FINCHforum

Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone here, have ever ship a bird before? and what is the experience like? thanks.

I have not done any shipping myself, but I did once have some birds shipped to me, by air. This was in January, but the shipper puts a heat thing in the bottom of the shipping box. The birds were shipped overnight, and they were already happily chirping on the way home. It is always a good idea to get references when you are having birds shipped by an idividual that you don't know. After all, you have to pay for the birds first.

Shipping by air runs over $100, or closer to $125, so having one bird shipped is not cost effective. It only makes sense if you are buying more birds so you can spread the cost of shipping out, or if you share the shipping with another person.

thanks sally :=)

Likewise, I have not yet shipped but have received birds shipped via Delta aillines. If buying from a reputable breeder it is a very pleasant way to purchase birds that are not found in your area or for different bloodlines. I have them shipped only during weather that is 65% and up. I also make sure that the birds are insured just in case something goes wrong in flight. I had 6 scarlet chested grasskeets flown in one container and the breeder had put seed, millet, and slices of oranges in for moisture ..... they did wonderful. I will probably ship in the future, I have talked with many shippers and the loss of birds are rare.

Like everybody else I don't ship my own birds but I've had birds shipped to me from all over the country. No losses to date. It's illegal to use the US Post Office, plus if you find Crystal's sticky it's easy to lose the box. But overnight using an airline from a reputable breeder works well. It's expensive, but worth it to get birds that aren't available locally.

I would ship my birds if I had someone who was interested in buying a lot at once. I have had people contact me about shipping in the past, but they were usually only interested in 1-2 birds, and I guess I sort of talked them out of it simply because it doesn't make financial sense to pay $120 to ship 2 birds. Makes more sense if you can at least maybe combine a shipment with someone else, or purchase more birds at one time.

I have only had birds shipped to me once so far, but I have been communicating with a breeder in Tennessee and may ship some birds again soon.

The one thing I would recommend if you are purchasing birds to have shipped is to be meticulous about communicating with the seller and getting very specific details and photos about the birds you are purchasing.
I didn't do this with the birds I had shipped last year, and it was pretty much a disaster.
I bought 5-6, and only 2 were good quality birds.
It's a shame, because it could just be a bad batch, but I was jilted and now I'm very gunshy about shipping in general.

I would be interested in Fawn Owls. I haven't heard of any here in the states.

nixity wrote:I would ship my birds if I had someone who was interested in buying a lot at once. I have had people contact me about shipping in the past, but they were usually only interested in 1-2 birds, and I guess I sort of talked them out of it simply because it doesn't make financial sense to pay $120 to ship 2 birds. Makes more sense if you can at least maybe combine a shipment with someone else, or purchase more birds at one time.

I have only had birds shipped to me once so far, but I have been communicating with a breeder in Tennessee and may ship some birds again soon.

The one thing I would recommend if you are purchasing birds to have shipped is to be meticulous about communicating with the seller and getting very specific details and photos about the birds you are purchasing.
I didn't do this with the birds I had shipped last year, and it was pretty much a disaster.
I bought 5-6, and only 2 were good quality birds.
It's a shame, because it could just be a bad batch, but I was jilted and now I'm very gunshy about shipping in general.

Thanks Tiffany for sharing your experience. I have people contact me about wanting to buy couple finches from me. I'm just never ship a bird before. I heard you could do it through the postal office too. But I went there yesterday and was told that they cant ship finches. only exotic birds not wild. So I was kinda confused.

Yes - it is illegal to ship exotics through USPS.
The only birds that are allowed to be shipped (and there are very specific regulations on these too) are for the most part domestic fowl: turkeys, chickens, quail, etc.

A lot of people work around the regulations by shipping the finches in fowl containers and covering the holes with mesh so that you can't see in.
Obviously the postal workers aren't going to open the containers to check and see what's inside - but the shippers have to lie about the contents, and the person receiving the shipment has to lie on behalf of the shipper to say that what is being shipped is being shipped legally, although it's not.

I know there are breeders who have been doing it for "years" - but IMO, that doesn't change the fact that its being done illegally.

Summer,
There is also an old post about USPS shipping that is right above this post!