HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a bird sitter in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A bird care in Ireland costs €12–€35 per visit, typically around €20. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a bird sitter in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers bird sitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — social Interaction and Exercise — birds require social interaction and physical activity to thrive.
- How does species of the bird change the price?A higher standard leaves less room for error, so it goes slower. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of care required change the price?A complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does frequency of visits change the price?It is one of the first things you will be asked about. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Health Monitoring — bird care often includes monitoring for signs of illness or distress — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a bird sitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers bird sitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — social Interaction and Exercise — birds require social interaction and physical activity to thrive.
A good answer: A higher standard leaves less room for error, so it goes slower. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is one of the first things you will be asked about. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Health Monitoring — bird care often includes monitoring for signs of illness or distress — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a bird sitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — cage Cleaning and Maintenance — regular cleaning of the bird's cage is crucial for their health.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the bird sitter starts, and an itemised invoice after — transport to Vet — safely transporting your bird to veterinary appointments when necessary.
Getting the quote right
- Species of the bird — a higher standard leaves less room for error, so it goes slower.
- Complexity of care required — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts.
- Frequency of visits — it is one of the first things you will be asked about.
- Feeding and Nutrition — it decides how much of the job can be done at once.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: species of the bird — a higher standard leaves less room for error, so it goes slower
- They will not talk about it: complexity of care required — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts
- They will not talk about it: frequency of visits — it is one of the first things you will be asked about
- A price for the bird sitter before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the bird sitter has begun
What a bird sitter costs: €12–€35 per visit
The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Daily bird feeding and Cage cleaning each carry their own band. Bird Care price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Bird sitters near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSpecies of the bird — a higher standard leaves less room for error, so it goes slower — that is what the bird sitter is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of care required — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfFrequency of visits — it is one of the first things you will be asked about — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherFeeding and Nutrition — it decides how much of the job can be done at once — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the bird sitter is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for professionals with avian care certifications or relevant experience.
- Cage Cleaning and Maintenance
- Regular cleaning of the bird's cage is crucial for their health.
- Health Monitoring
- Bird care often includes monitoring for signs of illness or distress.
- Social Interaction and Exercise
- Birds require social interaction and physical activity to thrive.
- Cage Cleaning
- Regular cleaning of the bird's cage to maintain hygiene and a comfortable living environment.
- Health Checks
- Monitoring the bird for signs of illness or distress, and providing basic health assessments.
- Bird Grooming
- Includes trimming feathers and nails, as well as bathing to keep the bird clean and healthy.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a bird sitter: questions people ask
The cost of bird care services can vary based on the type of services provided, the species of the bird, and the duration of care required. specialised care for exotic birds may also incur higher costs due to their specific needs.
A typical bird care visit usually lasts between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the services requested. More extensive care, such as health monitoring or cage cleaning, may take longer.
Emergency bird care services may be available depending on the provider. It’s advisable to check with local services for their availability and response times for urgent situations.
Yes, many bird care providers offer package deals for multiple services, such as feeding, cleaning, and health monitoring. Booking multiple services can often lead to cost savings.
Services such as veterinary medical procedures, grooming outside of basic cleaning, or long-term boarding are generally out of scope for standard bird care. It's important to clarify with your provider what services are included.
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
MORE GUIDES