Do you ever feel bad....?

[Scott]

I believe this thread asked many relevant questions, stimulated great discussion and thought. Y'all are on a roll, hope it continues!

 

[MonicaMc]

Ya, sure, parrots have established themselves in various places. The feral flocks are thriving and doing great! However, if there is no feral flock to join, a bird has a much smaller chance of survival. Even if they could join a feral flock, doesn't mean they'll survive. Apparently, several budgies have joined the conure flock in San Francisco.... all that have joined are no more.

Many of the parrots who get lost outside? Proably many of them are clipped... so they are in greater danger from predators... dogs... cats... coyotes... foxes... hawks... even if they aren't clipped, a bird who does not receive enough exercise may still not have enough strength and stamina to get away from some of those predators!


There are people who are trying to re-introduce certain parrot species back into the wild... and without a starting colony already there, these birds often struggle to survive... they struggle to find food, and to keep away from predators. The reintroductions? Failures. Living out in the wild isn't all that it's cracked up to be...



I stopped buying birds in 2004 because people kept giving me birds... the only birds I ever purchased were budgies... (and technically a cockatiel, too) but I've had budgies, bourkes, a turq, a lovebird, cockatiels, an african ringneck, 4 different species of conures... I've had 3 separate people offer me a cockatoo or want me to take a cockatoo home. So far, I've turned them all down. (and all have since found homes)


Since I've had so many second hand, plus birds, and my 'nest' is feeling a bit empty (older birds = health issues = them passing + cancer is a b____), I'm considering getting another bird, but I haven't decided on what, yet. In fact, I'm even considering a hand raised bird. With the exception of Casey, the cockatiel that I technically bought, I've never had the pleasure of a young, hand raised bird. Likewise, I wouldn't be against a parent raised bird of a certain species.





At least the bird hobby isn't nearly as bad as the fish hobby is.... if you want to talk about atrocious care and handling.

 

[Jferrand526]

Sometimes I have felt bad for owning four birds that normally would be seen in the wild. Honestly I had not walked into a bird store in the last 9 years until Tango, my sun conure came hopping into my life about a month ago. I recently started frequenting a bird store that is also a breeder that is located near me and honestly I don't agree with how they keep their birds, I mean you are welcome to touch the hand fed babies and hold them all but the adult parrots are what make me feel bad, everyone is afraid of them or intimidated by their beaks, I don't blame a person for being intimidated by a Macaw or even my Sun Conure's beak but still, I just can't imagine leaving a bird in a cage for the rest of its life. I mean not to sound mean but I know a lot of people that want or own birds and obviously a lot of people want a bird that is trained already, I personally would like to do the training myself but I just feel so bad for parrots that are kept in a cage at a pet store or in a person's house and they are not being cared for correctly.

Birds need interactions, non dangerous toys, and healthy food and diet. I think a bird owner who gets a bird for its color and how pretty it is without thinking about what the bird will actually need should not get a bird at all. I knew some people that had birds and just stuck them in a cage without toys and without a healthy diet and when I asked for the bird so I could give them a better home, the owner would ask for $1,000 for it. Seeing birds like that is what makes me sad or really think about these animals, because I know Sun Conures are endangered in the wild and that breaks my heart.

Sometimes humans just destroy habitats that other animals need without thinking first about what they are destroying. Personally I just try to give my birds the best life I can, I spoil them and I try to give them as much attention as possible. I would never leave my birds in a cage just sitting there alone without anything to do, I try to give my birds as much freedom as they want. In the morning if I hear they are awake, which I usually do because I have all conures and one cockatiel, I will go into the bird room and open their cages then take a seat and usually read a book to them or play with them.