Pet Forum / Birds / Parrots / May 2004

Why do you clip the wings of babies? They need to be able to learn to
fly and develop strong chest muscles and heart.

The breeder advertising here appears to endanger their birds; for
example,

  http://www.velocity.net/~journeyman348/salem_grace.html

shows two cockatiels arranged on an ornamental merry-go-round that
appears to be painted and may prove to be toxic.

Furthermore, I quote www.avianwelfare.org:

"Like dogs and cats, birds are now facing an epidemic of
overpopulation and homelessness. There are not enough homes --
especially good homes -- for every bird bred! Small birds, like the
young Cockatiels above, are the most common victims. Thousands of
birds are displaced each year simply because their caretakers can no
longer provide the time and attention they require -- either because
they were not educated about bird care or because their lives and
interests change. The least fortunate unwanted birds are passed from
home to home before dying from neglect or abuse, or they are
euthanized. The lucky ones end up in shelters to await adoption or in
sanctuaries to live out their lives on their own terms. These shelters
and sanctuaries are filling up fast! You can help solve this problem
by not breeding birds and by adopting a displaced bird rather than
buying one from a pet store if you are ready to make a lifetime care
commitment. Bird rescue, adoption, and sanctuary organizations can
also use volunteers and donations to help care for their birds. Spread
the word about bird overpopulation and adoption to your fellow bird
lovers. Thousands of homeless parrots and other birds will thank you!"