Companion birds — particularly parrots and finches — have complex welfare needs that most commercial cages and husbandry practices fail to adequately meet.
Companion bird welfare is underregulated and poorly understood by many bird owners. Parrots are cognitively sophisticated animals requiring stimulation, social connection, and flight opportunity that most captive environments do not provide. The resulting welfare deficits — feather destruction, stereotypic behavior, aggression, and vocalisation disorders — are widespread and largely preventable through better housing, enrichment, and appropriate social grouping. Education at point of sale, minimum cage size standards, and owner support networks are the most impactful levers for improvement in a sector where birds are often seen as low-maintenance pets.