Workers at a US animal shelter were "in shock" after receiving over 800 parakeets during the holiday, delivered by the son of their owner who had kept them all in one room.

The Detroit Animal Welfare Group posted on Facebook about a "Christmas present we were not expecting," saying the "birds came from a very unhealthy situation."

A first group of 497 birds dropped off on December 23 were crammed in seven cages. The owner's son then returned on Sunday with 339 more.

"The irresponsibility of the owner is infuriating," the group wrote on Facebook, saying the birds were "smothering each other and needed immediate help. We were in shock, but could not turn them away."

Working with other organizations, the group found temporary homes for all the birds.

Kelly LeBonty, the rescue group's director, told the Detroit Free Press the birds "were very, very stressed. They were barely moving. We had to get them into different cages."

The son told LeBonty he believed his father planned to breed a few birds but it got out of hand. He had been spending US$1,200 (HK$9,336) a month to feed them. The parakeets, some visibly injured or malnourished, will be available for adoption after being checked by a veterinarian.

The rescue group cautioned that "owning a parakeet is a six-to-15-year commitment. They require not only food, water and daily cage cleaning but also daily interaction, enrichment and flight time."

In Michigan, owners can be prosecuted for not providing adequate care to creatures.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

The parakeets, some visibly injured, will be available for adoption after being checked by a veterinarian, according to the Detroit Animal Welfare Group.

Screech of shock over parakeets