Tell us about your bird and we'll find the options
The most common wish in one US owner survey (26.1% want <24h[1]) was for a pet to leave the vet within a day. A few details from you now help us find a provider who can meet that timing and handle a small bird properly.
- A short form, no phone call needed
- Options and prices for your area by email
- No obligation to book anything
Before you fill in the form
What to include so we can help quickly
You don't need to have decided anything yet. The more we know, though, the fewer follow-up emails you'll get while you're grieving. These details make the biggest difference:
- Species and approximate weight. Grams are fine. "A cockatiel, about 90 g" tells a provider exactly what tray and container to plan for.
- Where your bird is now. At home in the fridge, at your avian vet, or at a diagnostic lab after a necropsy.
- Private or communal, if you know. If you're unsure, say so and we'll explain the difference for your bird's size.
- Keepsakes. Whether you want feathers or the leg band set aside, or a particular urn or pendant.
- Other birds. If two birds should be cremated together or kept separate, tell us which.
- Your location. Town or ZIP, postcode or suburb, so we look in the right place.
If you're still weighing things up, the services page explains each option for birds, and the aftercare options comparison lets you rank them by what matters most to you. Rules on pickup and burial also vary by area, and our local pages cover the differences.
What happens next
What happens after you press send
- We read your request and check which providers near you take birds and offer what you asked for.
- We email you the options we found, with the prices they publish or quote and any notes about small-bird handling.
- If something's unclear, such as whether a lab will release your bird, we'll ask one short question rather than guess.
- You choose whether to contact a provider. Nothing is booked until you say so to them directly.
Once you've booked, ask the provider for an expected return date in writing. Many families receive private cremation ashes in 5-10 days[2], though small birds sometimes wait until a provider schedules a batch of small-animal cremations.
Timing
If your bird died today, there's usually time
A small bird wrapped and kept in the fridge will be fine for a day or two, and in a freezer much longer. You don't need to send the form in the middle of the night. If you might want a necropsy, though, call your avian vet first, because that window is shorter and the fridge-not-freezer rule applies. If your bird was unwell before it died, wear gloves while you wrap them; the CDC's page on psittacosis explains why dried droppings and feather dust are the main risk.
Our home page covers the first hours in more detail, including safe handling if you're worried about infection, and what to do when your parrot dies walks through them for larger birds. If several birds in an aviary or backyard flock have died suddenly, contact your vet or state veterinarian before anything else.
Why ask for quotes
Getting a clear price, not a vague one
Price information is surprisingly hard to get in this industry. When the UK competition regulator surveyed owners for its provisional report on veterinary services, only 52%[3] recalled being told the price of the cremation, and only 47%[4] remembered hearing about a range of options. We ask providers for written figures so you can compare like with like. By our estimate, only ~6%[5] of all bereaved UK owners compare cremation providers before buying, so simply asking for two quotes already puts you ahead.
If you'd like a ballpark before you write to us, the cremation cost calculator gives a range for your bird's weight and country, and our guide to reading bird cremation quotes shows what should be itemized.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Your information
How we use what you tell us
We use your name, email and details only to answer your request. When we contact a provider on your behalf, we share what they need to quote, such as species, weight and area, and not more. We don't sell your information and we won't add you to newsletters unless you ask.
You can ask us to delete your request at any time by replying to our email. You'll find more about how the site works and who writes it on our about page.
Setting expectations
What we can and can't help with
We can help with private and communal cremation for pet birds of any size, pickup from home, vet or lab, feather and leg band keepsakes, urns and jewelry, and planning ahead for an older parrot. We can also point you toward burial options if cremation doesn't feel right.
We can't arrange disposal for commercial flocks, handle reportable disease cases, advise on protected species paperwork or tell you why your bird died. For those, your avian vet is the first call. If you'd simply like to hear how other keepers chose, see the reader poll results.
How did your bird's death happen?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
How did your bird's death happen?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Who made (or will make) the aftercare decision in your household?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Do I have to pay to use the form?
No. Sending a request and receiving options by email is free. You only pay a provider if you decide to book with them, and you pay them directly under their own terms. There's no obligation to book any of the options we send.
How long until I hear back?
We reply by email as soon as we've checked the options near you. We don't promise a set time, because some areas have few providers that handle birds and we'd rather check properly than send a generic list. If your need is urgent, your vet can usually arrange cremation directly.
Can I send a request before my bird has died?
Yes, and many owners of older parrots do. Planning ahead lets you compare prices calmly, decide about feathers and a necropsy in advance, and write down wishes for whoever may care for your bird after you. Just mention that you're planning ahead.
What if my bird is already at the vet or a lab?
Tell us which clinic or lab and whether a necropsy is happening. Some providers collect directly from labs, others don't. We'll look for one that can, and you should also tell the vet in writing that you want your bird's ashes returned so nothing is disposed of by mistake.
Can I ask a question without requesting prices?
Of course. Use the same form and just write your question, whether it's about feathers, urn size or what to do with a bonded companion. If we can't answer it properly, we'll say so and suggest who can.
Should I mention a necropsy or suspected illness?
Yes, please. It changes which providers can help and when. A provider needs to know if your bird is going to a lab first, and some will ask about suspected infections so staff can take simple precautions. Mentioning it early avoids a second round of emails and makes sure nobody collects your bird before the vet is finished.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] The most common owner preference (26.1%) was for a deceased pet to stay at the vet hospital less than 24 hours before transport to the crematory or cemetery; a further 18.1% said no more than 1-2 days. Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [2] A US aftercare guide says many families receive private cremation ashes within about one to two weeks, with 5-10 days commonly quoted. Funeral.com - Pet Cremation Timelines: How Long Until Ashes Are Returned, 2026.
- [3] Only 52% of UK cremation buyers recalled receiving information on the price of the service and different packages. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [4] Fewer than half (47%) of UK cremation buyers recalled being told about a range of options, including communal cremation or home burial. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [5] Only about 6% of all bereaved UK pet owners compare cremation providers before buying. Our estimate: 67% cremate x 9% compared = 6.0%. How we calculate.
Send us your bird's details
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.