Budgie in a small cage

[MrMakersFartyParty]

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.

Very very cruel op!!😠😠😠
Contact the RSPCA for advice on how to address her cruelty.
Please don't leave this poor bird like this.
Totally out of order and she should not be allowed to have pets when she is so ignorant of their needs.
Show her this page,perhaps it might enlighten her.
for you for caring.
I pray you succeed in putting a stop to this.

Report to RSPCA

Does she really think that her inanely chatting to the poor thing will make up for the fact that it will never again get to fly or mix with it's own kind?!! God I really hate thoughtless, selfish idiots like your sister

@Lifecraft

I think subsequent posters missed your questionable cat analogy!!

Seriously though, all cages are prisons. The size is irrelevant. Birds should be free.

It's not irrelevant for this poor bird though, it's in a cage that is far too small and is being kept alone.

It’s not acceptable - at least in my view - for any bird to be kept in a cage even with others.

They are not ours to rule like gods.

It’s not acceptable - at least in my view - for any bird to be kept in a cage even with others.

I think it's possible to keep birds in cages in certain circumstances and for them to have a great life. Falcons kept for falconry, have a great time. Well fed, loads of exercise, free from the dangerous of being a wild falcon. And rare species that are in breeding programmes.
A budgie kept in a metal shoebox, not so much.

Plus most of us want to eat chicken, turkey etc. so birds have to be kept in captivity.

'' all cages are prisons. The size is irrelevant. Birds should be free.''

I disagree. Most animals have a territory and are not free to encroach on the territory of their neighbours; so most animals (even those that migrate) are familiar with the concept of a territory with defined boundaries.
The question is, what makes an animal content with its territory, and can we replicate that in captivity?

AI203 - tell that to my aunt and uncle who bred parrots and had a parrot park - now closed down years ago. They had all sorts of cages and enclosures but even then I don't think that's enough. Thank god they're now divorced and don't keep any parrot.

Then there was my other aunt (aunt's dsis) who had parrots and then one had an accident in their flat with their dogs... RIP parrot. they also had an African Grey who was gorgeous and in a nice big cage but I felt so sorry for him and relieved when he died to be honest.

It’s not acceptable - at least in my view - for any bird to be kept in a cage even with others.

Yep. 100% agree. I’m very much ‘empty cages not bigger cages’ myself, but in this scenario sadly the budgie is already stuck there and suffering so I think if OP can either influence their sister to provide a better environment or provide it herself, she should. As I doubt she’s going to be able to remove the budgie and find them a new home in an aviary, the sister sounds unhinged.

It’s so selfish

I keep cockatiels,. Budgies do need to be let out to fly frequently and they will fly (a lot!).
Most parakeets are very social, so if you are out during the day they should have "company" even if it means having the radio or TV on all day but another of their species is a better idea.
Surely if she wants company a cat (If she has a garden) would be the best pet to have.
When I lived on my own I fancied getting a dog for company, but the practicalities were against me. My Aunt gave me a cat, who was a wonderful friend and companion to me for years.
That cage is far far too small, get her a book about keeping caged birds, she might take notice of a book written by an expert!

I hate seeing any bird in a cage.

Budgies shouldn't be kept as pets. Anyone who's seen them in the wild with huge flocks of them all chattering away would agree.
If people insist they need a large aviary and several budgies. Not on their own or in a cage.

My aunt used to keep a budgie in what I thought was way too small a cage. So distressing to see!

She was always fussing over it and kissing it through the bars and then one day it pecked her hard on the lips (there was blood). Good! The poor little bird is no longer with us and thank god she's not getting another.

OP - you have to make your sister see sense. Lock her in her car and lecture her until she sees sense!

my budgies wont stay in their cage, if we are late opening the roof each morning, they go off! ( one has learnt to get in and out on her own the other calls her back in as she cant get out by herself) they dont actually do anything once out of the cage, they like to sit and watch out the window and they love TV, we put on budgie tv on you tube if we are going out for the day, they love that too.
they are very picky and wont eat any veges other than a few pecks at broccoli, and we have tried heaps of veges and fruits, just not interested, they are aviary birds and didnt have much human interaction but are slowly getting used to us and sometimes will answer back when we whistle or chat to them, we think they are saying fuck off but we get excited that they are singing, they also sing for a while 3 times a day, and tweet when im running water or washing dishes, the vacuum or the dishwasher... not liking the noise? or really liking it? who knows

OP, I’m sure other folks will have said it, but show her this thread! Surely that will convince her it’s cruel!