A Few Questions

[BruceV]

Got a few questions that have been on my mind lately.

1.) what are the downfalls to having multiple birds in the same cage? Like 2 macaws in a cage that is meant to barely house 1.

2.) what are the affects on birds that have no toys? Just existing in a cage?

3.) what are the affects on a bird getting no natural light? For example, living in a basement with a single incandescent bulb.

4.) how dangerous to the bird is it to have a cage not cleaned on a regular basis? Example, feces piled 3-4 inches high on a perch/floor.

These are things that I have noticed at different private homes housing birds. My birds have toys that they can play with, although some don't get used. I clean the pans and the cage regularly. So this is not the conditions of my birds.

Hmmmm...maybe this should be in the Q&A section? Feel free to move it you feel the need.

 

[Birdman666]

Got a few questions that have been on my mind lately.

1.) what are the downfalls to having multiple birds in the same cage? Like 2 macaws in a cage that is meant to barely house 1.

2.) what are the affects on birds that have no toys? Just existing in a cage?

3.) what are the affects on a bird getting no natural light? For example, living in a basement with a single incandescent bulb.

4.) how dangerous to the bird is it to have a cage not cleaned on a regular basis? Example, feces piled 3-4 inches high on a perch/floor.

These are things that I have noticed at different private homes housing birds. My birds have toys that they can play with, although some don't get used. I clean the pans and the cage regularly. So this is not the conditions of my birds.

Hmmmm...maybe this should be in the Q&A section? Feel free to move it you feel the need.

1) Not enough room to open their wings could cause weakness. They could bond with each other, and hate you for doing that to them. They could fight, and rip each other's feathers out/toes off...

2) At best they become perch potatoes. At worst they become scream N plucks. And if they are caged for long periods of time, with no attention, and nothing to do, they could develop psychological disorders. (Doing life in solitary is a form of slow torture!)

3) Studies have shown they need sunlight to help process certain vitamins, plus it improves their disposition. If they never see the sun they can get depressed. The more outside time mine get, the happier they seem to be.

4) They are exposed to bacterial infection. And your wallet is exposed to high vet bills.

 

[BruceV]

I was afraid there were going to be no non-negative answers. These are conditions of birds that belong to some people that I know. Unfortunately, they've had birds a LOT longer than I have, so they probably won't listen to what I have to say. But now I have some information rather than just my opinion, so maybe I can make a difference.

Thank you.

Triple negative in the first sentence...sorry about that.

 

[Jayyj]

I can't understand how people let feces build up to any sort of proportion: it takes less than five minutes an evening to wipe down the bottom bars of a macaw sized cage and change the paper, and another five every other day to do the perches and run a feather duster over the bars. If they keep on top of that, then a deeper clean at the weekend doesn't take much more work, and the cage is clean and healthy all the time.

Trust me, I'm a very lazy person and terrible at housework, so if I can keep on top of it anyone can!

 

[BruceV]

I can't understand how people let feces build up to any sort of proportion: it takes less than five minutes an evening to wipe down the bottom bars of a macaw sized cage and change the paper, and another five every other day to do the perches and run a feather duster over the bars. If they keep on top of that, then a deeper clean at the weekend doesn't take much more work, and the cage is clean and healthy all the time.

Trust me, I'm a very lazy person and terrible at housework, so if I can keep on top of it anyone can!

I gotta tell ya, I was shocked. And he didn't even show signs of feeling guilty about the condition of the cages. Yes, cages. Plural. Like 5 of them. He had smaller birds, but they were in filth. But they appeared healthy and happy. No pluckers, all seemed well fed, no odors. But still...

This was before I got my birds and knew how easy it is to clean a cage regularly. I'm rather lazy about housework as well, but a dirty cage is unnecessary and gross!

 

[goalerjones]

You could get them some toys for Christmas.

 

[BruceV]

You could get them some toys for Christmas.

Great idea! I hadn't really thought of that! They're not my birds, but so what? Thanks!