Anyone ever feel this way?

[MusicalFeathers]

Ok, I have been feeling this way more and more lately, especially when I take my birds out to the park or a walk or something.

I tend to think that people might think I am cruel for keeping birds. You know...since "they should be free and not kept in captivity".
I have had birds all my life and I cannot seem to live without them. Somewhere inside of me always feels guilty that I have them as part of my family. Although they are very well taken care of in everyway, I still feel like maybe I'm doing something wrong.
I have five birds, (Gonzo - semi foster)....I love them completely and do everything for them and always put them first.
Do any of you ever feel anything like this? Should I? Should I not?

A year ago I had an experience that will always be wrapped around my heart. I found a baby dove outside my home ( about a week old) and he was being eaten alive by ants. Long story short, I took him in, syringe fed him (which I had never done before...nothing close to it but with lots of research I accomplished it) and kept him till he was learning to fly. I trained him to free fly and he learned at 3pm everyday he would fly down by my back door and wait for me to feed him his seeds. This happened till I saw him many months ahead coming with what I assumed to be his mate. His visits then became scarce.
Anyway, my point is that the joy it gave me to love a bird and allow it freedom is indescribable and it makes me feel guilty for having birds, even if they were born in captivity. I don't know....sorry I ranted on a bit.
If any of you have anything to say to this feeling, please say...it would be nice!

Thanks for listening.

[loyallyroyal]

I really wouldnt worry about it, the birds we have are raised in captivity and couldnt survive in the wild, so enjoy them. The only other option would be to join PETA in trying to mass euthanize all domestic raised animals that cant be released into the wild...

Now I think its cruel to capture them, put them through quarantine, and then seel them so someone who knows nothing about birds.

But there is nothing wrong with loving the ones already here.

[odhinn]

Don't worry to much about it. Like was said most captive breed animals have a tough time surviving. In fact if they are extremely tame they will just find another owner to take them in like my neighbor and his mustached parakeet that he found wandering in his front yard. Some people are very judgmental of others if they do not understand or are just flat out ignorant. In everything you do in life you will be judged by those that do not understand or are jealous. Owning pets is just the start. There is nothing wrong with parrot ownership as long as the birds needs are met and they are well taken care of.

[kellywess]

The way I look at it is... I dont much care for animals in cages... when I am home, they are out. But I just love each one so much and if somebody is going to keep them (mine) it should be me, cuz I know they are loved and extremely well cared for (they are my babies). I look at it as... they could be somewhere else with people who may not let them be what they are and may not care as well for them as I feel that me and my husband do. I know cuz a couple of them I obtained from really "CRAPPY" places. I know my birds are happy and if anyone should have them... well then it should be me. If I didnt have them in a cage someone else would. Our parrots would probably not survive if set free... they are thousands of miles away from their natural habitat in most cases... especially in the United States. We spoil them so bad, they couldnt fend for themselves. My little birds dont even know how to crack a nut open for goodness sake. I do it for them so they dont drop it (and so I can make sure its not rotten). LOL I know I am nuts (yes, pun intended). Gonna stop ranting now. Dont feel bad.

[pippy]

I do understand where you're coming from but I think so long as we give our birds as good a life as possible within the confines of our homes and immediate surroundings then we can be relatively guilt-free

My birds have loads of ropes and toys, the best fresh food and the cleanest seed mix plus appropriate supplements including milkthistle seed, walnuts, almonds, African palm nuts and the like.

They go out on their harnesses when the weather allows, they fly free in the downstairs of my home for several hours a day (I've made sure my home is safe as I'd never dream of preventing them from flying by clipping).

They have each other for company when I'm out, they have a big cage and they have my love at all times and my attention several hours a day.

I feel no guilt

I'm sure your birds are happy souls

[angelicarboreals]

I agree with what Pippy said.

Birds have been in captivity way before any of us were born, so it is not like you went out in the rainforest and stole your birds from their flock. Although there are still some exceptions, most of the birds that we have living in our homes have never known life away from humans. There is no way to release them either, so it is not like you have a choice to make and are being selfish by keeping them.

As long as we provide optimal care for the birds that we have under our care, and do the very best we can by them then you should not feel guilty. While I believe birds were never meant to be in captivity, we are a long way removed from fixing that, and I feel that outside of the wild I am providing the best home that I can for them.

[SDavid]

Do any of you ever feel anything like this? Should I? Should I not?

Well, I'd say maybe we all should "a little" because its normal and it makes us better bird keepers. I mean, who wouldn't doubt whether we should keep wild animals? But don't let it consume you. I agree with alot of what has already been said. As far as what people think maybe it's more about the the image. Let's say, a bird on a leash as opposed to a dog. It just looks a little more cruel to people because a bird is the very symbol of freedom to most. We use expressions like "free as a bird," etc.

"I really wouldnt worry about it, the birds we have are raised in captivity and couldnt survive in the wild, "

Releasing them is a complicated issue and hardly possible but, to be fair, there are flocks of wild parrots (the ones I know of are love birds, macaws, conures, quacker parrots) thriving in many states throughout the country many of which are either escaped or have been released. We've even done them the favor of importing decorative trees native to their own habitat. And depending on the species (since there are so many kept as pets) some can survive and blend into flocks of their own kind.

"so it is not like you went out in the rainforest and stole your birds from their flock"

Mass demand for them as pets is what causes trapping, bird-mills, illegal smuggling and trading, rescues filled to capacity, and has caused bird species as a whole so much cruelty and has brought many to near extinction. When I take my bird out with me I wonder if I'm encouraging someone to consider a macaw as a pet because I look so happy with mine. People who may not consider the bigger picture. I wonder if I might be contributing to a bird having a bad life so stick to quieter places with less people around.

"While I believe birds were never meant to be in captivity, we are a long way removed from fixing that, and I feel that outside of the wild I am providing the best home that I can for them. "

That summs it up for me too. Although there is logic to the point of view that birds lives are not compatible with ours and they don't belong with us.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by SDavid

rescues filled to capacity, .

thus why I only sell suppliesand work with rescues!

a few of mine, would never have survived the wild, even if born there. their disabilities would have brought them certain death. including my lovely Miss Emma Lynn. With that thought in the back of my mind, It makes me feel less bothered by the fact that i keep wild animals.

[Young]

I remember the first time I was introduced to Chimney on this forum. You posted such lovely pictures of him outside, and even took the care to put a harness on him for safety.

I remember thinking how wonderful it would be if all birds born in captivity, in homes with their humans, in stores waiting for their special human to find them, could experience the love and care your Chimney had.

I have similar thoughts as you have expressed often, as I clean my babies cages, feed them, look over their toys and play areas to see if I can offer them more. I know the ideal would be if all of our babies could be "free", in the wild. However, I also know that there are "special" babies that require our love and care or they would not survive. I guess, we are gifted and blessed with their love and presence in our lives, as I hope we are all able to provide love and comfort to them.

I am just thankful that your little ones have someone as loving, sensitive, and respectful of life as you for their mommy.

[Abby]

Nup I don't. I'm over the whole warm and fuzzy and trying to justify to people why I have birds when they start carrying on with the "oh but don't you feel bad when you see all the birds flying free, and it really isn't right blah blah." I have birds because I like them and enjoy them. End of subject, not going to justify it. I live in a country where we have wild parrots. Do I feel bad that mine aren't. Nup.

They get fed a nutritious diet, don't have to worry about predators, starvation, dehydration, getting hit by cars or shot by farmers or idiots. The ons out in the wild do have more freedom of choice and flight space (yep the whole world is a little bigger then my aviaries) but they have concerns too. I'm happy with my lot and they seems to thriving on the care given to them.

The world is a judgemental place and when you start questioning this stuff you are judging yourself and then trying to excuse the behaviour. I wish people would just have the balls to say I keep birds because I enjoy them (no hidden agenda crap) and tell the bleeding hearts who try to make us feel bad to shove it.