers selling wild-caught parrots that die within weeks. You see a beautiful African Grey for $2000 on Facebook. It sounds amazing. Then the seller vanishes after you pay. Or worse, a sick bird shows up without papers. Now you’re stuck with vet bills and heartbreak.
Smart buyers skip the traps.
They know which species fit apartment life. They spot fake breeders instantly. They get the right papers before handing over cash. When you Buy Parrots Online the right way, you bring home a healthy bird that becomes family for decades.
This guide shows you exactly how. You’ll learn which parrots work for beginners, how to dodge scams, what legal documents you need, and how to set up a safe home. Let’s get started.
Should You Actually Get a Parrot?
Parrots aren’t like cats or dogs. They live way longer than you expect.
Small budgies reach 10 years. Big macaws hit 80 years. That’s longer than most marriages. You’re signing up for decades of daily care.
These birds need attention like toddlers do. Plan for 2-4 hours of interaction every single day. Work long hours? Travel often? A parrot will start screaming or plucking its own feathers from loneliness. This happens fast.
Noise matters too. Budgies chirp softly and work fine in Dhaka apartments. But Amazon parrots scream louder than traffic horns. Your neighbors will complain. Macaws? Even louder. You’ll need soundproofing.
Food gets complicated. Parrots need 70% pellets plus fresh veggies, fruits, and nuts. Cheap seed mixes cause obesity and health problems. You’ll spend $ 1,000+ monthly just on food. Add vet visits.
Add toys they destroy in days. The costs never stop.
Try this first: Get a stuffed toy parrot. Practice feeding schedules. Clean up fake messes. Do this for two weeks. Still excited? Then maybe you’re ready.
Which Parrot Should You Buy?
Different parrots fit different lives. Small spaces? Loud neighbors? First-time owner? Pick wrong and you’ll regret it fast.
Budgies cost $15-$50 and stay quiet. Males learn phrases after a few weeks of training. They need small cages (18x18x18 inches). Perfect for beginners who make mistakes.
Cockatiels run $50-$150. They whistle beautifully and bob their crests when happy. Great family birds. They shed white powder though. You’ll vacuum constantly. Medium cages work (24x24x24 inches).
Green Cheek Conures fit apartments perfectly. Low noise. Big personality. $250-$500. They love acrobatic play and shred toys like crazy. Medium cages (24x24x30 inches).
African Greys learn 1,000+ words. $1,000-$2,500 with proper documents. They solve puzzles and get depressed without mental challenges. Need large cages (36x24x48 inches). Not for beginners.
Amazon Parrots sing loudly and love attention. Excellent talkers but stubborn. Only experienced owners should attempt these. Large cages required (36x30x48 inches). $1,000-$3,000 with CITES papers.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed
Online parrot sales explode on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and bird forums. Scammers flood these sites with fake photos and wild-caught birds that arrive dying.
Good breeders do video calls. No excuses. You watch the bird eat. You see it poop. You check its feathers up close. Anyone refusing video calls is hiding something.
Real breeders provide DNA sexing certificates. They offer 30-90 day health guarantees from actual avian vets. They put closed rings on baby birds’ legs that can’t be removed. These rings prove captive breeding.
Watch for bargain traps. African Greys under $1,000? Fake. Someone’s selling a sick bird or running a scam. Real Greys cost much more with legitimate papers.
Never wire money to strangers. No crypto payments. No huge deposits before seeing documents. Scammers love these methods because you can’t get refunds.
Check shipping knowledge. Birds die in hot ground vans. Legitimate sellers use airline protocols with climate control. They explain everything clearly. Vague answers mean danger.
Google the seller’s name plus “scam.” Check their Facebook profile age. New pages with generic photos? Wild-caught boasts? Run away. Legal breeders operate openly for years.
What Legal Papers Do You Need?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA enforce strict rules on parrot imports and sales. Mess this up and you’ll lose your bird plus face fines.
Non-CITES parrots need health certificates from avian vets. CITES Appendix I birds like African Greys require special Article 10 permits. Interstate transport needs additional documentation.
Demand emailed documents before paying. Ring numbers. DNA certificates. Vet stamps. Everything. Check CITES permits through official channels. Verify the breeder’s USDA license if shipping across state lines.
Schedule an avian vet exam immediately after arrival. They test for psittacosis and mites. These diseases spread to humans. Confirm your bird was captive-bred. Wild-caught imports are illegal and carry heavy penalties.
Want zero headaches? Buy local birds with closed rings from licensed breeders in your state. Skip the import nightmare entirely.
Getting Your Home Ready
Budget $300-$1,500 for setup. You need a stainless steel cage, natural wood perches, destruction toys, and Harrison’s pellets. Cheap cages rust and poison birds.
Create a quarantine room for 30 days. This protects other pets from diseases. Keep the room at 75-82°F with 50-60% humidity. Ban Teflon cookware completely. The fumes kill parrots in minutes.
Remove scented candles. They cause zinc poisoning. Never feed chocolate or avocado. Both are deadly. Keep birds away from kitchens, dogs, and windows. Cover the cage at night for sleep.
Add foraging toys immediately. Parrots in the wild spend hours finding food. Bored birds scream and destroy feathers. Rotation matters. Swap toys weekly to keep life interesting.
What Ongoing Costs Look Like
Monthly expenses hit $60-$150 minimum. Food costs $30. Bedding and toys add $15. Vet visits run $15. Annual checkups catch crop infections and vitamin deficiencies early.
Toys get expensive because parrots destroy everything. They need this. Chewing prevents beak overgrowth and relieves stress. Budget for constant replacements.
Emergency vet visits cost way more. Respiratory infections need immediate treatment. Egg binding in females becomes life-threatening fast. Keep $500 in emergency savings always.
Where to Buy Safely
Local options work best. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist let you meet sellers face-to-face in your area. Bird-specific forums connect you with reputable breeders nearby. Hand delivery beats shipping disasters every time.
Reputable sites like Ngparrots.com and local bird clubs list verified breeders. They detail their protocols clearly. Test them with tough questions about health guarantees.
Avoid sketchy overseas sellers. Customs rejects shipments randomly. You lose everything.
Your Next Steps
Parrots transform homes into loud, messy, joyful chaos. They bond deeper than most pets. But only when you choose carefully and prepare completely. Know your species. Verify your seller. Get proper documents. Set up safely. Your feathered friend will thank you for decades.
Source: FG Newswire