People interested in keeping game birds should ensure they are able to provide for their birds’ physical, health, and behavioural needs, find a veterinarian who specialises in avian medicine and be familiar with their local Council Bylaws before keeping game birds.

Many game birds are social species and need the company of their own species. Birds kept isolated in captivity may experience loneliness, frustration, and boredom due to lack of suitable companionship. Companion birds should be provided with the companionship of other birds of appropriate species, in accordance with the needs of their species, and the individual bird.

Game birds need a clean, secure indoor area that provides them with a place to shelter, roost, and lay their eggs in nest boxes. Game birds need a safe outdoor range with suitable artificial or natural shelter to provide them with shade and sufficient space to allow them to exercise, stretch and flap their wings, scratch, and dustbathe.

SPCA opposes the rearing of game birds in confined and unenriched spaces.

Birds reared in confined and unenriched spaces suffer physically and psychologically from the conditions of confinement and also after being released. Animal welfare is most at risk in barren environments. Chronic inescapable boredom due to inappropriate living conditions or a lack of suitable companionship can be extremely aversive for animals and can contribute to unwanted behaviours such as aggression or destructive behaviours.

SPCA opposes the use of spectacles or blinkers because of the negative welfare impacts.

SPCA opposes the unnecessary body modifications of animals used in entertainment, sport, and work including the caponisation and the dubbing of roosters, pinioning, brailing, and beak trimming.

Body modifications of animals can and should be avoided through selective breeding and by the provision of sufficient living space and appropriately enriched environments.

SPCA opposes the killing of native predatory animals when they are considered to be a threat to game birds.