Let's Keep Birds Free! Ban the Sale of Birds in Pet Stores
Birds belong in the sky, not behind bars. That’s why we’re working to ban the retail sale of birds and encouraging folks not to purchase birds from pet stores.
Suffering from Mill to Store to Cage
Cruel Mills
Birds sold in pet stores come from large-scale commercial breeding facilities called mills. Thousands of birds are kept in rows of barren cages in barns and warehouses. Birds are denied the ability to flock, fly, and express their natural instincts.
Babies Torn From Families
In mills, babies are removed from their parents prematurely to induce reproduction in the adults. Scared and helpless, unweaned baby birds can develop psychological problems and may be injured or even killed when handled or fed improperly by inexperienced pet store staff.
Psychological Stress and Loneliness
Many bird species, especially parrots, are exceptionally social. They travel and roost in large flocks. Birds in captivity can develop self-destructive behaviors such as feather plucking, screaming, and aggression.
Deprived of Flight
Birds need to fly. Most bird cages are too small to allow birds to fly. Depriving birds of flight can lead to muscular atrophy, obesity, and depression. The cage recommended by Petco is 27 million times smaller than a parakeet’s range in the wild.
Inadequate Diets
Birds have specialized diets that are difficult to replicate in homes. Though seed diets are popular, they lack essential nutrients for parrots. Malnutrition is estimated to cause up to 90% of clinical illnesses seen by avian veterinarians.
Rescues and Sanctuaries Are in Crisis
Rescues and sanctuaries are struggling to keep up with the thousands of surrender requests they receive each year. Surrendered birds often exhibit extreme behavioral issues, so it can take months or years for them to find a new home.
Yet the pet industry floods stores in the US with millions of baby birds every year.
Sales Decimate Wild Bird Populations
Bird sales drive the (legal and illegal) wildlife trade by increasing demand, which is pushing bird species like African grey parrots to extinction.
Removing birds from their natural habitats affects ecosystems, too. Birds are key pollinators and seed dispersers, and their absence contributes to habitat degradation and reduced biodiversity.
Act Now
Pledge not to buy a bird from a pet store.
Advocate for Laws in Your Community
Use these resources to learn how to advocate for a law prohibiting the sale of birds in pet stores.
- Free Toolkit for Animal Advocates
- One-page “policy concept” for legislators on why communities need expanded retail pet sales bans.
- Banning the Retail Sale of Birds
