I stopped into Your Basic Bird in Berkeley a couple of months ago to grab some pet supplies, and I was so incredibly saddened to see several parrots in reallllllly bad shape. Pulling all of their own feathers out because of the stress of captivity in tiny changes all alone. These are wild animals who are incredibly smart and social. They do not pull their own feathers out like this in wild. It's a sign of serious captivity related stress. In 2026, how is this still a thing? I talked to the owner a little bit, and I can tell she is a decent person who cares in her own way about these birds she's holding captive, but I don't think she understands that they are suffering horribly. Folks at Your Basic Bird, please, please stop selling live animals. There is no need for this unethical practice in 2026, and I believe that you are good people. Please do the right thing and give your birds to sanctuaries where they can be rehabilitated and have enough space and social relationships to perform their natural behaviors. This kind of captivity is just plain cruel, and I know you don't want to be cruel to these birds. And folks out there, please don't buy animals in retail stores. Adopt them from local shelters and save a life instead! read more