Use of All Wire Cages at Bird Sales

[sdegiorgio]

I recently attended a bird sale in NSW. I noticed that many of the sellers had their birds in all wire cages. I thought that this was really unacceptable, particularly given that the venue of the sale was not completely enclosed and the weather was somewhat poor. The strong draughts through the venue were very noticeable at times which made it uncomfortable for the human species as well as the birds. It was very evident that many birds were incredibly stressed during the sale, and many of them did not have anywhere to hide or take shelter. Could you imagine being a small bird with hundreds of people walking past, many of which stop and literally stick their faces and hands inside your cage? There is so much noise, and then you have some idiot yelling at the top of his voice – why do people do that? I think I would be pretty stressed. And you have to remember that these birds are already stressed from being caught, handled and transported to an unfamiliar environment.

Currently, the NSW Bird Sale Code of Practice does not stipulate anything about all wire cages; however, the Victorian Bird Sale Code of Practice states:

‘All wire birdcages are not permitted to be used by either sellers or buyers to contain birds. If necessary, these cages can be modified for use by enclosing the top, bottom and three sides with a draft proof solid material. Cloth is not acceptable.’

‘Commercial trades people are permitted to sell new all wire cages as part of their goods. Birds are not permitted to be placed in these at the sale.’

I also noticed that many people were buying birds and carrying them out in all wire cages. I don’t know whether they were buying the birds with the cages, or they were buying the cages from the traders at the bird sale so that they could take the birds home. Either way, surely if people are going to a bird sale (be it as a seller or buyer) they can get themselves organised enough to ensure that they have appropriate transport boxes or cages.

In the interest of the health and welfare of our avian species I think the NSW Bird Sale Code of Practice should be changed to stop the use of all wire cages at bird sales.

I am interested to know:
1) What do others think about this?
2) What do we have to do to have the NSW Bird Sale Code of Practice changed?

References:
NSW Bird Sale Voluntary Code of Practice
http://talkingbirds.com.au/files/2012/0 ... actice.pdf

Victorian Bird Sale Code of Practice
http://www.birdsale.com.au/victorian-bi ... ctise.html

[Craig52]

All i can say is that we Vics when we go to a NSW bird sale are quite shocked by what we see,re all wire cages.I think you need to talk to your authorities and to organises of the bird sale.
We have stewards that police this situation where sellers/buyers are told to leave the sale with their birds and buyers are told to buy a carry box to take their birds home and are directed to read the code of practise regarding all wire cages which is displayed on the entrance door and various places in the hall its self.
Hope this helps. Cheers Craig

[wagga]

Totally agree about NOT using all wire cages for transporting and selling birds at these bird sales. Here is a suggestion that I brought up prior to my local club sale to help stop this practice.

Clearly mark all adds, brochures and signage that 'Birds must be placed in displayed in suitable sized sales boxes/cages - NO all wire cages'.

[fishtales]

I can understand buyers wanting a bird, cage to go with it, then walking out of the sale with birds in their all wire cage. They prob don't feel comfortable handling their bird, and its convenient for them to purchase this way. The sellers shouldn't be using these cages, the sales are a stressful environment. I notice that the cheaper birds are often housed in this way at sales, where-as the breeders that you want to buy from use quality show type cages.

[garyh]

I agree with Wagga,surely the people running these sales must be able to stipulate the way the birds are to be housed prior to selling,no wonder there are activists out there trying to stop sales,time for NSW to stop this atrocity,garyh

[Craig52]

[quote="fishtales"]I can understand buyers wanting a bird, cage to go with it, then walking out of the sale with birds in their all wire cage. They prob don't feel comfortable handling their bird, and its convenient for them to purchase this way.
I totally disagree with you fishtales,they can buy a carry box for the bird and an all wire cage from a tradie and the tradie should be telling the buyer that it is not allowed to have a bird in this cage until you get home.
If they carry an all wire cage around to buy a bird,the seller should be telling them that they need to buy a carry box as the cheapest is $10 dollars more or less,also this is why we have sales stewards to police the situation.
These days,with brilliant camera's in mobiles it only takes one person to report situations like this and our bird sales could be lost for ever. Craig

[fishtales]

fair enough, personally I don't mind a mum and dad buyer taking the birdy home in a wire cage....you see some people draping towels or blankets over the cage, as they walk them out.

[TomDeGraaff]

I can understand buyers wanting a bird, cage to go with it, then walking out of the sale with birds in their all wire cage. They prob don't feel comfortable handling their bird, and its convenient for them to purchase this way.:

Placing a" birdy" in those all-wire cages is risking your bird. Stress, wings caught between bars, bashed heads, dislocated elbows and toe damage - in fact, it is cruel imo; a risk to your investment.
People are usually great when you explain this. New people don't know and are pretty happy to learn how to look after their (or the kids') new pet. This is where the main problem arises -those new to birds with a new pet. I found most new bird owners are grateful.

What irks me more is people, sellers who will willingly take the money and then place the bird in one of those cages. THAT is premeditated cruely imo. So a bird might be quiet in such a trap but it only takes one sound or movement to have a bird injured or killed.
The other gripe I have is the morons who keep their reservoir of stock in such cages, sometimes also over-crowded, out of sight in their car in the carpark.

We don't need either of those types in the hobby.

These days,with brilliant camera's in mobiles it only takes one person to report situations like this and our bird sales could be lost for ever.

Has anyone read Talking Birds???

[sdegiorgio]

All i can say is that we Vics when we go to a NSW bird sale are quite shocked by what we see,re all wire cages.I think you need to talk to your authorities and to organises of the bird sale.
We have stewards that police this situation where sellers/buyers are told to leave the sale with their birds and buyers are told to buy a carry box to take their birds home and are directed to read the code of practise regarding all wire cages which is displayed on the entrance door and various places in the hall its self.
Hope this helps. Cheers Craig

Thanks Craig52.

I have to say that I was quite shocked at what I saw at the last bird sale that I went to. Not only at the amount of birds in all wire cages, but there were a couple of sellers who had crammed quite a few number of birds into smallish cages.

Who actually puts out the Code of Practice? Which authority?

[sdegiorgio]

Totally agree about NOT using all wire cages for transporting and selling birds at these bird sales. Here is a suggestion that I brought up prior to my local club sale to help stop this practice.

Clearly mark all adds, brochures and signage that 'Birds must be placed in displayed in suitable sized sales boxes/cages - NO all wire cages'.

I agree with Wagga,surely the people running these sales must be able to stipulate the way the birds are to be housed prior to selling,no wonder there are activists out there trying to stop sales,time for NSW to stop this atrocity,garyh

Thanks wagga & garyh.

I agree with your suggestion of clearly setting out the rules in the advertisements for the sale. The only problem that I can see with this is that the bird clubs / societies that are organising the sales have to want to do this. If it's not in the Code of Practice it makes it hard to enforce, both at club level and seller level.