FAQ & General Info

*Updated 5/6/23

General Info

 Vandy Family Aviary is NOT a business, a pet shop, or a bird Sanctuary. As the name implies, our birds are a shared family hobby. When our own sweet feathered friends do what comes natural, the result is nests full of adorable little baby birds! At around 2-3 weeks, often just as or right before the babies first open their eyes, they are pulled from the parent nest. We place them in heated nests and begin feeding them by hand 4-5 times a day. As a result of these little ones being handled and given love and affection by humans from such an early age, by the time they are weaned, these babies are already tamed and often trained to a degree a Store bought or parent raised bird would take hours of training and patience to reach.

Our family has fallen in love with this process! Sometimes it can be exhausting, and the timing can be less than ideal (have you ever tried taking a family vacation with half a dozen 1 month old birds?), but the enjoyment and bonding we get out of it, not only with the birds themselves but also as a family, is more than worth any stress involved. Of course as much as we enjoy it, if we kept them all we would turn into a Zoo before long! That's where you come in. When the babies are weaned and ready to "fly the nest", we make them available to good homes. Elephant in the room....while they aren't free, we try and keep the associated fees as low and as fair as possible. Our goal is to share the enjoyment we get out of bird ownership, and to make it as accessible and affordable as possible to do so. What we do charge goes to cover equipment and formula, as well as other upkeep and care items, to keep all of our friends happy and Healthy! We want to allow more people to explore bird ownership both as companionship and as a hobby, without the usual hurdles of initial cost, and the time normally required to tame a parent-raised bird. Below you'll find a list of some Frequently Asked Questions, with answers. As always feel free to message us directly on the site, though email, or on any of our socials. We're always happy to answer questions, and share info and our experiences. 

 

FAQ

 Q: Can I come see the Birds? 

A: We operate out of our home. Because of this, for both health and safety reasons we don't generally allow in person visits. Something that we offer to compensate, is to schedule a live video call on either Facebook, or Zoom. This allows you to see the birds being handled in real time, and also gives you an opportunity to ask us questions directly. 

Q: Do you Ship or Deliver?

A: We do not ship. Locally, we will usually offer to deliver, and within reason, we can sometimes arrange to meet at a certain distance.

 

Q: What about DNA/Disease testing?  

A: Some of our birds are DNA tested for Gender, prior to becoming available. If you are interested in a bird, and would like it tested for gender or one or more specific diseases, that is a service we can provide. We ask that you cover the cost up front for any elective testing. We do not charge beyond what we are charged by the genetics lab.  We're also happy to provide you with information or links to the lab directly, so that you can see associated costs and processes for yourself. DNA and disease testing will come with a physical certificate, or digital/printable version, depending on availability. 

Q: Do I need to pay a deposit?

A: We have adjusted our policy on this over time. As of 2021, for most of our birds we aren't currently asking for deposits. Sun Conures, due to the very limited availability, and the high inquiry rate, will always require a non-refundable deposit. A small non-refundable deposit is required if you'd like us to hold a bird for more than 7 days. 

Q: If I pay a deposit, or in advance, can you hold the bird for me?

A: We can hold most birds for up to 7 days with no deposit. A non-refundable deposit is required for us to hold your bird after 7 days, up to 14 days. We cannot hold a bird for more than 2 weeks. 

Q: What do you wean your birds onto?

A: We use a seed Mixture from Reed Seed. A business based out of Ohio. It is not available on shelves outside of the area, but can be ordered and shipped. While we are big fans of this seed for our purposes, we encourage everyone to research and come up with their own diet plan for their new friend. Of course, we are always happy to offer our opinions and advice upon request. 

Q: Do you have a health Guarantee?

A: Our policy is: Within 7 days of pick up, should something happen to your bird contact us. If you believe it was something on our end, and can have a vet of your choice verify, then we will refund the fee for the bird, and reimburse any vet expenses. We realize this may seem a bit much, but this is the same guarantee most Pet Stores offer, with the only difference being that they usually cover the cost of the veterinary exam. Because of all of the handling and environmental variables associated with birds, we strongly encourage everyone to to research the needs and care specifics for the breed you are interested in. We are always available for questions, and can point you in the direction of helpful resources, to make sure your home and family is bird-proofed and ready for your new feathered friend!

Q: What comes with the bird?

A: Along with the bird itself, if any DNA or disease testing was requested you will receive a physical (when available) and digital/printable certificate. We do not offer cages, accept in specific rehoming situations where an exception may been made.

Q: How/when do I pay the rehoming fee?

A: Provided a deposit isn't required for one of the above mentioned reasons, you do not have to pay any fee until you pick up. Cash, Paypal, and Venmo are all accepted. Any fees will be discussed ahead of picking up, to make sure both sides are clear and in agreeance. Any deposit made will go toward total fee.

Q: When/How Often do have baby birds?

A: Our aviary is growing, but is still on the smaller side so at any given time our availability is limited. We generally have birds available during the spring, summer, and fall. Late fall to Winter most of our nets are pulled, and our birds are on vacation!

Q: Can I pick out a baby before its weaned?

A: Not usually, no. Even though we pride ourselves on attention to detail and good care, because so much can happen early on we are not currently allowing our babies to be "picked" before they are healthy, weaned and ready. 

Q: Do you sell cages, food, or anything else?

A: No. As stated above we aren't a Pet Store, and as such don't sell or provide cages or supplies. On occasion, we may have a used cage that we no longer need, and would sell it at a reduced cost, the same way that you would on Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.  We are happy to provide you with any info we can on where to get started with food, cages, and supplies, including our personal experiences with products, and links to useful resources.  

Q: Do you have  a waiting list? 

A: Not in most cases, no. With exception of a few specific breeds and mutations, it is first come first served for availability. We encourage you to reach out to us so we can provide an expected timeline for when specific birds may be available!