Birds Free Vs. Birds Not Free?

Question

Do you love your birds so much that you wish they where free? Do you hate the pet store's for selling birds, that have wings to freely fly around. Do you hate pet store's for keeping birds in cages as though they were toys? Yes, i have 4parakeets (2 died) and i wish i could set them free but they're not originally from the USA, they're from Australia and i don't have that kind of money for them. It's so sad if you imagine yourself in their position. You just were born and you see huge hands grabbing you away from your parents and after 1 month they lock you up with other birds and the other birds slowly disappear into boxes, until another pair of hands come and try to grab you, and your still running for your life, but its too late, the hands have you cornered, now your in some sort of box and next thing you know the box opens and your trying to fly, but your wings are cut and at this point you just give up. If you don't think this is sad then your a cruel person. This is my opinion, know i want yours.

Answer 1

No - I don't think this - because if I released my birds they would die within a week, as domestically raised parrots and finches are not equipped to survive in the wild.

This is a typical PETA ubsubstatiated argument based on misunderstanding and ignorance.

My birds have plenty of room for flight, eat better than probably any wild bird, and are extremely healthy and happy.

I wouldn't wish death on them - therefore I wouldn't wish for them to be released.

PS: If you're so adamently opposed to caging birds I really do not understand why you own any in the first place.

Well everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but consdering Gouldians are endangered in the wild, but are extremey prolific in captivity - I think it's pretty safe to say I'm doing the species a favor.  I think it's rather bittersweet that you claim more birds die in captivity - when it's human expansion, agriculture, and habitat destruction that is killing many of these exotic finches and parrots in the wild (and is part of the reason, along with air sac mites in the wild, that gouldians are endangered in the first place).  

I honestly think this poses a larger threat than I do.

But.. that's just my 2 cent.  You don't have to agree - I'm atleast looking at it from a logical point of view without just throwing nonsense opinions in the way.

Answer 2

if you catch a wild bird then i dont think it is fair, it is meant to be free, but if a bird is raised in a home with people then i think it is better for it to stay with them instead of being released because it is dependent on them for food water shelter and love.  I discrouage people force breeding birds i dont think this is fair at all and the birds would be better free. Put you most always remeber not all people are cruel, some are really loving and spoil their babies(birds) like me :), also if a birds wings are but at a young age then it is used to not being able to fly but people cut thier birds wings for safety so they dont fly away and then end up dying. look at other animals that were wild to start with, dogs, cats fish..

Answer 3

I agree with nixity.

Domestic birds would never make it in the wildlife. My birds are scared of other birds. My birds are happy and have a great life. Big cage and come out more than 1-2 a day. Their wings are unclipped so they are free to roam the house and get exercise. I spoil my birds with 50-100$ purchases every time i go to the petstore. They also get check ups from a vet which cost me 150-200$/bird. My birds are healthy and happy and love their home.

I do feel bad for birds in petstores but that business will never stop.  

Answer 4

And your question is? You just posted a short rant against having birds. I also like how you rationalize you keeping birds even though your rant is against keeping birds in cages.

The problem with your little scenario is that it doesn't happen like that any more. How many birds a year or imported for foreign countries? What is sad is you waited till the importing you are talking about has been outlawed in most countries. You really look noble picking up a cause. Especially since you picked a dead topic. Either you are looking for a flame war or you are just misguided. You need to go picket the  Colonel for killing chickens. You killed two parakeets and now you are angry. You don't want to be mad at yourself for not taking good care of the birds so you are directing it toward the people who sell them.

How many books have you bought that is about parakeets only? How much research have you done to make a statement that more birds die in captivity than in the wild on their own? You do realize that the parakeet in Australia is a pest? That they kill them by the thousands? That they ruin the crops that they grow. I can see that going by your standards that at least 50% of captive birds die. I have over two hundred birds. I haven't had a bird die in a couple of years. That was a 30 year old cockatiel that someone else gave me because they didn't have the gonads to do the right thing with her. The pet shops buy birds from domestic breeders. The same domestic breeders who are having a hard time making a living because every Yahoo with a pair of birds wants to raise babies. Then they sell those babies to pet shops for less than wholesale. Better yet they run a ad in the local newspaper dumping birds for a fraction of the real cost.

My parrots live much better than their cousins in the trees. My birds never have to wake up and fly for miles to get something to eat. It is sitting right there for them to eat it fresh. They get fresh water twice a day unless it is over 90 degrees then they get fresh water three times a day.  

Answer 5

In a perfect world the Exotic birds we keep would be flying free with their flock for many miles a day, they would mate and breed, lay egg's, hatch egg's, fledge their babies, teach the new fledgelings to forage with the flock and be and do what nature intended for them, but

the world we live in isn't perfect.

Exotic birds have been kept for thousands of years by man, but still the exotics are full of the same survival in-stints as the wild free flying birds.

The reason I believe no one should buy a bird, or take a bird into their lives until they understand that these Exotic birds are nothing like Domestic Dogs!  Birds don't understand punishment as dogs do, but birds do understand praise and approval.

In the wild the Flock leader will lead the flock to fly faster and leave sick birds behind because a sick bird in the wild is prey.

Unruly birds will be controlled when the Flock leader turns his back on them.

In the wild male's don't become aggressive and attack, often biting off toes or feet or the beak of hen when she rejects his sexual advances as happens too often in captivity.

There is much to learn about avian species we keep and with the internet there is no excuse not to read and learn and join bird groups.

However, we can and do keep captive birds healthy and happy when we provide them proper diet and care, correct housing for the size and species of bird, provide them hours a day freedom from cages with bird stands and hanging swings and toys, annual medical check ups and lab work and very important is teach them good behavior's when young and teach them to entertain themselves when we are busy or gone several hours. Be a kind and understanding Flock Leader for them.

Bookmark this site for those interested in learning about avian species-

http://www.birdsnways.com/

  And do searches for avian information

Answer 6

birds free

Answer 7

I agree with cdsgeo2!!!  Those of us who are commited to studying the species and are dedicated to keeping a healthy fullfilling evironment where these birds are happy and love us to the point they call out with sheer excitement at the sight of their loved human should not be frowned upon for ownind a bird! Only bad pet owners should be frowned upon and only poorly kept pets should you feel sorry for.

Parrots Bill of Rights:

1. GET TO KNOW ABOUT PARROTS BEFORE YOU BRING ME HOME--I am not a domesticated pet like a dog or cat. I still have the spirit of the jungle in me. I have special needs which you may find it hard to fill. Please don't learn these too late for my well-being. And please don't acquire on of my cousins wild from the jungle--it will jeopardize his survival and well-being, and that won't be a party for you either!

2. GIVE ME THE LARGEST HOME POSSIBLE--I am use to flying through rainforests or savannas. I have given up this great gift for your pleasure. At the very least, give me enough room to flap my wings and exercise. And I need toys for my amusement and wood to chew-otherwise, I might confuse your Home with the forest and its trees.

3. GIVE ME A NUTRITIOUS DIET--I need a wide variety of fresh and nutritious foods, even if they take time to prepare. I cannot survive on seed alone. Take time to learn what my needs are.

4. LET ME HAVE A "SOCIAL LIFE"--I am a gregarious flock animal--but I am not one of you. I need lots of socialization to learn how to act with you, and with my siblings. I also need to have adequate quality time with you every day-no matter what your schedule or other needs are. I am a living, feeling creature. Above all, I need to be able to have complete trust in you, and count on your predictability in looking after me--every day.

5. LET ME BE CLEAN--I may like to drop food or even throw it, but I need meticulous cleanliness to be healthy. My skin itches without frequent showers, the barbs of my feathers won't seal if they become oily and, worst of all, I may become ill if my food or water is not always sanitary.

6. I NEED MY OWN DOCTOR--You may not understand my physiology and therefore you may not recognize it early on when I get sick. And it may be too late when you do, because I hide my illnesses (remember what I said about my being an animal of the jungle, where there are lots of predators). And I need an avian vet--a specialist (no HMOs for me please). If you can't afford one, perhaps you shouldn't have taken me home.

7. PLEASE DON'T PUNISH ME--Just as I don't always understand your peculiarities, you may not understand mine. I don't TRY to get in trouble--remember, a house is not the jungle. If I do s***w up, don't yell at me and never hit me. I have sensitive ears and I may never trust you again if you strike me. Hands are sometimes scary things to us (why in the world would you not be zygodactylous like us?). Even more importantly, we don't learn by punishment. We are gentle creatures who only strike back to protect ourselves; we learn through patience and love.

8. SPEAK MY "LANGUAGE"--I know you get upset with me when I knock over my water bowl, throw food, scream or pluck my feathers. I don't do these to annoy you-I am probably trying to tell you something (perhaps that I am hurting, lonely, or sad.). Learn to speak MY (body) language. Remember that I, alone of all creatures on this planet, learn to speak yours!

9. SEE ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL--I am a unique and feeling being...No two of us are alike. Please don't be disappointed in me if I don't talk like you wanted, or can't do the tricks that your friend's parrot can do. But if you pay close attention to me (and I always empathize with you, whether you know it or not), I will show you a unique being who will give you so much more than talking and playing...Give me a chance to show you who I am; I think you'll find the effort worth it. And remember--I am not an ornament; I do not enhance ANY living room decor. And I am not a status symbol--if you use me as such, I might nip at your up-turned nose!

10. SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME--Above all, please remember that you are my Special Person. I put all my trust and faith in you... We parrots are used to being monogamous (no bar-hopping for us!). So please don't go away for long periods or give me away--that would be a sadness from which I may never recover. If that seems to be asking a lot, remember--you could have learned about my needs BEFORE bringing me home. Even having a baby or taking a new job isn't a fair reason--you made a commitment to me FIRST! And if you think that you must leave me because you might die, provide for me forever after you leave. I may live to a ripe old age but I can't provide for myself. Remember I'm in a small cage amongst people who are not of my blood.

11. YOUR RIGHTS--You have lots of rights, but I can only assure one. And that is, if you treat me the way I described above, I will reward you with unwavering love, humor, knowledge, beauty, dedication-and a sense of wonder and awe you haven't felt since you were a child. When you took me home, you became my Flock Leader, indeed, my entire universe--for life. I would hang the moon and stars for you if I could. We are one in Heart and Soul.