Domestic black-capped chickadees?

Question

Has anyone ever heard of having black-capped chickadees as pets? I mean in cages and riding around on your finger and things like pets do. I've seen pictures of them on people's fingers eating seed, but they were not domestic.

I've always had parakeets, but black-capped chickadees have always been my favorite. I was just wondering if that was something that was done...

Answer 1

Prepare yourself to be lectured on just how ILLEGAL keeping wild birds is.

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/intrnltr/treatlaw.html
http://www.theraptortrust.org/the-birds/injured/law

This site is Great Britain but it includes the international treaty:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/policy/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/wca/captivity.asp

So, summing it up: wild birds are only for viewing entertainment NOT for anyone to throw into a cage.
There are exceptions: the ever growing list of feral caged birds, rock pigeons, house sparrows, starlings, among others. These birds are not migratory or native to the USA.
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Answer 2

Think Strigidae got the point through, being that they are protected under federal law and the fines (can go up to a few hundred thousand !) for having even a feather of the bird is quite high, and there can be jail time involved. I would like to add tough, band-tailed pigeon is protected under the migratory birds convention act, it is in fact a native species, so don't go try and catch/keep one!
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Band-tailed_Pigeon_dtl.html
Put bird feeders, nesting boxes (yes chickadees will use them), and bird baths and observe the little guys outside !

Answer 3

I have not heard of this, although of course they are fairly common birds in some areas. Be aware that it would be illegal in most parts of the U.S. to capture and keep them, as most songbirds are protected species. If you can somehow get them from a breeder, then it might be possible to do; on the whole, however, I suggest simply keeping feeders and enjoying them as wild friends.