ToocanStan

Okay but counterpoint — what about birds that are the complete opposite? My eclectus breaks every rule lol.

Just wanted to give a shoutout to Bird Sitting Toronto. Left my Senegal parrot with them for 10 days while we visited family and Ruby came home happy and healthy. They sent daily photo updates. Honestly the best experience. Highly recommend for anyone in North York!

Just joined! I have a beautiful lineolated parakeet named Bean and we live in Etobicoke. I spend way too much time talking to my bird and taking photos of them. Looking to learn more about bird care, nutrition, and training from people who actually know what they're talking about. Nice to meet you all!

Oh my bird did this for about two to three weeks and I tried everything. Honestly, time was the biggest factor. They just grew out of it.

Hey welcome! You'll love this community. Feel free to ask anything, everyone here is super helpful!

Yes!! My Skittles does this too. Indian ringneck owners can relate.

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

Started target training last week and it snowballed from there. My green-cheek conure now waves on command, steps up reliably, and is starting to learn spin. Clicker training is absolutely the way to go. Happy to share my process if anyone's interested!

This happened to us last winter. I think the shorter days and dry heated air were the cause for my bird.

A friend who's had birds for 20 years told me to try playing calming bird sounds from YouTube during the day. I was skeptical but it actually worked.

Yes!! My Buddy does this too. budgie owners can relate.

Welcome to the forum! Great to have another bird lover from the GTA. Your blue and gold macaw sounds adorable — what's their personality like?

My vet in Liberty Village suggested leaving the radio or TV on when I'm out — background noise helps and I noticed a change within the first week. Highly recommend.

Dealt with this for months. What finally worked was changing the cage liner material and just being really patient. They come around eventually.

So I had this exact problem about a year ago. Let me share what I learned. The key thing is getting natural java wood perches from a specialty bird store. A lot of people also recommend making sure there are no drafts near the cage. My avian vet in Ajax also suggested checking for dry winter air from forced-air heating which can sometimes be an underlying factor. Good luck — feel free to DM me if you have questions!

Have you tried target training first, then building up to step-up? That's what solved this issue for us. Game changer honestly.

Second vote for BST. They boarded my umbrella cockatoo last summer and I could tell Fig was well cared for when I picked them up. Total peace of mind.

Does anyone else's bird have a specific room or spot they've claimed? Tiki loses their mind if anyone enters the kitchen during meal prep time. They perch on top of the fridge and supervise like a tiny feathered Gordon Ramsay. It's hilarious but also slightly concerning.

Hi all! I just adopted a cockatiel 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!

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