Birds should not be caged as pets.

REBUTTALS 1) I'm PRO for not having birds as pets, thus against cages. You refuted by showing some of the largest bird cages on the market. If I recall, you have stated that some of these birds can cost anywhere from 10-20 dollars. Even if I up that price and say it can range from $60 to $100 depending on some breeds, the amount of these large cages is astronomical in relation. As I have stated before, the average person does not have an aviary in their home. Many people buying these affordable pets, come from a modest background and are not willing to dedicate a whole room of their home for a bird cage. I looked at your source for the cages and wonder if you even checked the price point. Aviary Exterior Dimensions: 80"(W) x 40"(D) x 74"(H) Sale Price: $879.99 Compared at: $1,399.99 The average size living room contains approximately 250 square feet. 24 by 24 Bedrooms are sometimes even smaller. I highly doubt that people are going to get their little bird an aviary in their home, that costs substantially more than the pet alone. Of course bird cages can be very large, and if you are Martha Stewart you can probably get the biggest one and have ample space, but unfortunately the cages I had laid out weren't meant to be the smallest ones, they were meant to show the most popular and affordable. WING CLIPPING I agree that if you are keeping a bird in an 18x18 cage due to the enormous prices of the largest ones that my , then clipping wings is a way to control the bird and their behavior. This is the number one reason why they should not be in homes as pets. This proves the lack of integration with a human's lifestyle. All the points my opponent presented benefits the human, while the bird sacrifices there rights. 2) INTELLIGENCE Parrots are considered one of the most intelligent animals so they can be handful! [2] I wonder if the people that keep these magnificent creatures cooped up in a cage would change their ideas if they could see them flying free in their natural habitat. This would show that they live a very wild life. For example, if you approached a bird in the wild, they will not be tame and come to say hello. Birds are not initially interested in human interaction. Dolphins are more interested in human interaction [5], but we don't put little pools in our backyards just because they can be tamed. The only reason we do this widespread practice with birds is because of their size and our ability to dominate them for a low price! The birds are taken from their natural surroundings, put into cages - which are often cramped - then shipped to the UK before being sold on from the back of a van. [2] It's no wonder many birds suffer health problems. Just because it is easy to catch them in a net, does not mean they are "not that wild". They do adapt to our conditions, but with great consequence. These birds can sometimes live up to anywhere from 20 to 80+ years, sometimes outliving their owners. It is unfair for the bird to have to find new homes. 3) Once a human takes these birds out of their natural habitat, it handicaps them from ever being able to live a natural life. If they were let free they would die, many times because these birds are shipped from around there world. The USA has banned the importing of wild birds, but it is still legal in Europe. This is despite the fact that enough parrots are being bred in captivity to satisfy consumer demand. [2] You might say many are bred in aviaries from birth, but this is not preventing people from smuggling these birds in the wild. In fact, it promotes more of it! A wild bird costs up to half the price of a hand reared one, and with some prices of parrots going into the thousands it is no wonder there is a black market. [2] What makes it worse is that many buyers are unsuspecting purchasers who don't realize the background behind their new pet.The fact is, many of these birds are inhumanely caught, stuck to trees and netted. Many of the birds die in transit due to the stress and poor conditions. [2] Maybe the bird is eventually tamed, but the big picture is that keeping this bird as a pet is promoting the black market, and threatening their wild counterparts is other areas of the world. 4) For the reason of the declining numbers of these attractive birds in their natural habitat, the illegal smuggling practices promoted by the demand for these birds is all the more reason why 2 birds are not better than one. Also, love birds despite their name will attack other species of birds, so 2 are avoided. Female love birds may even kill their mate. [6] Birds don't always get along and yes you can expect fighting and yes you can expect injuries to happen. A lot of this behavior is dominance, some could be territorial. [3] Unless the bird is in an aviary where they can escape attack, you will end up very sorry keeping two birds together that are fighting it out. [3] In this instance you can see how subjecting two birds to a small cage can actually be very cruel and dangerous. 5) Not all birds can be tamed. For example Zebra Finches are a true community bird and thrive when placed with other members of their species. [4] By keeping this bird alone he is under a constant state of anxiety and stress. [4] By pairing this bird up, it is unsure if the bird will get along and be safe. Like I said most people have small cages, which can possibly increase aggression since birds living in such tight spaces is unnatural. Most people cannot afford these large cages which are close to $1000. Your interactions and companionship will never replace the emotional needs of birds. [4] References http://wiki.answers.com...... [1] http://www.birdworld.com.au...... [2] http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com......[3] http://board.birdchannel.com...... [4] http://www.nytimes.com......[5] http://www.lovebirdsplus.com...... [6]