Adoption Program

Providing a second chance to domestic animals surrendered or abandoned.

Adoptions are the most important part of what we do! We put a lot of time, effort and love into our rescues and we want to ensure they are going to a good home. We want to work with you to be sure you adopt birds that are going to give you the most enjoyment but also ones that are best suited to the living environment you are providing. 

Please be patient with us as the process may move slowly. Depending on the time of year it may take several weeks to get approved. We process applications in the order that we receive them after they are fully complete.

Adoptable Animals

  • Ducks

    Varieties: Pekin, Rouen, Runner, Swedish, Cayuga, Khaki Campbell, Welsh Harlequin, Ancona, Muscovy

    Adoption Fee: Females $20 | Males $5

  • Geese

    Varieties: Brown Chinese, White Chinese, Toulouse, Buff, Pilgrim, Embden, Sebastopol, Pomeranian

    Adoption Fee: $35 per bird. Adopted out in bonded families.

  • Chickens

    Varieties: Rhode Island Red, Orpington, Plymouth, Brahma, Leghorn, Cochin, Wyandotte, Barred, Araucana, Silkie, Polish

    Adoption Fee: Females $20 | Males $5

  • Turkeys

    Adoption Fee: $35 per bird. Males and females available.

  • Peafowl

    Adoption Fee: $75 per bird. Males and females available.

  • Swans

    Varieties: Mute Swan, Black Swan

    Adoption Fee: $500 Mute Swan | $750 Black Swan

  • Parakeets

    Adoption Fee: $15 per bird. Males and females available. Bonded pairs go together.

  • Pigeons & Doves

    Adoption Fee: $25 per bird. Males and females available. Bonded pairs go together.

  • Cockatiels

    Adoption Fee: $45 per bird. Males and females available. Bonded pairs go together.

  • Lizards

    Varieties: Bearded Dragon, Leopard Gecko

    Adoption Fee: $45 per lizard.

  • Snakes

    Varieties: Ball Python

    Adoption Fee: $75 Standard Morph | $150 Special Morph

Adoption Application

This is to be completed in entirety by the intended adopter. There must be something in each field or the application will not be saved. Three references are requested to conclude the application. We also require photos of the setup where adopted animal(s) will live; this includes all types of enclosures, enclosed ponds, netted aviaries, etc. These photos must be emailed to adopt@cwrescue.org as the last step of your application.

  1. Adoption inquiries are handled via email only. Please be polite and patient. Our text hotline is extremely busy and we need to make sure injured birds get priority on our hotline. We appreciate your understanding!

  2. There is an adoption fee for each bird. We must collect a fee to help towards the cost of taking in the birds. We spend far greater amount on medical care, feeding and supplies for each bird. We try to make the adoption fees reasonable. If you are providing a good home and can adopt multiple birds we will work with you on an adoption fee. Please be prepared to pay the fee when you pick up the birds.

  3. Predator protection must be provided for the birds. The level of protection varies with the type of birds you are applying for. If you don’t provide predator protection and just want to replace birds that are getting killed you probably need to look elsewhere. We are happy to suggest improvements to your set up to make it safe for the birds so that you can qualify. Improvements must be made before the application will be approved.

  4. We do NOT adopt birds for the purpose of breeding or selling. No exceptions. If your social media states that you breed birds, sell them for food, or anything similar, you will not qualify for our adoption program.

  5. If birds have special needs, this will be discussed in advance. All of our adoptable birds have been examined by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and/or veterinarian and have been cleared for adoption.

  6. Birds must be fed. Although this seems like a given, many people think they do not need to feed ducks. They need complete nutrition to be healthy just like every other animal and human. We recommend Mazuri Waterfowl Diet but there are many comparable waterfowl feeds out there. We are happy to recommend one based on what stores you have in your area. Chicken feed and corn do not give complete nutrition to ducks.

  7. Please understand not all birds fit all situations. You may want swans but it’s possible they aren’t a good fit for your place. This doesn’t make you a bad home. We will only suggest birds to you we feel will thrive with the set-up you have to care for the birds. Many birds are regulated by state and federal laws as well.

  8. We do not ship birds. Please be prepared to pick them up at the rescue. Also please bring appropriate carriers for the birds to go home in. If you’re using a pickup truck, the birds must be covered or be in plastic kennels. If you’re not sure how to best transport your new feathered friends, please ask us and we can give you solutions. We do not loan crates out any longer because we do not get them back. We know you mean well and plan to bring them back, but it is our policy.

Adoption Guidelines

Related Info

Application Process FAQS

  • Please fill out the adoption application completely. You may not understand the reasons for the questions but they all have a purpose. Applications that are sent in incomplete will not be reviewed. You can fax, email or snail mail your applications. You may also come by the rescue to pick them up. We will not review incomplete applications. We do not share or use the information for any other purpose. Your information is safe with us. We understand that some people are uncomfortable giving out information but we are uncomfortable giving birds to people we don't know. There is a mutual trust that must be establishes for adopting. We do not accept adopters without an application, no exceptions.

  • Photos must be uploaded within the application prior to submission. Photos must include the housing you have for the birds and other living quarters they will have, such as a pond or grazing areas. If you experience difficulty adding your pictures to the application, you can email them to adopt@cwrescue.org with the animal(s) you are applying for and your name.

  • Once you click 'Submit' on your application, it is sent to our adoption coordinator for approval. You will receive notification of submission.

    Wait time is about 2 weeks, but may be shorter or longer depending on our ability to process adoptions at any given time. Thank you for your patience. If it has been over 2 weeks, you can email adopt@cwrescue.org to inquire about the status of your application.

    If your application is approved, you will be contacted to discuss what birds are at the rescue. We do not hold birds. Birds are placed first-come first-serve for approved adopters. We have too many people not show, and we lose the chance to send them to another good home. Our list of birds can change daily.

    If we have additional questions about your application, we will contact you. We will not follow up if your application is incomplete.

  • If you aren't willing to pay the adoption fees, please do not apply. This is not meant to be harsh and is in the animal's best interest. If you can’t afford the fee, then likely you can’t afford food or medical care for your new family member.

    If you want to adopt a group of birds, please contact us to negotiate an adoption fee. This needs to be done in advance.

    Please do not show up at the adoption time not prepared to pay the fees. Volunteers working that day are not allowed to change the adoption plans or fees.

    If you don’t have your adoption paperwork and fees in order you will not leave with birds. No matter how far you drove. Please plan accordingly in advance for your new feathered friends, i.e. bring crate(s) with you to transport the animals home.

    We are more than willing to work with any reasonable requests.

  • Your time is valuable, and so is ours. Please let us know if you can’t make your appointments at least 1 day in advance by emailing adopt@cwrescue.org. If you miss your appointment and you don’t email to let us know, then we reserve the right to halt all adoption approval for you.

  • In some cases where applications are approved but no suitable birds are at the rescue, you will be placed on a waiting list.

    For instance, if you want peacocks but our pair is adopted, we will place you on the list to be contacted when another pair comes in. You would get first choice on the next pair, but we will make 1 attempt to contact you and then move down the list.

    We only contact approved adopters on the waiting list for birds. We also may contact previous adopters for new birds coming in. We like to have a relationship established with our adopters.