Caged Birds.

as I'd already said
I wasn't disagreeing with you Lynne, but making the point that they need to know who the 'pack leader' is otherwise they will take charge.

as I'd already said..........They are pack animal, meant to live in a pack with other dogs or at least with humans.

I don't agree that dogs need other dogs, or to live in a pack.
Dogs are quite happy to live in a 'family pack' with humans but they need to know who the 'pack leader' is.
Cats do their own thing and generally are in charge of their human families.

I was brought up accepting that having a pet budgerigar was the norm but I really dislike seeing birds in cages now.
Mine used to sit on my head when I was a child and was allowed to fly around most of the time but one day he escaped. They don't generally survive in the wild because other birds will attack them - however, he came home again, much bedraggled and worse for wear but recovered.

I eat very very little meat really only a bit if chicken I am definitely looking into eating none again I was a vegetarian for about eight years got pulled in with some turkey one Christmas There is a definite movement towards plants based meals and I m heading that way fairly quickly
Hate anything caged, birds should be free to be in the open even if their life is shorter cats should be free to roam not stuck in a house, zoos and circuses should be banned, foxes should not be hunted and badgers should not be culled Nature will take care of everything if allowed

Lynne59, as soda pops realised, I meant that dogs are perfectly happy living in a human family and don't need the company of other dogs to be happy. Some dogs prefer to be 'only' dogs. It's a shame when people believe that getting a companion dog will help their first dog stop feeling lonely and howling when left. All kinds of research shows that its more likely both dogs will howl when left, rather than snuggle up together feeling perfectly at ease.

Thanks crystaltipps I'm not surprised to hear you're vegan. I'm not surprised its a lifestyle that's increasing either. This, from a person who eats meat a couple of times a week.

Still no viable alternatives though, and funny how you're all experts on birds needs when clearly you know nothing about them. Not all birds would fly for miles given the chance as I said much earlier in the thread some would just hang about as close to the food source as possible. In fact if they all had a plentiful food source close at hand they wouldn't fly very far at all. It's the lack of food that make birds like cockatiels fly for miles every day not the joy of flying.
As for letting rabbits run around your whole garden well you obviously didn't have foxes in the area. We let our rabbits out when we were about but they had to go in the shed when we weren't or else the foxes would have killed them and I didn't fancy my kids witnessing that.

Ism64 yes I am a vegan albeit of only a few months, though I’ve been veggie since I was about 10 after witnessing some horrible animal cruelty. It has been easier than I thought as there’s lots more vegan friendly foods available now.

I think Iam meant that dogs are happy with their human family pack and did not necessarily need a canine pack Lynne.

Iam64...you say don't agree that dogs need to be with others or to be in a pack, yet you say they are not solitary creatures....confusing.

crystaltipps, are you a vegan? That's a genuine question, not a dig. I ask because growing numbers of people are moving towards becoming vegan. Friends who've been veggie for years are exploring ways of eating less dairy, with a view to giving it up all together.
I eat meat a couple of times a week, sourced via my good local butcher . Even as a small child, I found it hard to understand why we eat meat, yet I continue to do so.
sorry for going off piste here -

I don’t like anything in cages , plus I don’t like those transporters where sheep, pigs and cows are driven to the abattoir all squashed together with no room to move, no water and no care. Any animal cruelty makes me sick.

What Iam64 said x 100.

I don't like to see birds in cages either. I hate being lions or any big cat in a zoo, same goes for elephants etc

If people care for their animals properly, humans and domesticated cats and dogs have lived happily together for centuries. I don't agree that dogs need other dogs, or to live in a pack. Providing their needs are met properly, they're usually quite content to be part of the family pack. I do agree, dogs shouldn't be left alone for long periods on a regular basis. They are not solitary creatures.

They are however dogs. They are not fur babies. They are dogs, need to be treated, cared for a responded to as dogs.

I hate to see a bird in a cage. It is so very cruel. Birds are meant to be in flocks, and they would fly miles in the wild. I don't like to see any animal in a cage really.

We had 2 rabbits a few years ago - they had been pets belonging to my 2 GC, but their mother wasn't caring for them properly (and she admitted it), so I had them. I bought a brand-new double-sized hutch with 2 levels and a long run - but even that didn't seem right, so the hutch door was always open, and the rabbit had the whole garden - 80ft and secured all round - to explore. They loved it! They chewed our flowers, dug holes in the lawn, pooed all over the damned place, and terrorised out 2 cats!
But they were happy and free. Sadly, both have since died, but they had a lovely life.

I also dislike it when people have a dog, leave it at home, alone, all day. They are pack animal, meant to live in a pack with other dogs or at least with humans.

Funny because mine doesn't seem to be emotionally scarred at all in fact she gives every sign of thriving, so you can successfully rehome them. In fact she settled in completely within a couple of days, came out of her cage willingly, made no attempt to bite and started talking to me straight away. So rehoming may not be ideal but I guess her previous owner had no way of knowing he'd develop asthma and be unable to keep her. I took her in and have done everything possible to give her a happy life. She interacts with all us everyday, she comes out of her cage when she wants to but is more than happy to go back in. Would she be happier in the wild? No one can say for certain although she'd probably be dead as they only get to be about 5 years old in the wild and she's at least 10. So all of those who think it's cruel and unacceptable don't seem able to offer a viable alternative.

Agree it is absolutely unacceptable.

A lot of the popular captive breeds form lifelong bonds so you cant find them another "good home" without emotionally scarring them

Except of course those birds could have another 50 years to live so what do you suggest should happen to them. Should we open the cage doors and let them all go, I don't think so because most wouldn't last very long. So if they make you sad don't look at them, but the lives of many kids make me feel sad too. My bird came via a little boy who developed asthma so couldn't keep her. I've spent an absolute fortune on her, she came with a cage that was far too small so over £600 on her cage and a fortune on toys and ropes etc to keep her occupied and entertained.Not to mention tracking down specialist foods for her. I'm also pretty sure she's enjoying her life, I've seen them in the wild and they look bored stiff. She has the opportunity to come out and move around as much as she wants but she chooses to go in her cage just as many dogs, one of mine included like their crate. Plenty of people are against them too and refuse to see they have a use and purpose. Fish in ponds was aimed at someone claiming fish, cats and even dogs shouldn't be kept as pets. I've had them all and make no apologies for any of it. I have always made sure any animal in this house has the best life possible and setting them "free" is not an option for any of them. Keep any animals isn't cheap so stop knocking those who use their hard earned cash to give animals of whatever species the best possible life that they can.

We had a canary when I was a child who had free rein of our dining room - and my head where it 'cleaned' my hair. We then looked after a friend's parrot who told us in no uncertain terms when he wanted to come out of his cage in the morning. Interesting experiences but I agree with other posters that nowadays it doesn't seem right to keep birds caged. Perhaps aviaries are better where they can have flying space and mingle with their peers.

I completely agree. Birds don't belong in cages. However, I inherited a cockatiel called Wiggy, so I get around the problem by letting her out of her cage for most of the day.
As I write this she is perched on the sofa beside me, gently pecking at the computer mouse lead, having had her morning zoom around the room. After Wiggy goes to that great aviary in the sky, I won't be having any more birds.

Seeing birds in cages upsets me ,

Flexible friend fish in a pond can't be compared with fish in a goldfish bowl and in nature there are fish in small areas of water. Dog crates a must for our dog and a place he often goes to himself. Our Dog can go out when they wants to and we have a large garden but caged birds can't. It is good to hear of responsible owners who make every effort to give their birds a good life.

If birds only have a short lifespan in the wild then that is the norm for nature. I am sure some of us oldies are only kept alive by medicine and care.

I have two house cats. They are rescue cats and have no interest whatsoever in going outside. They don't go to the door or even spend much time looking out of windows. They just want to be on our laps and have a fuss made of them.

I m another who hates to see caged birds my other pet hate and I hope I don’t offend anyone but it’s house cats The thought of a cat looking out the window at all the open spaces and not being able to get out really upsets me

There not their