Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a bird for free?
Can I donate money, vet care, or supplies to help care for the birds?
Can I foster a bird?
Can I adopt a bird if I do not live in Gainesville?

Can I have a bird for free? After all you didn't pay anything for them!

No. For two reasons:

It is true that I rarely pay for birds unless it is to get them out of a very bad situation. However, it costs more money than you would think to feed each bird high quality pellets, vegetables and seed. For some birds I also have to buy cages, toys, special perches and pay for health supplements or vet care if the birds are ill. Most of the birds are here for several months minimum, if I gave away birds for free it would be very hard to keep rescuing birds as I just could not afford to keep doing it. The average cost for keeping/caring for one bird until it is adopted is approximately $100.
People tend to value animals they pay for more than those they do not. Veterinary care is not generally offered for pets that people get for "free" and care is sometimes sub-standard. When I started rescuing birds I thought if the person had the potential to offer a good home then why charge an adoption fee? The first bird I gave away was the last. I did not ask for an adoption fee or have an adoption contract signed. What happened to that bird? Less than a month later I saw him, and all of the other birds the woman owned, advertised for free online. It is very common for people to purchase birds cheaply or try to get them for free (at least here in Florida) to resell. Birds are essentially recycled over an over. Other people get free birds to breed into the ground for a couple of years to get babies to hand-feed, then they sell the birds cheaply and do not care what happens to them. Generally another "breeder" buys them and breeds them again constantly which will send the birds into an early grave! What an unfortunate fate for these creatures to have a life time of love to give.
Articles related to getting or giving "free pets":
1. The Tragedy of "free To Good Home"
  This article is geared towards dogs and cats but it can apply to birds as well.

Can I donate money or supplies to help care for the birds?

The rescue does not actively solicit monetary donations. outside of the suggested adoption donation when a bird is adopted. However, if you wish to donate money, this is certainly appreciated since at least 75% of the funds to care for the birds comes out of my own pocket. You are welcome to specify which bird the money will help care for if desired. I will be happy to send you a picture of the items purchased with your donation if desired (or a copy of the receipt).

Because the rescue is not registered as nonprofit (501c3) donations are not tax deductible (sorry!). I am starting to look into the process to see if the rescue might be able to become officially non-profit in the future.

Bird supplies or gift cards are very much appreciated. You can also donate money directly towards vet costs for the rescue birds by purchasing gift certificates from Tri-County Pet and Bird Hospital or you can request that our account be credited.

Some of the supplies that are always needed include the following:

Mineral blocks
Cuttlebones
Pellets for cockatiels: we mainly use organic pellets whenever possible including Foundation Formula or Harrison's fine size maintenance or high potency. We occasionally also use fruit flavored Zupreem to convert stubborn birds and sometimes Pretty Bird Natural Gold.
Nutriberries for die hard seed junkies that won't convert easily. This diet allows them to get some vitamins that they will not get from plain seed.
Gently used, clean cockatiel cages
Nekton or other bird vitamins.
red 50-60 watt reptile bulbs, or reptile heat emitters that can be placed inside reptile lamps (these do not give off light but provide a steady longer lasting heat source) for ill birds
Cockatiel sized bird toys (new only please as used toys may harbor germs)
Quality cockatiel seed fancy or plain (brands vary but usually those with a good amount of fruits, veggies and pellets are best-- plain seed is also appreciated since all the birds get seed occasionally as a treat along with their sprouts and veggies). Seed is used as a treat for the rescue birds as well as to feed the birds until they convert to pellets.
Millet Sprays

Any donation will ONLY be used for bird supplies or vet care for the rescue birds.

Can I foster a bird?

I am always looking for a few good people to help out with caring for cockatiels, when I do not have enough space to keep all of them. To foster a bird you must fill out a fostering application. After filling out the application, save it as a new file name and send back to betta5@yahoo.com and/or cockatiel_rescue@hotmail.com You can also fill out the application online. Please e-mail if you fill out the online verison as there is no automatic notification in place.

Foster Application:

Can I adopt a bird if I do not live in Gainesville Florida?

It is much preferred that potential adopters live in Gainesville. If you live in Orlando, or Ocala or within an hour (two hours is the absolute max limit) of Gainesville it might be possible for you to adopt one of the birds. You must be willing to pay a gas fee for us to do a home visit if you live outside of Gainesville. It definitely isn't as practical to try and adopt if you live far away because if the bird you want to adopt doesn't like you, he or she can't go home with you.