How to Sell a Damaged Bird Cage

A damaged bird cage is still worth selling — typically £4 to £20 at For Parts, against £15 to £80 undamaged.

Can you sell a bird cage that is damaged?

Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.

The damage buyers look for on bird cages

These are the flaws that move a bird cage down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

Rusted or chipped coatings, a toxicity risk
Bar spacing unsuitable for common species
Missing base trays and feeders
Bent bars and failed catches

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £7 to £36. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £4 to £20. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

Measure and state the bar spacing
Check the coating for rust and chipping
Confirm trays, perches and feeders are present

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

The cage whole, from the front
A ruler across the bars showing spacing
The doors, latches and any feeder attachments
The tray removed and the base, plus any rust, flaking or bent bar

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged bird cages want these confirmed:

Cage dimensions and bar spacing in millimetres
What species it suits, based on the spacing
Coating type and condition, and whether there is rust or flaking
What is included — stand, tray, perches, feeders, toys

Dimensions and bar spacing: “Large Parrot Cage, 90x60x150cm, 20mm Bar Spacing, on Stand”. Bar spacing is the critical safety fact and the primary search. Say whether a stand, feeders and perches are included.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“What is the bar spacing?”

Measure it. Too wide and a small bird escapes or gets its head trapped; too narrow and a larger bird cannot climb. It is a safety measurement, not a detail.

“Is there any rust or flaking paint?”

Check the bars and base carefully. Birds chew bars, so flaking coatings and rust are a real hazard to them rather than a cosmetic issue.

“Is the stand included?”

Say so. Stands are a substantial part of the value and buyers frequently assume one comes with a large cage.

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:

Correct bar spacing for the species
Powder-coated or stainless steel construction
Secure door catches
Complete with trays, perches and feeders

If the work would cost more than the gap between £20 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Steady year round with a lift after Christmas. Large cages with stands sell within a fortnight.

Getting it to the buyer

Bulky and awkward; most dismantle at least partly. Collection is usual, so give the assembled and dismantled dimensions.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full bird cage selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged bird cage?

Yes. A damaged bird cage typically is worth £4 to £20 against £15 to £80 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Rusted or chipped coatings, a toxicity risk

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is correct bar spacing for the species — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.

How should I describe the damage?

Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Measure it. Too wide and a small bird escapes or gets its head trapped; too narrow and a larger bird cannot climb. It is a safety measurement, not a detail. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.