FinchFanatic

Interesting take! I see your point but I've had a completely different experience. My caique actually...

Welcome! I remember being a new bird owner and this kind of community helped SO much. Excited to have you!

If you're near Whitby, PetSmart on Hurontario St actually has a decent bird section. Better than most locations.

I actually disagree with this. In my experience with my lineolated parakeet, the opposite was true. But I know every bird is different.

Absolutely love hearing success stories! This gives me so much hope for me and Jasper. Thank you for sharing!

Hi! I'm new here but definitely not new to birds. My pionus Zazu has been my companion for 4 years and I honestly can't imagine life without them. Just moved to Whitby recently and looking to connect with other bird owners in the area. Happy to be here!

My advice would be getting natural java wood perches from a specialty bird store. Went through the same thing with my pionus last year.

Update: took everyone's advice and things are improving. Sunny is slowly coming around. This forum is the best.

Great question! So in my experience with parrotlet, this usually comes down to a few things. First, getting natural java wood perches from a specialty bird store. Second, make sure they're getting enough sleep — 12 hours of uninterrupted dark sleep is crucial. And third, pay attention to a subtle environmental change you might not even notice because that was a huge factor for my Tango. Hope that helps!

I'd love to foster birds in need but I'm not sure how to get started. Are there organizations in the GTA that need foster homes? I have experience with Indian Ringneck and a dedicated bird room in my Newmarket home.

So I had this exact problem about a year ago. Let me share what I learned. The key thing is introducing new foods by eating them in front of the bird — monkey see monkey do. A lot of people also recommend switching to a natural cleaning spray like F10. My avian vet in Pickering also suggested checking for not enough quality sleep — they need 10-12 hours uninterrupted which can sometimes be an underlying factor. Good luck — feel free to DM me if you have questions!

Hang in there! It gets better. My canary went through this too.

Been thinking about adopting a rescue instead of buying from a breeder. Any experiences with rescue birds in Ontario? What should I expect in terms of behavioral challenges? Which rescue organizations do you recommend?

There's a great little shop in Roncesvalles that specializes in parrot supplies. Way better selection than the big chains.

This reminds me of when I first got Biscuit. I was so overwhelmed but looking back, those early days were actually really special. The bond building phase is tough but beautiful.

Hello! Been lurking on this forum for a bit and finally decided to make an account and participate. I've had my Senegal parrot Zazu for about 7 years now. Always nice to connect with other bird people in the GTA — most people I know think I'm crazy for having a bird lol. Excited to be here!

When I had to travel, I used Bird Sitting Toronto and they were incredible with my eclectus. Daily updates with photos and everything.

So what I ended up doing was keeping a super consistent daily routine — birds thrive on predictability. Within a few days there was a noticeable improvement. Definitely worth trying.

Great question! So in my experience with umbrella cockatoo, this usually comes down to a few things. First, keeping a super consistent daily routine — birds thrive on predictability. Second, make sure they're getting enough sleep — 12 hours of uninterrupted dark sleep is crucial. And third, pay attention to dry winter air from forced-air heating because that was a huge factor for my Sunny. Hope that helps!

Hi all! I just adopted a sun conure and I'm already head over heels but also completely overwhelmed. So many questions: what pellets do you recommend? How do I know if they're sick? Is it normal for them to sneeze? How do I get them to trust me? I've been googling non-stop but real owner experiences are worth way more. Thanks in advance for any guidance!