I would ask him for a deposit, and make it so it's worth it for him to keep up his end. I hatched some chicks for an acquaitence once that he told me he wanted, and because I knew him, I didn't ask for my usual 50% down. I ended up getting stuck with them all after he gave me some wah-wah story about how he was broke. Don't do it without making sure your butt will be covered.