Pet birds: how to buy a parrot or canary at a good price
Choosing a species: character matters more than colour
The budgerigar is the most common choice for a first bird: easy to keep, cheerful, and able to learn a few words. The cockatiel is gentle but louder. Lovebirds often sit in pairs and bond less with people. Canaries are valued for their song, and it is usually the male that sings. Large parrots (African grey, macaw) live for decades, need a lot of attention and space, and are a long-term commitment of many years.
Think about noise and your routine. A bird that screams in the morning may annoy the neighbours, and one that is left alone all day soon gets bored.
Hand-tame or not, young or adult
Hand-reared chicks get used to people faster and bond better, but they need attention. An adult bird may be calmer, but takes longer to settle. Age is usually visible from the colouring and behaviour: young budgerigars have bars on the forehead until the first moult. Ask the seller for the exact age and hatching date.
- A ring on the leg helps trace the origin and age.
- A DNA sex test is needed when you buy a pair or order a male, because in many species the sex cannot be told by looks.
- Large exotic species may need CITES documents.
What to put in your request
- species — budgerigar, canary, cockatiel, lovebird, African grey;
- age — chick or adult;
- sex and number, pair or single;
- tame — hand-reared, talking;
- colour;
- papers — ring, DNA test, CITES;
- cage — whether you need one with the bird;
- city and budget.
Example: “I am looking for a young blue budgerigar, male, up to 3 months old, hand-tame. I want one with a ring and a cage included. Hyderabad, self-pickup. Budget up to ₹3,000.”
How to compare offers
Compare more than the price of the bird: count whether a cage, perches, a water bottle and feed are included, and whether delivery is. A healthy bird is active, has smooth feathers, clean eyes and nostrils, a dry vent and eats eagerly. Do not take one that sits fluffed up at the bottom of the cage. Ask whether the bird was quarantined and where it was kept.
Birds are usually not sent by post or courier unless it is necessary, so self-pickup or meeting in the city is often safer.
How BlaBlaPrice works here
You describe who you are looking for once on BlaBlaPrice, and breeders and keepers reply in the chat with age, price and terms. The platform shows the best-value offer first and adds reviews of the seller. Your contacts stay hidden until you choose the person you agree with. Also read about how it works.
For a cage, feed and toys see pet supplies, and you can also compare with rodents.
