Concerned For Neighbours Budgies

[linda87 0]

Hi all

 

I hope its okay to post this here. I want to gather opinions on whether I am over reacting, but I'm sure I'm not.

Im not a birdkeeper (yet, though I do plan on it soon) but I am very concerned for my neighbours 2 budgies.

 

They have a small bird cage (average small cage you'd find in pet stores) and have 2 blue budgies in it. Its kept outside 24/7, no covering at night.

This was all through winter as well.

 

They leave the cage on a table under the patio shelter which is open on 2 sides. They sit at the table several times a day smoking right near the birds. I know birds are sensitive to such things.

 

There are no toys or any enrichment in the cage. Just a perch, an old cuttlefish stuck through and a seed tray. I am home all day and can see this through my window and I know those birds eat nothing but commercial seed. They are also extremely bored and spend the days picking at feathers. They probably have lice too. The cage is also never cleaned as like i mentioned, I sit by this window all day working and not once have i ever seen anyone go to the cage or even say 'hello' to the birds. How very sad.

 

The people often leave an extremely bright light on right above the birds until midnight or later, even if they aren't outside smoking and being loud around the bird cage. The birds have their head turned to sleep but this would affect them I imagine.

 

There is now a major storm coming and the bird cage has not been moved from the edge of the table (right under the edge of patio) for 3 days. There are gale winds right now and the birds are totally exposed. They also leave them there vulnerable overnight even if rain is expected. not even a towel to cover them.

 

The budgies get no attention from the owners whatsoever. I dont understand why they have birds. They also have a dog that has a small fenced area at the back of the yard and I only see him out around once per week. Being a puppy stafordshire terrier he is full of energy but never even gets a walk.

 

I look out the window at these birds several times a day and feel extremely angry because I am powerless. These are not friendly neighbours and Im not at liberty to knock on their door, particularly as they would know I am 'spying' on them.

 

These poor birds are suffering. The RSPCA would not be interested as they have the requirements of 'food, water, shelter'. I have called the RSPCA for very severe matters and they have not turned up so that is not an option.

 

Im feeling really sick about these birds but what can I do? These people are ALWAYS home so I can't jump the fence and free the birds (would be preferable to their current miserable life).

 

Do I just stop looking so I don't cause myself a stomach ulcer?

 

As people have said to me, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Birds are kept like this and in worse condition in millions of homes. I guess when its right under my nose its harder to get over it.

Edited September 22, 2008 by linda87

[**KAZ** 0]

Pity they are always home or I would have "liberated" these birds by now if it was me. Liberated to your home and not freedom.

Congratulations for feeling as you do and being concerned about their welfare. Perhaps its time to take serious measures, knock on their door and offer to buy the birds off them ?

[melbournebudgies 0]

Maybe you could knock on their door and say you have a little cousin/nephew/neice/friend who is getting an aviary and wants some budgies to put in it and ask where they got theirs from, they might pass them on to you and then you could either keep them or find them a good home

 

Personally it doesn't sound like they really have shelter to me

 

If you did get a moment when they weren't home I would take the birds out and put them in a box and 'relocate' them and then put the cage on the ground on it's side like it had fallen off the table. Don't t them out as in reality they would probably die.

[linda87 0]

I'd love to but as I said, they would then accuse me of spying on them.They are just not the type of people who would be open to opinions of concerned people like me. Also I fear they'd just replace them with something else, like a cockatoo in a tiny cage which would be even more heartbreaking.I'm really not sure what to do. All my pets are treated like family members, I cant imagine having pets and never acknowledging them or providing the best care for them.I'm so angry!

Maybe you could knock on their door and say you have a little cousin/nephew/neice/friend who is getting an aviary and wants some budgies to put in it and ask where they got theirs from, they might pass them on to you and then you could either keep them or find them a good homePersonally it doesn't sound like they really have shelter to meIf you did get a moment when they weren't home I would take the birds out and put them in a box and 'relocate' them and then put the cage on the ground on it's side like it had fallen off the table. Don't t them out as in reality they would probably die.

On the few occasions they are all out they let the dog loose in the yard. Although he's a 'puppy' he is huge and not friendly due to lack of human attention he receives. They also have like 6 cars so its impossible to tell when there actually is no one home.

But it's so tempting.. I just wish they would go out more!!

Edited September 22, 2008 by linda87

[Neat 0]

Now, now I think that I have influenced this forum too much LMAO -

 

I would jump the fence at night and Re home them in a lovely bigger cage at my house

 

But! We can't do that as it is stealing and etc

 

Perhaps put a letter in there letter box! on how to properly care for them? or Ask like MB said you never know they may give them to you!!!

[melbournebudgies 0]

You could get a friend that they don'tknow to knock on their door and pretend to be an inspctor

[**KAZ** 0]

I see only two options....hop the fence when they are out and remove the budgies making it look like the puppy knoclked the cage over... or two.....knock on their door and offer to buy the budgies. If they dont truly care about them they would like the $$s you wave under their noses.

[linda87 0]

You could get a friend that they don'tknow to knock on their door and pretend to be an inspctor

 

They'd know I dobbed them in! Mine is the only house overlooking their backyard.

 

I think the jumping the fence option is the best one, its just something that may not be possible for a number of weeks.

[melbournebudgies 0]

Our council does random yard checks on animals, to see that people with dogs and cats are registering their critters so budgies in poor conditions would be picked up in a check like that

[linda87 0]

wow thats a good council!! Ours dont care much about animals. I once called about a guy selling native birds (wild caught) at a garage sale, kept in blazing sun in tiny cages. They paid no interest (neither did RSPCA).

 

I just had another idea.

 

Print out a professional looking flyer that looks like is part of a mass distribution.

Something like:

 

DO YOU OWN BUDGERIGARS?

NO LONGER WANT TO CARE FOR THEM?

 

I am looking to purchase some budgies and thought I would ask around the local area.

If you own one or more budgies that you'd like to sell, please call me.

Paying good money!

Edited September 22, 2008 by linda87

[**Liv** 0]

If you do jump the fence, don't just free the birds. Domesticated budgies die a long slow death of starvation and exposure in the wild. Catch them and put them in a shoe box (with the lid secured) then put them in a cage back at your place.

 

Flyer is a great idea too

Edited September 22, 2008 by **Liv**
added more

[melbournebudgies 0]

I like the flier idea

[linda87 0]

The flyer is a good idea but not too practical since I'd have to find someone to take the call for me and potentially pick up the birds.

Thats if they even call which is probably a 1% chance, I dont even know if they can read English!

 

Removing the birds is the best option, but every night they are out there they are just suffering more!

 

Makes you wonder what goes on in all the houses you can't see...

[melbournebudgies 0]

If you put them in a few other houses near their too (so they don't cotton on) it doesn't matter if you pick up the birds, just say you are helping a friend set up an aviary and so you put the flyers in lots of houses in the area.

[Angelic Vampyre 0]

Hopping the fence sounds like a good idea but at the end of the day it is stealing and you may end up in trouble so going to ask you not to do that please.

 

The flyer Idea sounds good. However I think (because I got inspected by the RSPCA and they told me I had to) that any ouside cage has to have at least part of the roof and one side enclosed. When I had my guys on the patio in my large cage I was told that I had to either get a new cage or build a cap for one end which I did.

 

Ring the RSPCA, but the only issue there is that if they take the birds they may get put down. The other option is the Parrot centre.. will try and find the link for you.

 

Put a noise complaint into the council at least they might be asked to cover the birds during the night to reduce noise.

 

I hate seeing animals like this.

[linda87 0]

I would rather the RSPCA come and advise them on proper care. But they have 'shelter' under the patio (until the wind and rain come) - and believe me I know what the RSPCA are like!

As mentioned about the other 2 birds I called about, they didnt even turn up and those birds were sweltering without water or shelter.

 

However I will try calling them and will keep following up until they come.

The neighbours are going to know its me complaining so hopefully there will be no repercussions.

[Angelic Vampyre 0]

I find it strange with the RSPCA there seems to be no standard.

 

My guys where in a large patio cage under cover in an inbuilt patio area and I had to block in part of their cage. However as you have said you have called them over others and have gotten little to no respose. I think it comes down to a matter of if there is an inspector that wants to deal with birds which is said.

[linda87 0]

RSPCA have been called. Lady on phone was concerned but they always are. Could not guarantee when an inspector can come.. so at this point I will try and refrain from breaking the law

[**KAZ** 0]

Good move. Although I agree with my experiences in the past with the RSP*A ...they are mostly toothless tigers.

I have to say, as much as we would all like to hop the fence with you and rescue those birds, it is stealing and would not be best advised. I truly hope all your caring has created a good outcome for the birds. They certainly deserve better.

Edited September 22, 2008 by KAZ

[Elly 0]

Do you have an animal warden from the city that too that does inspections? Where I live we would call the warden first and then the RSPCA, I am not sure where you live how it works.

[Neat 0]

Where is Sydney are you ..

Wink wink Nudge Nudge I am sure I could play and RSPCA inspector

[linda87 0]

LOL.. western sydney.

 

As for wardens - we have council rangers but they are worse than RSPCA. Have also called them before only to be told 'we dont deal with those sorts of issues'. At least you can talk to someone who sounds concerned on the phone at RSPCA!

[Sunnie 0]

I dont have much to add but - good luck!! I hope this issue gets resolved :hap:

[birdluv 0]

what a terrible situation, l hope that the RSPCA actually will do something about this.

[linda87 0]

Quick update. RSPCA have not come as far as I know. I had told them about the dog too and they said they'd check that out. The dog has not been out of its tiny little enclosed 'yard' for ages. i never even see them go up and feed him but its hard to see what condition he is in without them seeing me look over the fence.

 

As for the budgies, I can still hear them outside somewhere but I can not see them under the patio anymore. Since that is the only undercover spot in the yard I fear they are now totally exposed. I hope the RSPCA turn up soon. Yesterday was 35 degrees and today its going to rain.

 

I'll be moving from here soon so it will be out of my sight but not out of mind.

 

I want to get my own budgies so I'll be venturing to other parts of the forum to find out where I should buy from!

Edited September 29, 2008 by linda87