Demand for pet birds takes off during lockdown

Print

Sales of pet birds – including parakeets, budgerigars and canaries – have soared by around 50% during lockdown, according to pet store Jollyes.

Pet-bird.jpg

The nationwide retailer, which has 67 stores, says hotspots include Ballymena and Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland, Halifax and Leeds in Yorkshire, and Bridgwater in Somerset.

The retailer sells more than 3m fat balls per year and sales of items such as bird feed, peanuts and fat balls have risen by over 10% during lockdown as more people come to appreciate the sight of birds visiting their feeders and bird tables.

Jollyes’ commercial director, Chris Burns, said: “Interest in keeping birds as pets has risen dramatically during lockdown and it’s become a nationwide phenomenon. There’s evidence that keeping a pet bird is good for the owner’s health and well-being, reducing stress and keeping the brain active and our customers up and down the country seem to vouch for that.”