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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Budgie in a small cage

67 replies

MrMakersFartyParty · 09/07/2019 10:19

My Sister has recently got a budgie and a 2nd hand cage, the cage is the tiniest thing I've ever seen, it must be about 30cm x 30cm. She is not going to let the bird out of the cage, maybe very occasionally but not as a routine. The budgie came from an aviary with lots of other budgies but my sister only wants one budgie.
Have tried talking to her but she insists this size cage is not cruel and she will talk to the budgie throughout the day so it's not bored.

Aibu for being incredibly frustrated that this is happening and theres nothing I can do? I feel so sad for it as it looks so sad and bored and I cannot see how 30cm x 30cm is adequate.

OP posts:

summerofladybird · 09/07/2019 11:28

Even the smallest cage at a chain pet store is 52 x 46 x 36cm

LoobyLou1976 · 09/07/2019 11:28

Sounds like your goldfish is well cared for!
As far as I'm aware the old adage about a goldfish only growing to the size of its tank is a myth. What you end up with is a goldfish with stunted growth or other health issues relating to water quality, or one that dies before it can grow to a large size.. In the wild goldfish grow up to 35cm. They are very messy fish and produce a lot of waste, so absolutely need a filtered and properly cycled aquarium.
There is a rough guide about how many fish (or inches of fish) per litre of water, but most pet shops don't really adhere to it and it is easy to simply lie about how many fish you have. They are one of the most neglected kinds of pet because most people simply do not do their research, and because of the holdover from the days of winning them at a fair in a plastic bag, and bunging them in a plastic bowl with some hideous coloured gravel.
Fish keeping is a true hobby and lots of people get upset by neglect, be it intentional or otherwise.

NinjaInFluffyPJs · 09/07/2019 11:32

@BinkyBaa thank you. Never knew that about goldfish!

@MrMakersFartyParty that cage sounds like travel cage

Lifeover · 09/07/2019 11:47

Well as an owner of both budgies and fish (and lots of other animals) I’d say firstly unless she’s willing to let the budgie sit with her and for her to entertain it several hours a day she needs to get a bigger cage, a second budgie and give them free flight times.

Budgies are
Easier to keep than fish. I keep temperate fish, ie normal room temp keeps them at the right temp most of time with top up heater for winter when house heating not on. Making sure the chemical balance in the water is right to enable the fish to survive and thrive will see test tubes regularly in the kitchen, ensuring correct stocking of fish both in numbers and compatibility etc are all work, not to mention the water changes etc

summerofladybird · 09/07/2019 11:53

I want to buy a budgie now....we can't have them because of allergies unfortunately.

RunsForGummyBears · 09/07/2019 11:58

Why get a budgie if you won't let it out! Poor little birdy. 😭😭😭😭😭

StoatofDisarray · 09/07/2019 11:59

This is animal abuse. Please either steal the budgie or report her to the RSPCA.

I keep a very small parrot in a big cage for large parrots. He is out of the cage whenever I am at home, from the moment I get up at 5.30am to when I go to bed at 10pm, and when I'm at work and he's in his cage, he has loads of toys (regularly changed), a video on an ipad with sounds and movements to watch, a bath for washing in, and food hidden for foraging all over the place, and I still feel massively guilty about leaving him.

What is wrong with her - doesn't she have any empathy at all?! Poor little budgie.

TheInebriati · 09/07/2019 12:03

It annoys me that people cant see how abusive it is to keep gregarious animals in solitary confinement. Budgies are not solitary birds, in the wild they live in huge flocks, they need company.

Summertimeatthebeach · 09/07/2019 12:08

Reminds me of my ndn who had 2 canaries in a tiny cage - she wanted them because they matched her yellow kitchen. I cleaned them out every Sat as she was terrified of them..
Some people are just unexplainable ime..
If u were you, kidnap it and deny all knowledge.

TheNoodlesIncident · 09/07/2019 12:31

100% agree with @TheInebriati - budgerigars live in massive flocks, keeping one alone is height of cruelty, never mind in a tiny cage like that. Why are people still doing things like this, in this day and age? It's easier than ever to find out the basic requirements of any species you wanted to know about.

Laurajh1 · 09/07/2019 13:16

Your sister should not be keeping a bird if she does not know how to look after it properly. Any cage bird needs a minimum of two hours out of cage time a day. And that cage is too small. Plus one of the joys of budgie ownership is interacting with them out of the cage. She is being very selfish and very cruel. She needs to rehome the bird or give it back to the people she got it from as she is not fit to keep an animal. That tiny budgie has a short life and she wants to make it as horrible as possible. Tell her to change her behaviour or rehome the bird or you will report her to the RSPCA for animal cruelty. If she is lonely tell her to get voluntary work at an animal rescue. I am a bird rescuer and I am appalled at this story.

Armadillostoes · 09/07/2019 13:34

OP-Your sister might or might not lie to the RSPCA but that doesn't mean that they would accept her claims at face value. Protecting the innocent burd has to be the priority here.

Also, is your sister generally a selfish and cruel person? What she is doing here is both of those things in the extreme.

Mommabear1066 · 09/07/2019 14:42

This is cruel unacceptable. I rescue foster Budgie etc... I have 19 Budgie. Budgie are sociable animals and thrive in pairs.if not they get depressed start stressing and get I'll. Budgie need at least 4hrs exercise day.makes..also they need variant DIET too certain foods like broccoli sweetcorn peas orange etc. Feeding a Budgie on a seed DIET only is like you eating three mac Donald daily. You should also changed its water seed daily. blood boiling angry.thats why are rescue centres are full because people get these pets don't know how to look after them.grrrrr

Weeman2 · 09/07/2019 14:45

I have 2 budgies I would never have them in a tiny cage. My budgies are in a 4 ft cage with plenty of space and toys. Your sister is being so cruel. I got my 2 of Gumtree and they came in a tiny cage with no toys or feeding bowls. I was so angry with the previous owners. I went out and got them there big cage and toys there so happy wee things now. I would get her told straight how would she like to be locked in a tiny room with nothing. Budgies need to be in pairs as they get board really easy and need a companion to keep them company.

Lifecraft · 09/07/2019 14:52

Her husband left her so this is her answer i think

She probably needs a cockatoo!

ew1990 · 09/07/2019 14:54

@lifecraft that is the best comment I have ever seen

Cherryblossom82 · 09/07/2019 15:46

It’s cruel Can you persuade her to hand it back
Perhaps after showing her some concise info that says how cruel it is?

summerofladybird · 09/07/2019 16:17

She probably needs a cockatoo!

A cockatoo or a cock or two ?

EmeraldRubyShark · 09/07/2019 16:35

That’s fucking horrible. My heart is broken thinking of this budgie going from being in an aviary where they can fly with their friends and associates to solitary confinement. It’s the equivalent of trapping a human in a tiny cell that’s too small to be able to stand up or walk in, or enforcing someone having their legs amputated.

What are you going to do? Sadly I can’t see the RSPCA giving a shit. I doubt this will be a popular position but in your shoes I think if she doesn’t listen to reason the only thing you can really do is buy her a much bigger cage. You shouldn’t have to. Maybe you can’t afford to. But if it were me and someone I knew was doing this and the bird was suffering I think I wouldn’t see myself as being able to have any other choice, I couldn’t just abandon the fact I knew about this cruelty. So I’d end up buying a massive enriching cage for the budgie and see it as a gift to them not your sister. And spending time at her place letting the bird out and socialising with them.

legocat · 09/07/2019 16:38

Poor bird. Please report her.

Lifecraft · 09/07/2019 16:39

Sadly I can’t see the RSPCA giving a shit.

To be fair, they are really stretched and hugely underfunded.
Our local RSPCA office is tiny, you couldn't swing a cat in there!

doxxed · 09/07/2019 16:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

Cherryblossom82 · 09/07/2019 16:48

I like EmeraldRubyShark’s post

NameChange9854 · 09/07/2019 16:51

I agree the RSPCA wouldn't get involved. I loathe people like your sister though and, after one last talk and assuming she doesn't change her mind, would cut her out.

Original poster

MrMakersFartyParty · 09/07/2019 18:55

Yeah she is selfish in general really, I've already said that my children won't be going round anymore as it is upsetting to see, I was hoping to blackmail her into changing her mind but she thinks I'm a weirdo!

OP posts:

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