I have been on one of my motorbike rides up into the country today and stopped at my usual general store / cafe for lunch near Healsville in Vic , they have two outside aviary's there , one has several budgies and several other birds (I'm not sure of there type ) in one and I noticed the main level perch's are fencing wire . Thought to myself there **** and they should have two thicker dia branches in there at least , there are two branches in there but there on a fair angle . Thought's ? Should I say something ? I'm no bird expert .

 

Cheers

Hi toohp,

 

I know what your saying, you feel like you should say something for the sake of the birds, but you don't want to appear to be interferring. If its a cafe could you prehaps leave a annyomous letter in an envelop on a table next time you go up there, then they will aleast get the info that wire is no good for perching and the birds will end up with servere foot problems and give examples of appropiate perching material, because they may just not be aware of this problem. It also means that you're not necessarily putting yourself in a situation which may be difficult. Then a little while after leaving the letter check and see if they have taken this advice.

And then if they haven't maybe then you may need to say something directly and put a positive spin on it eg. Hi It's obvious how much you guys love your birds and your avairies are great but I not sure whether you realize that wire can damage their feet, a couple of branches would be much better and you can use good old gum tree branches even.

This is just my opinion and may be not what you would consider appropiate but this is probably what I would do. Give them a chance to fix it before personally confronting them.

If it was me i would have looked for branches / sticks and put them in there

 

Someone had of said anything, I would turn around and say Better me to do this then the RSPCA come and you get fined

Good idea Budgie lover. Although an unattended envelope may be considered suspicious. Maybe just a letter without the envelope. Address it to them and say: "I enjoy eating at your Cafe and enjoy watching your birds in the aviary. But there is something that concerns me. The use of fencing wire is not considered suitable for perches and can lead to problems such as pododermatitis (bumblefoot). Pododermatitis can result in bacterial infections and your birds will most likely succumb to illness. I advise you use natural gum branches or at least something with a 1cm diameter or larger to prevent your birds from developing pododermatitis and to insure they have good welfare. The birds and your patrons will thank you for it. Thank you"

 

Then maybe you could leave a pile of suitable gum branches next to the aviary and say to them in the letter that you have left gum branches there.

 

Unfortunately you can not always take the direct approach, that was also suggested, as these birds are not our property and it is not our place to interfere with other people's pets and family, only educate and advise.

Edited September 13, 200816 yr by Sailorwolf

Thanks there great Idea's . the aviary is locked so I couldn't do it myself and there is other more suitable branches in there but there just laying against the side on the bottom . I think an addressed letter could be the go . There's no shortage of trees and branches that's for sure it's not far from where I get all mine . There's plenty of food and water in there so no probs there , I might also print out some info and enclose with the letter .

 

Cheers

Yeah i can be rather Direct!!!! I wouldn't have seen the harm in putting a stick through the cage or just telling them that

i am adding an extra few stick but I assumed that it wasn't a large avairy and that putting a stick through the wire mesh would have been easy to do - :hap:

 

 

I do guess the well thought out letter would be good or a phone call too -

 

I don't think most of the time .. I just do :hap: Yep gets me in all sorts of trouble, But you get that

 

Good luck with this -

I found they have a Website and a Email contact so I will send my thought's and info that way .

 

Cheers . Thanks again .

good for you for speaking up, I hope they change their practices.

I found they have a Website and a Email contact so I will send my thought's and info that way .

 

Cheers . Thanks again .

 

Excellent. Please let us know how it goes :hap: