Anyone want to buy Harbeson’s exotic bird farm?

A turn-key business for sale isn’t all that unusual, but when it’s the only one of its kind in Sussex County and maybe even the state, it’s worth noting. That’s the case for M&D Bird Farm.

Terri Martin opened M&D Bird Farm, located directly off Route 9 in Harbeson, in 2002. Twenty years and a couple of recent medical issues later, she said the business has started to become too much to handle.

Small signs announcing the sale appeared on the business’s front lawn months ago. Martin has already reduced the store's hours. It used to be open seven days a week, but is now closed Tuesday and Thursday.

“Doctor’s orders,” said Martin.

Right now, Martin said she has close to 100 birds, representing 30 different species. In addition to a wide range of exotic birds, M&D offers boarding services and a wide selection of toys, foods, cages and other accessories.

Martin said because there are so few exotic bird options locally, but a demand exists, the business has been successful. As with any business, there are things to consider, she said, such as seven-day-a-week requirements when the birds are babies because they need to be fed by hand three times a day.

Martin said it would be nice to see someone take over and expand some of the offerings for exotic pets, not just birds. There used to be a couple of stores in the area offering that type of stuff, but the owners died recently so there aren’t any other options, she said.

Martin said she is not selling the property – she and her husband own the land and live in a house behind the business. The cost of the business is $350,000, with a long-term lease available. However, she said, there’s room to negotiate on the price.

Martin said she’s not done working with birds entirely. She still plans to do bird grooming.

“It’s an opportunity to grow my mobile business,” she said.

Martin said if she doesn’t sell the business by spring, she’ll have to scale down even further. That means she probably will not bring in a batch of babies because the feeding commitment is just too much, she said.

For more information on the business, call 302-684-4101 or go to manddbirdfarm.com.