Surrendering Your Bird

We do not pay for birds, and we don’t help people sell birds or cages. If we are involved, money isn’t… ever.

*Due to space constraints, we are limiting intakes. Please call or email to see if we have room for your bird. Unfortunately we are not open to large Cockatoo placements at this time.*

  • How to Begin

    Start with an email to discuss the situation. Due to frequent space constraints, intakes are limited and on a case by case basis. We offer an option for convenient courtesy posts on Facebook, more information is located at the bottom of the page. Priority for surrenders will be given to returns and medical/military dispatches. Deaths or medical emergencies also take priority over behavioral complaints. All birds coming from outside Iowa MUST have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection before we can accept them. This is a state law.

  • See Our Facility

    Birds that are brought to us are given appropriate cages, play areas, and medical care. We separate large and small species, and we have outdoor flight aviaries open during warm weather. The shelter building is located on our property, and the birds are handled and socialized daily. They are encouraged to play and socialize as appropriate with other birds, as well as people. We encourage less handleable birds to find partners.

  • Your Bird's Future

    When we place a bird in a new home, it’s only after very thorough visits, interviews, and instruction… and the bird has final decision on it’s placement. We normally don’t turn away birds if we have space, unless there is a risk of infectious disease. We do need time to arrange for the space in quarantine and time for care. So please, if possible, plan ahead for any surrenders.

    There are exceptional cases where a bird may be considered for permanent sanctuary, but it will be at our discretion. Most birds fare best being in a home.

Read About Our Adoption Process Here

HOW TO BEGIN

Please email at iaparrotrescue@gmail.com. The more information you give us, the quicker and easier it will be to make your bird feel comfortable and at home here. It also prepares us to make room ahead of time. If you are approved for intake, we will send you the intake form to fill out (the more information the better, so please fill it out thoroughly).

You MUST contact us before you can bring your bird. We offer courtesy posts below for non urgent situations at your convenience. This allows for a better transition directly into a new home.

If you are unable to transport yourself, we are able to come and get your bird(s). We have a minimum $150 transportation fee to cover gas, time, and accommodations depending on distance. Further than 50 miles, the fee increases (for example, Waterloo/DSM area would increase the fee to $200, and up as we travel further). Birds in other states who require CVIs must have those done before scheduling their pick up. In cases of birds being surrendered primarily due to financial distress, we can negotiate this fee on a case-by-case basis.

This contract spells out the conditions under which we take in and place birds. There are no exceptions to these rules.

Courtesy Posts

An alternative to surrendering

In many cases of friendlier birds, we can offer a courtesy post on our Facebook every Wednesday. This is an excellent alternative to surrendering and eliminates a lot of stress for the bird(s) and rescue alike. Courtesy posts include a short bio that details information about the bird and their needs, some photos, and the owner’s contact information. The owner can then choose a new home from the people that reach out. This method works wonderfully for smaller/medium sized birds, but we’ve had success finding happy homes for all KINDS of birds! If we don’t have space, a courtesy post is your next best option. Like any of our adoptions or surrenders, there is to be NO MONEY EXCHANGED via a courtesy post. If you want money, we will not make a post. For more information about how to have a post made for your bird, email us here.