Bird Aviaries (far better than ‘pet bird cages’)
The UK has around one million ‘pet birds’ living in people’s homes. No doubt many are loved and looked after, but really it’s better for them to be living with other birds in an aviary. You would not like being shoved in a small cage for the rest of your life, and likely budgies, parrots and other pet birds won’t either.
Most wild birds sold as pets are not native to England, and in the wild would live in the trees, with several other birds of their own kind.
Don’t Cook Near Domestic Birds
Most non-stick pans are made with PFOA (a chemical that ends up in our oceans). You can buy non-toxic alternatives, but even if companies say the opposite, all cooking fumes are dangerous around birds.
Problem Parrots has an excellent suite of pages for any behaviour from biting and screaming to anything else. As you can imagine, many behaviours are due to being in captivity (for instance, parrots never pluck their feathers in the wild, so it’s either illness or boredom/loneliness). In the wild, parrots fly around 30 miles a day, alongside other wild parrots.
If birds are caged, RSPCA says that they should be able to open their wings fully (without touching the side of the cage – ideally bigger), have at least 3 food dishes (ideally stainless steel), three different perches (including for parrots a concrete one to sleep on), and plenty of safe toys.
RSPCA has a suite of pages on how to care for the UK’s 1 million pet birds, including budgies, cockatiels, macaws, cockatoos, canaries and African grey parrots (now endangered in the wild, due to the exotic pet industry).
Wing clipping is not recommended as it does not stop them flying away outdoors (but will stop them flying upward indoors). Their experts have advice on how to let birds fly safely instead (ideally by investing in a large aviary with a porch and double-door entry), or a large indoor flight area for flying free at least six hours a day, with windows and doors shut.
Concerns Over the Pet Shop Industry
Obviously as can be seen above, welfare experts recommend that even pet birds need a few hours of free flying each day, to keep them entertained and build muscle for good health. So the fact that pet shops are allowed to sell birds that are then put in cages for up to 50 years, is a huge concern.
What happens is that people buy pet birds (without access to an aviary) then end up contacting a growing number of pet bird rescue charities online, to try to find suitable homes in aviaries with other birds, once they realise that the birds need to fly and have company of other birds.
World Animal Protection has a free toolkit for campaigners to ask their councils to ban the sale of live creatures (including birds in pet shops).
This is already happening in many USA cities, so let’s follow suit. West Hollywood has just banned the sale of any live creature, and New York City is hopefully to follow suit soon.
What makes an aviary better for birds?
Movement is the big difference. In an aviary, a bird can stretch fully, hop between branches, and take short flights whenever it chooses. That variety supports balance and coordination, and it gives the bird something meaningful to do between meals and interaction.
Many owners notice the behavioural side first. A bird with room to burn off energy often shows less frustration. That can mean fewer moments of constant calling, less bar chewing, and less pacing. It won’t solve every issue, but it removes a common trigger: being stuck.
Space needs vary by species and personality. A budgie’s “minimum workable” looks different from an African grey’s, and a pair will need more room than a single bird. Because of that, check species guidance and plan for the bird you have now, plus the bird you might add later.
Plan it right: the aviary design choices
- a feeding and water area you can reach quickly
- a bathing spot that can dry out between uses
- a quiet corner for roosting, away from the door
Flooring matters more than many people expect. Easy cleaning reduces smells and helps discourage pests. Outdoors, some owners choose a concrete base with a washable top layer, others use a dig-proof skirt under the perimeter to stop burrowing visitors. Whichever you pick, plan how you’ll remove waste and dropped seed without making a mess of the garden.
If there’s one place to spend carefully, it’s the barrier between your birds and the outside world. Chicken wire can bend, break, and trap heads.
Door design also matters. A double-door entry (a small porch area) helps stop escapes when you step inside with food or a perch.
Avoid treated wood where birds can chew, avoid unknown plants, and be cautious with metal that can flake or be ingested if gnawed. If you’re not sure a material is bird-safe, don’t put it in the aviary.
Weather, noise, and comfort
A sheltered section with a solid roof panel helps in heavy rain. Add wind protection on the prevailing side, and include a draft-free night box or indoor shelter the birds can choose at dusk.
Cold snaps happen, especially overnight. Many birds cope well if they’re dry, out of the wind, and have a snug roosting area. Keep safety front and centre, with guarded fittings and good ventilation.
Noise is part of bird keeping, but placement helps. Keep the aviary away from bedrooms if possible, and think about neighbours before you commit to a spot by a shared fence. Regular feeding and cleaning at sensible times can also reduce fuss, because birds love predictable routines.
