Helping people who keep parrot caged

[Laurasea]

We probably have all come across people who haven’t let their parrot out of their cage for years........ Usually they love their bird, would never give it up, usually they claim it bites , and is to hard to get back to the cage........ perhaps they are an older person , maybe they’ve already had the bird for more than 20 years
And they are a friend of a friend or a stranger you have come across......
( while looking for your bird, or talking about your parrots)......

They love their burd, and don’t think their is any problem....

What do you do? HOW do you help? Especially if help isn’t asked for or wanted?

Those who have worked in rescues know how often this is the case, how so many parrots are in back rooms or garages and tho given food and water haven’t left their cage in 5, 10, 20 years....... yet the person lives their burd, would never give them up, claim no body can touch or work with the burd......

It kills my soul

 

[noodles123]

I will contemplate this question-- hard to provide advice when it isn't wanted, but sometimes, I do...lol

 

[Jen5200]

It hurts my heart to see situations like that. I usually offer to “help” with the bird or ask if I can take it out periodically and interact. I have not come up with any alternatives if that offer is declined yet.... will be interested what others think.

 

[Laurasea]

It’s hard to not try something, tho it’s a very tricky situation... but a 25 year old African grey that has t left the cage for years and has years ahead of never leaving the cage.... that’s hard to walk away from
Used to make noises be talkative , tho seems that they are happy he is quiet .... so probably a very shut down and cage bound burd by now
I certainly have few facts and info to go off of but it’s sure hard I’m sure the person has good intentions
Rehabilitations for both parties would not be a quick fix, sbd they are an at risk age and health during this darn pandemic
O haven’t seen said burd but when I showed penny and talked about plucking I think this one does as well, which can leave people embarrassed about showing, and I would have to be invited inside..... my heart wants to develop a relationship and trust and try and improve lives.....
But I’m still spending time out looking for my baby,

This is also a good topic to discuss in general , as these situations are something that we come across, or hear about

These are t people who are trying to mean or neglectful, it’s sort of a culture out there which people just except that this is the way things are, not realizing that there are help and techniques and that fir such an intelligent creature .....ugh I’m talking in general, as I have come across situations like this in rescue when they are giving up the bird, and those people think if they just had a different bird things would be better...that it just this bird that is like this....

As we know and discuss as a community , parrots are difficult pets , and big parrots have big beaks that do hurt....
And unlijefogd, there we easy acces to experts and help... I’m not, claiming to be an expert!!! Lol just to be clear,
But but I woul like to offer ways to improve mental well being and physical movement

 

[Scott]

I have never encountered this situation, but would tactfully discuss with parronts and offer suggestions to improve the bird's life. Some folks are ignorant and need a bit of encouragement, others dismissive. In the latter case, one has to determine whether abuse exists before calling authorities. Unfortunately, a good many situations are in between, ie disinterest and allowing a meagerly fed bird to eke out a miserable life. Incredibly sad for such intelligent beings.

 

[bigfellasdad]

I had a friend who had a family cockatiel, 'the bird' not even given a name!, they kept him in his cage and only got him out when they wanted by putting their hands in the cage and catching him. His cage was at the bottom of the stairs so only saw people when they passed by.

Every time i went to the house i would talk of what birds like, what you had to do to get the best out of them but they never took the hint. Eventually I just came out and said it, 'I can give this little animal a better life', and they agreed and allowed me to take him home. I had Jed for a few years and although he was always timid, he knew I was friendly and didnt want to hurt him, he died within a few years of my taking him on but I did the best I could. He was a spightfull little hissing bird most of the time though, but he enjoyed his freedom and interactions with me.

 

[itzjbean]

I don't know anyone in my area that owns birds, but I think there are different situations to consider. I keep my birds caged most of the time -- for their safety, and because they have a flight cage. 2 of my birds are tame, 2 are not. One of the non-tame ones I rescued from my husband's coworker who had her in a super small cage, but I know it's not my business to have commented on it. I don't know the situation, the background or past history of the bird or owner so I mind my own business. But again I've never been i a situation where I knew someone who was neglectful in this way to tehri birds that I wasn't rehoming with me.

 

[Talven]

Ignorance is a curable affliction. It just takes education to cure.

Stupidity on the other hand is a life long problem. There is no cure for it.

Work out where your person falls on this simple scale and treat appropriately.

 

[Laurasea]

These people aren’t being abusing,
But I’m interested in this topic as a general discussion
I’m surprised that only a few of you have come across this..
To me an intelligent and large parrot kept in a cage of average size in house, and never taken out... is cruel, the equivalent of keeping a dog in crate it’s whole life only parrots are smarter as in cruelly deprivation of movement of body in a normal way as their body is designed, of mental stimulation ,
An aviary is different, as is a large cage and a small burd that gives them the room to really move around or even short flight
Am I alone, or one of few in thinking this? Is sitting in one or two spots and being feed and water enough for such an intelligent creature

 

[noodles123]

You are not alone. I agree 500%...although I would say it is neglect and that is a form of inadvertent abuse---I don't think it is malicious or pre-meditated, but it isn't okay.

 

[Talven]

Is sitting in one or two spots and being feed and water enough for such an intelligent creature

We do this to humans in jail as an extra form of punishment. It's called solitary confinement. What would people say if we did that to a 3 year old child?

 

[charmedbyekkie]

There's a tiny, tiny subset of free-flyers (we might be able to call them outliers) that believe in keeping their birds caged unless free-flying - not even letting them out in the house. This is to help discourage birds from landing anywhere that isn't their owner because they're only allowed to perch on their owner or on a specific stand (or in their cage). It's incredibly effective as the birds don't feel other places are perchable, so they don't land in trees or on other people; instead, they come back to the only perch they know - their owner.

I must remind - this is NOT the majority of free-flyers. But the stamina on these birds is amazing. They free-fly regularly (at minimum, weekly, if not more). Compared to the average 'domesticated' parrot, I'd say these are in better physical shape (Cairo can't even fathom keeping up with this stamina, even though he flies all over the house inside and gets his weekend outdoor flights on the kite line).

When they advised us to keep Cairo caged, except for flight training, my partner and I just looked at each other, knowing we'll never be able to do that.