Are Parrots Legal In New Jersey?

No matter what a person’s background is, they more than likely have a general idea of what a parrot is.

What they might not know is how beneficial it can be to raise a parrot.

Thankfully, more people than ever before have become interested in adopting a parrot of their own, especially over the last few years.

Still, there are a lot of questions about the legality of owning a parrot.

With this in mind, are parrots legal in New Jersey?

To answer this question…yes, parrots are legal in New Jersey despite the state having tight regulations and laws for any exotic animal. You may need extra licensing and paperwork to own a parrot in the state compared to other states, but you certainly can go out and adopt one if you have the means to do so. Plus, once the paperwork stuff is over, you don’t have to worry about it.

Nevertheless, if you’re interested in learning more about parrots being legal in New Jersey, look no further.

We’re going to discuss a wide range of information that every proud parrot owner or aspiring parrot owner should know.

We’ll discuss if parrots are legal to own, legal to breed, if you need a license, and much more.

By the end of it, you’ll be an expert on the legality of having a parrot in New Jersey.

Let’s take a look!

Are parrots legal to own in New Jersey?

As you can assume by the broad assumption of parrots being legal in the state, the same can be said for it being legal to own a parrot.

Thus, if you’re hoping to move to New Jersey and get a parrot in the state, it should be extremely easy for you to set-out and adopt one without any issue.

Keep in mind, since New Jersey is a colder state for much of the year, you’ll need to ensure wherever you have your parrot is warm enough for them.

Parrots can’t handle cold weather, and not having an extra heater for them can turn out to be highly damaging for their health.

Just be prepared for whatever the case might be.

Are parrots legal to breed in New Jersey?

Breeding is where it gets a little tricky in New Jersey.

Most states typically have a large number of breeders in their state, but if you venture online, New Jersey only has a handful for people to select from.

This primarily because of the strict laws the state has for exotic animals, making it difficult for people to become an official breeder.

So, the answer isn’t that breeding in the state is illegal, it’s just exceedingly difficult to actually become a breeder.

This doesn’t mean the entire process is impossible, just realize what’s at stake for you to try and become one.

It might be much more tedious and time-consuming compared to the process of becoming a breeder in another state.

Do you need a license to own a parrot in New Jersey?

Whenever someone becomes interested in adopting a parrot, they tend to ask what you’ll need to actually adopt one.

In reality, what you’ll need heavily depends on the parrot you hope to adopt.

For example, a more common parrot like a Cockatiel might not require any licensing, whereas an African Grey will.

Seeing as New Jersey is much stricter compared to other states for exotic animals, it’s safe to assume you’ll need a license for several parrot species.

The process of obtaining a license is much easier than getting a license for breeding. Either way, just be mindful if you need a license or not.

Are Quaker Parrots legal in New Jersey?

Quaker Parrots, also known as Monk Parakeets, have an odd reputation around them since they’re illegal to own and breed in several states.

Thus, many people wonder why they’re illegal.

Is it because they’re overly aggressive?

Do they try to attack people or other pets?

The answer is actually much less extreme and has to do with their breeding capabilities.

Quaker Parrots breed at a much faster rate than most parrots, meaning it can be an environmental hazard for them to breed so much.

However, Quaker Parrots are legal in New Jersey, but you need to pass an investigation to make sure you can handle them and a permit.

Are African Greys legal in New Jersey?

African Grey parrots are some of the most popular parrots for people to seek out for countless reasons.

Examples include their intelligence, communication ability, and all-around appearance.

They’re truly magnificent parrots who add a vast array of personality to just about any person’s life.

African Greys are completely legal in New Jersey, but they require special licensing for people to own.

Seeing as African Greys are fairly exotic and worth a lot, the state wants to make sure that whoever is interested in adopting an African Grey has the capabilities of actually raising one.

Are Cockatiels legal in New Jersey?

Cockatiels are some of the cutest and friendliest parrots in the world.

There’s a reason so many people seek out Cockatiels as their first parrot, primarily because they’re such easy-going creatures.

As you can imagine, Cockatiels are completely legal in New Jersey, allowing many parrot enthusiasts to set-out and adopt a Cockatiel of their own.

Are Macaws legal in New Jersey?

Macaws have an odd reputation of being boisterous and bold parrots due to their size, but the reality is quite the opposite.

Although you can most certainly find a Macaw that’s outgoing, many of them are much calmer than you’d expect.

A lot of Macaws have extra requirements for adoption, but standard Hybrid Macaws or Scarlet Macaws are completely legal in New Jersey.

Are Parakeets legal in New Jersey?

If you were to ask a parrot expert what the friendliest parrot is, they more than likely will tell you it’s a Parakeet.

A parakeet, also known as a Budgerigar or Budgie for short, is one of the most popular options for parrot adoption due to their easy-going personalities.

A standard american parakeet is completely legal in the state, so definitely look into adopting one if you’re a first-time parrot owner.


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