The sad truth

[Feathers First Aviary]

While on facebook earlier today I saw a really neat graphic pertaining to dogs and I decided I NEEDED to make one but for parrots, so here it is. It seems to be spreading like wildfire on facebook since I posted it only an hour ago(and that surprised me considering it's 2am here on the east coast, didn't expect many people to even be online right now), but I wanted to share here too since I really believe this is an important message that all too many people don't realize until it's too late, not that any of you are those kind of people! But here it is, feel free to use it as you please, I tried to use all my own pics but I didn't have my own photo of a bird crammed in a tiny cage, but then again I suppose that's a good thing!! Ironically though, we do own two of the squawkers mccaw(yes, that's how they spell macaw for some strange reason) robotic parrots!

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And yes, that is my hand in the photo, it hurt a lot more than it looks, had our umbrella cockatoo tear the whole way into the muscle in my palm and I couldn't move my thumb for three days, almost went to the hospital on the fourth day but I finally was able to move my thumb a bit so I decided against going in. Made handfeeding nearly impossible though! Had to learn how to feed with my left hand for almost a week. But hey, it happens sometimes and I still love the chompy little fellow :D

[Honesty]

Thank you for posting this Sara. You have put this across so well! :th_omg:your hand looks sore :( That looks like a very nasty bite :(

I have shared this to our PP FB Page too :)

[Pinkbirdy]

ouch!! tell us what your Umbies like.Is that your nanday?

[Feathers First Aviary]

No the nanday is the only one that isn't ours, I don't have any aratingas! Lol I wanted to use all of my own photos but I don't have any pictures of birds in inappropriately sized cages ;)

Our umbrella doesn't like me much, he acts like he does but then he will rip into me, he's done it pretty bad twice now. He likes my husband though so he is the main one to hold him. I will play with him with toys but I can't trust him to perch on me. Our goffins on the other hand is my baby. We have only had her about a month and she is the biggest cuddle bug. She will scream incessently even from outside of her cage just because she wants me to pick her up. She is your typical starved for attention 24/7 cockatoo lol.

[Blancaej]

That is great. Glad you did this. Nasty bite there. Hopefully that doesn't happen too often!

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

[kendrafitz]

What a great post! I will share it from PPs Facebook page.

It is very true and very sad. I can see why it happens, parrots are so enchanting. People don't realize what life will be like once they come home. Once they have them home, reality sets in. Which is not pretty or fair to the parrots.

Lord knows we had NO idea of what we were getting into with Rosie. However, once you are part of the Fitz Farm, you are always part of the Fitz Farm. And of course I adore my little bossy queen. But many don't feel that way, thus the rescues are overflowing.

[Feathers First Aviary]

I wish everyone that got birds was just half as dedicated to them as everyone on this forum!

[Mare]

Dedication is the key word, Sara. Taking on a parrot that needs a new home is taking on a rescue bird,, no doubt, in my mind. Be it from CL, a pet store, or from a sanctuary, we are rescuing a bird. Even from breeders..what the heck :(. These are not birds born to the wild and even if their chances weren't good in the wild,,their chances were theirs.

[Mare]

Ok, I'm feeling like I may be alienating myself by saying what I just said but that is the way I feel, especially after taking on two cockatoos that no one else wanted. These are not birds meant for captivity. I can't imagine why anyone would want to try and keep one captive...just can't. We, on this forum, have birds that we love, me included, and I would miss my birds if I didn't have them with me and I think that they wouldn't know what to do without us. Being a captive bird is not their choice, nor ours (at this point), it is just something that happened :(

[kendrafitz]

Mare, I have to agree with you. I don't think you are alienating yourself.

Don't have a whole lot to add, but it makes me sad to see the rescues so full. It is not the parrots fault that they are wild animals in a captive situation. Then tossed away bc the people who bought them can't or won't care for them properly. Taking care of these beautiful creatures is an all consuming job. I love Rosie deeply, but she really doesn't belong locked up. It took living with my girl for me to understand. I can't imagine my life without her, but I can imagine the wonderful life she could have had if she was born in the wild.

Bittersweet, but there it is. Don't get me wrong, I love my girl more than words can say. It is just sad when I think about all the birds without homes or love. Thank goodness for people like the people on this forum!!!

[plax]

Sara: I think your message is so very necessary. You've conveyed it quite well!

[Feathers First Aviary]

I agree with you guys, we live with two cockatoos and have worked with many others, an I can honestly say, they don't belong in captivity. Even the best we can do is only a fraction of what they'd get from being wild. I think a lot of bigger birds are the same way. They just have so many needs we couldn't possibly fulfill. At least with the smaller guys its easier to allow for things like indoor flight and interaction with others of their same species.

[Mayden]

I agree with you guys, we live with two cockatoos and have worked with many others, an I can honestly say, they don't belong in captivity. Even the best we can do is only a fraction of what they'd get from being wild. I think a lot of bigger birds are the same way. They just have so many needs we couldn't possibly fulfill. At least with the smaller guys its easier to allow for things like indoor flight and interaction with others of their same species.

But Budgies would fly miles in a day if they had the chance. A flight cage is not 'good enough' in comparison. I do not doubt that birds can be happy with their situation, but compare it to what they SHOULD have... it's really no comparison at all. It is very bittersweet.

I've got an albino budgie, she wouldn't have survived. I've got a budgie with chronic respiratory issues... wouldn't survive. A splayed legged senegal... I know my birds wouldn't survive, being captive raised, and so we all give them the best they can get as they are... but you just can't beat true freedom that a wild parrot has.

[plax]

but you just can't beat true freedom that a wild parrot has.Yes, that it has until its habitat has diminished to the point of uselessness from the ravages of human development and greed :'(

[Mayden]

Yes, that it has until its habitat has diminished to the point of uselessness from the ravages of human development and greed :'(

Something I'm very passionate about is conservation. There needs to be an intervention in so many places... :(

[Feathers First Aviary]

But Budgies would fly miles in a day if they had the chance. A flight cage is not 'good enough' in comparison. I do not doubt that birds can be happy with their situation, but compare it to what they SHOULD have... it's really no comparison at all. It is very bittersweet.

I've got an albino budgie, she wouldn't have survived. I've got a budgie with chronic respiratory issues... wouldn't survive. A splayed legged senegal... I know my birds wouldn't survive, being captive raised, and so we all give them the best they can get as they are... but you just can't beat true freedom that a wild parrot has.

I agree with you completely, what I meant was that it's easier to allow them a decent range of flight compared to a bird the size of, say, a macaw. Our house has ceilings that are about 20 feet high and the living room, kitchen, dining room and upstairs loft are all open to each other. We let the budgies and conures fly all over the place and while it's not miles, it's enough to tire them out. The cockatoos may fly around but never to the point of being tired, even in a house this size, there just isn't enough room for them to fly adequately.

[Minamommy]

Kendra,Mare, I agree totally. I can't imagine my life without Mina. I walked into that pet store and bought her because no way did I want anyone else to get her that didn't understand U2s, and I didn't want to see her end up in a rescue. The flip side it would be amazing to see her in the wild taking flight with her mate and maybe her baby's. But hey I'm human and selfish so I thank god every day that I'm her guardian for my lifetime.