Greater Chicago Cage Bird Rescue and Adoption

06/06/2026

ADOPTED!
Betsy Zebra Finch was adopted a few weeks ago. Here she is on her way home to meet her new finch friend, Meep!

06/05/2026

Molly having a party with Stephanie

06/01/2026

05/31/2026

HAPPY WORLD PARROT DAY 2026! 🦜

World Parrot Day is held every year on May 31st to raise awareness of the threats facing wild and captive parrots worldwide.

Today - we have chosen to tackle the age-old controversial question: PARROT BREEDING FOR THE PET TRADE

WHY 'RESPONSIBLE' PARROT BREEDING IS A MYTH

Many people believe that buying from a reputable breeder is a valid alternative to adoption and, while this may apply to domesticated animals like dogs or cats, it does not apply to parrots.

Parrots are wild, magnificent, and highly complex creatures. They do not belong in human homes. Because millions are already here, we must do right by them - but we must stop creating more.

THE REALITY OF THE EXOTIC PET CRISIS

**Not Domesticated: Parrots are leagues apart from dogs and cats. Treating them like traditional pets creates deeply traumatised birds.

**The Cycle of Misconception: People buy chicks from breeders, underestimate the reality of their intense care needs, and eventually abandon them.

**Overflowing Rescues: Profit-driven breeding never stops, leaving rescue centres completely overwhelmed with unwanted birds.

**The Puberty Myth: Birds from breeders are not 'easier'. They can't guarantee a 'perfect pet'. Hand-reared chicks can still grow into hormone-driven, aggressive adolescents.

THE TRUTH ABOUT RESCUE BIRDS

**Blameless Victims: Many parrots end up in rescues simply because their owners' circumstances changed - maybe they fell ill, passed away, or developed severe allergies.

**Traumatised, Not Mean: These birds are sometimes fearful, but never malicious. They can react like a child abruptly torn from their home. They require immense love and patience.

**No Guarantees: A breeder cannot guarantee a perfect pet - no matter what they promise. This myth actively stops people from considering adoption as an alternative.

WE NEED A SHIFT IN MINDSET

Parrots are sentient, emotional beings, not consumer commodities. No human is inherently entitled to a 'perfect' pet. We must keep parrots for THEIR benefit, not our personal entertainment.

Adopting a parrot, rather than buying from a pet shop or breeder, saves a life, prevents money from fuelling the highly lucrative commercial pet trade, and helps curb the cycle of abandonment of these highly intelligent, long-lived birds.

If you truly love parrots, please don't fuel the industry that cages them.
DON’T SHOP – ADOPT!

05/31/2026

We are at Kitties, Canines, and Cruisers in Lemont at The Forge. Stop by and say hello! We will be here until 5pm.

05/28/2026

REMINDER - Kitties Canines and Cruisers is Sunday May 31st.
We will have a booth at the The Forge in Lemont from 1pm to 5pm.

05/27/2026

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05/26/2026

Need a reminder of why enrichment is so important for birds? Watch this quick video from World Parrot Trust that provides a summary of enrichment types and many quick (and often free) ideas for enrichment. When using natural items, ensure the items are bird-safe, not treated with pesticides, and free of pests.

Learn more: https://vimeo.com/820648109?fl=pl&fe=sh

05/26/2026

Learn why toy placement, rotation, and enrichment value matters.

New Article:
https://pdsparrotshop.com/blogs/pds-parrot-blog/toys-for-birds-cage

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