The New York City Council plans to reintroduce legislation banning the sale of specific birds in pet stores across the city. The proposed measure targets non-poultry birds such as parrots, cockatiels, finches, parakeets, and macaws, aiming to cut the flow of birds sourced from large commercial breeding operations often criticized for poor animal welfare.
The bill is spearheaded by Councilmember Harvey Epstein, who emphasized the need to protect birds from being treated as mere inventory in so-called bird mills. These facilities typically confine thousands of birds in cages for mass commercial sale, prompting growing concerns about the welfare and captivity of these intelligent creatures.
Unlike poultry shops, which would remain unaffected and could continue selling chickens, turkeys, and other fowl, the ban would apply exclusively to pet stores. Advocates underline that birds commonly sold in stores are highly social, tropical species that do not thrive in captivity and are ill-suited for impulse purchases.
This is not the first attempt to enact such a ban in New York. A similar bill introduced last year by a former councilmember failed to advance to a vote. Parallel efforts at the state level have also stalled, despite growing awareness of the issues linked to the bird trade. A related 2023 city council effort successfully banned guinea pig sales after animal shelters were overwhelmed with surrendered pets, highlighting the challenges cities face in managing pet welfare.
Pet shop owners and bird breeders have criticized the proposal, warning it could negatively impact their businesses and increase costs for consumers. Some argue that restricting bird sales would leave pet stores with limited merchandise options, primarily fish, potentially threatening their viability. They also warn customers may face significantly higher prices for birds if sales become restricted.