The global companion bird trade encompasses both captive-bred and wild-caught species, with welfare concerns spanning capture, transport, retail, and lifelong captive management across millions of birds.
Companion bird welfare is compromised at multiple stages of the supply chain. Wild-caught birds experience severe stress, high mortality during transport, and complete loss of natural social and environmental context. Even captive-bred birds often experience inadequate social housing, insufficient foraging enrichment, inappropriate cage size, and neglect when novelty wears off for owners unprepared for decades-long commitments. Parrots in particular are highly intelligent and socially complex animals whose natural flocking behavior and complex vocalizations are severely constrained in most household settings. Feather-destructive behavior, excessive screaming, and aggression are common indicators of chronic welfare compromise in pet parrots.