NORTHERN TERRITORY - ANIMAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE - Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Caged Birds

Sep 15, 2026

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Guidelines for the humane care and welfare of pet birds kept in cages within the Northern Territory. The document sets out welfare aims aligned with the “five freedoms” and explains baseline husbandry needs: ready access to clean water and an appropriate diet, suitable housing that protects from weather without causing distress, prevention and treatment of disease and injury, space to express natural behaviours, and careful handling. It also clarifies scope, exclusions, daily water checks, cleaning and disinfecting of containers, and species-specific feeding considerations and storage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

1. Introduction

2. Water

3. Food

4. Housing

5. Health

6. Trading

7. Handling

8. Husbandry

9. Transport

10. Tables

NORTHERN TERRITORY ANIMAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE GUIDELINES FOR THE CARE AND WELFARE OF CAGED BIRDS CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 3 2. WATER 4 3. FOOD 4 4. HOUSING 5 5. HEALTH 7 6. TRADING 9 7. HANDLING 9 8. HUSBANDRY 9 9. TRANSPORT 10 10. TABLES 13 DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING [www. nt. gov . au/](www. nt. gov . au/ animalwelfare)[ animalwelfare](www. nt. gov . au/ animalwelfare) 1. INTRODUCTION Birds provide enjoyment and companionship for humans. Humans in their turn have a duty to care for the birds so that the bird also has a fulfilling life free from undue stress and disease. These Guidelines have been prepared to provide the basis for humane care of birds held in captivity. They recognise that the basic requirement for welfare of birds in aviaries is a husbandry system appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs. They address the “five freedoms”of animal welfare: 􀂃 Freedom from hunger and thirst through ready access to fresh water and an appropriate diet to maintain full health and vigour 􀂃 Freedom from discomfort by providing a suitable environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area 􀂃 Freedom from pain, injury and disease through prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment 􀂃 Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind 􀂃 Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering (from the United Kingdom Farm Animal Welfare Council) The aims of these guidelines are: 􀂃 to promote the humane and considerate treatment of birds and the use of good husbandry practices. 􀂃 to inform people responsible for the care and management of caged birds of their obligations. 􀂃 to provide the community with a set of guidelines for the care of caged birds. The basic needs of caged birds are: 􀂃 ready access to food and water to maintain health and vigour. 􀂃 accommodation which provides protection from the weather and which neither harms nor causes distress. 􀂃 prevention and treatment of disease, injury or unwanted behaviour. 􀂃 space and opportunity to exhibit their natural behaviours. 􀂃 careful and proper handling. The importance of good care and treatment of the birds cannot be over-emphasised. This includes a knowledge and understanding of the normal appearance and behaviour of birds. Owners should develop the knowledge and skills to appropriately care for their birds. This can be achieved by joining a bird club, or by reading books and other materials on the subject. While children benefit from interactions with birds, they can also be a risk to a bird’s wellbeing. Responsible supervision of children and the promotion of a caring attitude are essential to safeguard the welfare of the birds and create a lifelong appreciation of their role in our lives. DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING [www. nt. gov . au/](www. nt. gov . au/ animalwelfare)[ animalwelfare](www. nt. gov . au/ animalwelfare) These guidelines do not deal with common or statute law requirements which have an impact on the keeping of birds, such as council regulations or nature conservation. Information on these should be sought through the appropriate authority. For the purposes of these Guidelines pet birds are defined as all seed and nectar feeding birds that may legally be kept in a state of captivity and spend all or part of their time housed in cages 1 . Other types of birds, for example, insectivorous and birds of prey, waterfowl, ratites, pigeons used for racing, poultry, pheasants or quail used for the commercial production of meat or eggs, have specific needs and are not covered by these Guidelines. These Guidelines do not apply to the keeping of birds in cages used for exhibition, quarantine or hospitalisation. Cages used for exhibition should be bound by regulation sizes controlled by the sanctioning body of the organisation c

FAQs

What do these guidelines aim to achieve for caged birds?

The guidelines aim to promote humane, considerate treatment and good husbandry practices, inform people of their obligations, and provide community guidelines for caring for caged birds.

How often should water containers be checked and how should they be kept?

Water containers should be checked daily to ensure adequate water supply and kept clean and free of faeces and other contaminants.

Does the document cover all types of birds and all cage uses?

It defines pet birds as seed and nectar feeding birds legally kept in captivity and excludes other bird types with specific needs. It also does not apply to cages used for exhibition, quarantine, or hospitalisation.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Levi