Do you feel guilty for keeping a parrot?

BoomBoom

Well-known member
May 2, 2012
1,722
58
Parrots
Boomer (Sun Conure 9 yrs), Pewpew (Budgie 5 yrs), Ulap (Budgie 2 yrs), Eight & Kiki (Beloved Budgies, RIP)
It's a question I struggle with every now and again, but haven't seen asked on these boards much. A few things happened today that prompted me to write a thread about it and see what other people's thoughts on it are. Like most of you, I try to provide a good life for my little sun conure. Like most of you, I see my parrot exhibit textbook behavior that leads me to believe he is happy (by human standards). But I wonder, is he really happy?

I took a day off today and thought I'd bring him to the park for his outdoor recall training. I realized just how great he's become at flying. He's a natural at it. After we both settled down on the grass, I had a good look at him. He was head bobbing (he often does when he is pleased). He just seemed so amazed at the wide expanse of the park and the sky, it made me feel bad that I couldn't take him outdoors more often -hard to do with a full time job. At some point, I had to put him back in his carrier because I spotted a few hawks far away. On the way home, a lady stopped me just to have a look at him. She mentioned that she has parrots who live under the roof of her house. I asked if they were her parrots, and she innocently remarked they were wild and she would not want to keep them as pets because they deserved to fly free. That stung a bit after I had my little moment in the park. She didn't mean anything mean by it so we talked some more and I went my way.

Those two things kind of magnified the guilt I felt. Seeing Boomer so happy outdoors, makes me wonder. Are all the toys, the lovingly prepared food and attention we shower our birds truly enough to make them happy? Yes, they were born in captivity, but they are still very much wild. Is there something in there still wild bird brains that make them yearn for freedom? Has anyone ever entertained these thoughts? If so, how do you get past them?
 
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goalerjones

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2011
1,390
30
Parrots
Hahn's macaw, RIP George, Jenday Conure
No. I love my little guy, treat him like an important member of the family and enjoy interacting with him daily.

He was born in captivity, not stolen from his natuaral home and truly enjoys his place in our family.
 

BillsBirds

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2012
1,371
40
Largo, Florida
Parrots
Timneh African Grey (Bailey), Lovebird (Elvis)
I think that if we all could live a natural life (people, birds, etc.) then I'd say it might not be right to own & cage birds. If we could easily & successfully train all birds to stay with us unrestrained, then I'd say we should not cage & own birds. But, after dealing with hundreds of animals that probably should not have been born, but are here, and must be dealt with, I'd say yes, taking proper care, and loving such sweet creatures, is a great idea. These birds are real, and need someone to care for them. So, instead of deciding whether it's right or wrong to keep birds, I'll go on taking care of as many of the poor angels that are here, and need someone to do so. Being born in captivity, they know no different. And adjust to what life brings their way.
 

Mare Miller

Banned
Banned
May 14, 2011
1,260
Media
2
3
sierra foothills of central California
Parrots
13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I'm a firm believer in birds being allowed their god given freedom. Most of our pet birds were not born into that. It's awesome that you can give your bird a feel of what it might be like and the reality is, it's all he will ever know. When I let Amigo outside, usually daily, I know he could not survive without me, his home base. This is why I'm so anti-breeding. There are so many captive birds that suffer, just think about the UNwanted ones, ugh..makes me cry..
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
I do at times, especially Java the U2, I personally do feel some birds should be left out in the wild and not be bothered with. But the birds that we have now were bred in captivity so I don't feel as bad but still to a certain extent....IF I had the money, I would LOVE to have a HUGE Atrium built for my birds to fly around in. I soooo need to win the lottery....lol
 

Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
Yeah... I do... I spend an awful lot of time watching birds in the wild and I never cease to compare the existence my guys have in their cages. Sometimes I feel sorry they'll never have the sensation of wheeling in the sky under the sun.

But then, I always remind myself of hawks, cats, parasites, starvation, dirty or no water and injuries. My flock will never suffer any of those and if they're ever in pain or have an illness, they'll receive the best of care I can provide. Life in the wild is often nasty, brutish and short, y'know? I would *never* take a bird from the wild and I do try to give as much freedom to my aviary-bred flock as I can.

PS. Oops! I just remembered that Dommie was taken from a nest in a fencepost when he was just a tiny baby. If he had come to me, I'd have tried to release him when he was old and and able enough. As it happened, he was raised as a pet and is now too old to go back to the wild. It's pretty heart-wrenching, though, to see him pop his crest up when the wild flocks fly over: he knows there are Free Birds out there somewhere.
 

Jayyj

New member
Apr 28, 2013
735
2
UK
Parrots
Alice - Galah cockatoo
I feel much the same as BoomBoom, it is something I struggle with. I know everyone on this board works incredibly hard to ensure that their birds lead a happy, fulfilled lifestyle, but when I think that galahs have had thousands of years to get used to existing in large flocks, having lifelong mates and flying for miles a day to forage for food, for one to live in a building in rainy Manchester with only strange fleshy, featherless birds for company does seem pretty a pretty big ask. One of the reasons I went for an older bird was that sense of guilt, that at least I was providing a better home to a bird who had already been brought into the world. I guess my ultimate viewpoint is that there isn't a straight answer to whether parrots should be kept in captivity, just a lot of ifs and buts.

I guess one thing is that birds in the wild very much live off a roll of the dice. Sure, the lucky ones have a long life of freedom and pleasure, but just as many don't make it out of the nest, meet unpleasant ends in the jaws of predators, or get ill or injured and starve because they can't feed themselves. Our birds may not have the freedom of the luckiest wild birds, but they do have security, their health is looked after and we work hard to ensure their emotional happiness as best possible. So on a birdy average I'm not sure if captive birds have such a bad run.

I also wonder what effect generations of captive bred birds will adapt better to life with humans? After all, cat and dogs have had centuries to adapt to domestic life, and it will be interesting now wild caught parrots are no longer dominating the pet trade how the animals will adjust as they become further removed from their wild counterparts.
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Betrisher,

I think when we become parronts we feel we're obligated to keep them safe no matter what so it's kinda hard to let your nestlings go....Trust me, the guilt trip begins the moment you release them, what if this what if that....I've done that several times in the wild birds I've released back into the wild from either being hurt or chicks I've had to handfeed....
 

Oedipussrex

New member
Jun 3, 2012
319
1
Australia
Parrots
Charlie - Galah
Seeing all the wild cockatoos, lorikeets and rosellas around where i live always makes me truly sad that there are so many things pickle can not do, quite often.

But with him it is different, and if he was wild he would surely have died long ago. But I have never regretted getting him, or wished i had gone with a different breeder and ended up with a healthy bird. Because he would still be out there somewhere, and i am paranoid and overprotective, and simply don't trust anyone else with his well being.

I am glad he found me and that i was given the opportunity to help him make the most that we can out of his life. Even though the situation is different with healthy birds, i do not think you should feel guilty if you are giving them the best human life we are capable of giving them. Although they are not officially domesticated yet, i highly doubt it is even remotely feasible to release the numbers of captive birds in the world; they have become our responsibility, and it is reassuring that many of them have found homes with people like the ones on this forum. :)

That said i would not protest one bit if the world decided to stop breeding captive parrots altogether, and to let this generation be the last. But there are conservation benefits to having genetic reservoirs of species in a captive situation.
 
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Abigal7

New member
Jun 17, 2012
853
1
United States of America/ Kansas
Parrots
Captain Jack (Hahn's macaw)


Clover (green cheek conure)
I do not think birds born in captivity have the concept of missing the wild. I do feel guilty right now when Captain Jack calls for me when he sees I am leaving to go to work. Since captive birds have their needs meet like Captain Jack having fresh water daily, fruits, brown rice, cashews, almonds, cooked beans, veggies, etc. he needs to have toys and interaction to keep him from getting bored. In the wild parrots have to use their mind to survive. In the end a parrot is an exotic with special care and needs (like any exotic they are not as easy as a cat or dog).
 

Mayden

New member
Apr 22, 2010
2,540
12
UK.
Parrots
Merlin & Charlie (Senegals)
Sometimes. I hate that Merlin can't be outside, REALLY flying. A flap around the house is not the same, I don't care what people say.

Other than that, he has a good diet, he has enrinchment, fresh water, fresh foods, a flock, safety from predators, safety from most illness and disease - and prompt vetcare if it should happen.

As someone said earlier - the idea of flying free with flockmates all day sounds wonderful, but the realities of mother nature are much harsher. Merlin will always be a part of this flock, and safe. Never preyed upon, he is free to do what he wants without anxiety of pain or death.

Swings and roundabouts...

I don't believe in taking wild caught birds. There is an image and video of senegal wild trade, I just see Merlin's face in every one of them, stolen from nests, caught and trapped, flock leaving them behind... eurg.

If anything, my babies are safe from THAT side of being wild too. As I sit here listening to them whistle, squark and play, I know my babies are happy. Sure they could be happier (with more flight, etc) but they love me, they love Andrew, they love their cage, they love their food, they love their toys, they love their bathtime activities, they love the flock mentality that we've created in our home...

I think they're happy. If I could have all animals being wild, I'd love it, even if it means no beautiful loving pets. But it's not the case, so I'm not going to beat myself up about properly caring for my birds.

I feel sorry for improperly cared for birds more so though. I sometimes think they'd be better in the wild.
 

Merlee

Banned
Banned
Jul 25, 2012
853
1
USA
No I do not feel guilty. If I did not have the birds I have, somebody else would. My birds are well taken care of and loved. From reading many CL ads, many birds are abused, neglected and are rehomed for one reason or another. As long as breeders see a market for producing babies or poachers in the wild raiding nests, we would not be asking ourselves this question.

I apologize if anybody feels offended by my post but it is true. If you feel bad about your bird not being free, please discourage breeding solely for the financial income. There are plenty of birds available already, but people do not want to deal with other people's headaches.

On the other hand, if a wild bird is caught today, we may be saving its life because its natural habitat is slowly being destroyed and it may become extinct in the future.
 
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forbey

New member
Apr 26, 2013
370
Media
3
0
The only time I feel upset, not guilty, is when I see someone who has birds that are treated more like furniture than like part of the family.

My dogs, a Skittles aren't pets, we spend more time with them than we do our children and grandchildren. After all, they live with us.

For us to retire by the TV with a dog in each of our laps, I'm not sure who looks more content, the dogs, or us.

As for Skittles, I someday hope to snuggle up for a good movie with a big green chicken camped out on my belly! :)
 

ruffledfeathers

New member
Aug 23, 2012
1,970
Media
5
3
NJ
Parrots
Gilbert Oliver, Blue Crown Conure; Georgie, Sun Conure (2/8/01-8/8/12) RIP little girl; Percy, budgie 1993-1999. RIP Pepito-spanish timbrado canary
I have only felt guilty for the animals that are in cages--canaries, i had a cage of budgies at one point that were more 'pets' than family members. someone just dumped them at my house and they were all bonded with one another, so i cared for them until their death but they never bonded with me. i felt guilty somehow, like 'who would choose to live in a cage, even well cared for?' But my birds who formed bonds with me truly loved me, each in their own way, and i loved them as well. We spend a lot of time together and i try to give them as much as i possibly can. I see it more as a 'trade'--there are things in their lives that are far better than if they were wild, and things that are maybe less fun too. (if i had my choice, i would never spend my days 'locked' at a desk in a gray and white office that is freezing with air conditioning either, but i woudn't say my life is ruined because i sit here 9 hours per day!)
 

Pajarita

Banned
Banned
Jul 11, 2013
446
1
I don't feel guilty because all my birds came to me because of issues and were given up by their owners (and some of them by rescues) so I don't feel 'responsible' for forcing captivity on them. But I do feel sorry for them. I do the best I can by them (good lights, fresh food, no cages, solar schedule, medical attention, giving them companions of their own or a very similar species, etc) but I am very conscious of the fact that it is not enough and that all my efforts represent a poor substitute for the kind of life they should have and deserve.

I would like to think that my birds are happy and I think that, up to a point and in general, they are content with their lives but regardless of what we might tell ourselves, they can't possibly be happy. You cannot take a social, sentient animal which is supposed to live with a large extended family its entire life out of its natural habitat and put it in a human home with humans as companions, give it an unnatural diet, put it in a cage (and I won't even go into clipping them), not allow it to reproduce as nature intended and expect it to be happy. It's not a matter of 'if he never experienced it, he won't miss it' - that can be true for food (never had an apple so he doesn't know how they taste) but it's not when it comes to an animal social grouping, their interactions (this is studied in ethology and behavioral ecology) and the effect that the lack of them has on its psychological make-up. Their lifestyle is not something they can choose to want or not or that they can replace with something else that works out just as well, it's a physical/emotional need that needs to be fulfilled by a specific source (like babies in orphanages that grow up with VERY serious psychological problems because they were not cared for by a mother).

We tell ourselves we are doing something good for them because some of them are endangered, their habitats are disappearing and we bring them into an environment were there are no predators, no famine, no extreme weather conditions, etc but these are not bad things, they are good things and part of the checks and controls that nature has put in place to ensure the survival of the species and, if we really loved THEM and not what they give to us, we would be donating all the money we are willing to spend on them to conservation projects.

Of course, this is not a black and white thing because millions of them are already here and somebody needs to take care of them but, after many years of caring for them and going from thinking that pet parrots were perfectly OK, that they were like dogs or cats and would well with a good owner and bad with a bad owner, I've changed my mind and now think that even good owners cannot provide well for them. Luckily for me, I managed to find a 'comfort zone' in the debate - namely, I don't buy, I don't breed, I don't sell, I only rescue or adopt birds and do my very best by them while donating to conservation programs.
 

kiwiS

New member
Jun 27, 2013
311
0
Parrots
Kiwi Stardust - a green cheek conure
Awww..you have a very good heart. Don't let it bother you too much. What's important is you are providing a comfortable, loving home. At the end of the day that's what really matters to him I'm sure
 

Kalidasa

Active member
May 8, 2013
1,954
Media
1
2
Michigan
Parrots
1 green cheek conure (Kumar)
2 male budgies (Charlie and Diego)
I just wish it never started at all, that there was no such thing as a birdcage. But since that is impossible, I'm just dealing with a situation that is already in existence. And I know for a fact they're happy. I'm glad I have them and not someone who wouldn't take care the way I do. Happiness is a state of mind, it's not dependent on geography. In life moods go up and down.a grey overcast day would probably make them glum whether in the wild or not. All's they have (anyone has) is here and now. They're fed, played with, cosseted and cared for. They're loved and they know it. Loved fiercely.
 

torrap

Member
Jun 10, 2013
494
4
CO, USA
Parrots
Marley-YSA (hen) -hatched 07/20/2006;
Simba-DYHA (hen)-hatched 06/23/2003
I just wish it never started at all, that there was no such thing as a birdcage. But since that is impossible, I'm just dealing with a situation that is already in existence. And I know for a fact they're happy. I'm glad I have them and not someone who wouldn't take care the way I do. Happiness is a state of mind, it's not dependent on geography. In life moods go up and down.a grey overcast day would probably make them glum whether in the wild or not. All's they have (anyone has) is here and now. They're fed, played with, cosseted and cared for. They're loved and they know it. Loved fiercely.

I agree with Kalidasa totally! I wish people have never though of the stupid idea of having birds in a cage. But that is exactly why I got a 7 year old and a 10 year old bird right now. I though of getting a baby at the start, but only for a week or two. I stop thinking of getting a baby from a breeder after I realized how many birds are in need of home and someone to love them. It made me cry like a baby when I had my first tour of the Aviary and Sanctuary for Exotic birds here localy.
I even checked the internet, and there is a place where some nice people who confiscate baby Amazons (YSA in particular) from smugglers who grab them from the wild and start hand feeding them just to sell later. These nice people teach these little babies to be wild again and let them free.
I was thinking about taking Marley there for a day or two (it's in Venezuela, I think), but Marley is 7 and being born (hatched) in Florida has no clue about wild beyond repair, I am afraid.
The only think I did for Marley is I got a sound bit from the internet of wild YSA's calling and chirping that goes on for about 10 minutes.....:)....she loves listening to that..............:rolleyes:
It's a very sad topic, but we have to deal with what we have. I would incourage anybody who would want to get a pet bird to adopt instead of getting a baby.......there are always plus and minus that you get with that, but it's better for controlling the population of unwanted birds.
Sorry for such a long post, but I feel very strong and sad about this topic.
 

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