BSTCustomer_Jane

New bird owner here. Can my umbrella cockatoo eat blueberries, strawberries, mango, and pomegranate? I want to offer fresh foods but I'm terrified of accidentally poisoning them. Where do you get organic produce in Newmarket?

So I had this exact problem about a year ago. Let me share what I learned. The key thing is putting a bird lamp on a 12/12 timer to simulate natural daylight cycles. A lot of people also recommend making sure there are no drafts near the cage. My avian vet in the Beaches also suggested checking for jealousy of a new person, pet, or even object in the home which can sometimes be an underlying factor. Good luck — feel free to DM me if you have questions!

Last year I had to find someone to watch my sun conure Sunny while we went on vacation. I made some mistakes and learned a lot. Sharing so others don't go through the same stress.

What to look for in a bird sitter:

• Experience with YOUR species (a budgie sitter might not be ready for a macaw)
• References from other bird owners
• A clean, bird-safe environment
• Willingness to send daily updates
• Knowledge of your bird's diet and routine

Red flags:

• "All birds are the same" mentality
• No experience but "loves animals"
• Won't let you see their space beforehand
• No plan for emergencies

Questions I now ask every sitter:

1. What do you do if my bird stops eating?
2. Do you have an avian vet's number?
3. Can you handle a bite without panicking?
4. What's your bird-proofing setup?
5. How do you handle out-of-cage time?

My experience with Bird Sitting Toronto: After the DIY sitter disaster, I tried BST in Mississauga and it was night and day. They knew exactly how to handle Sunny, sent me photos every day, and she actually came home in a BETTER mood. Professional bird sitters are worth every penny.

Cost range in Toronto (2026):

• Friend/family: Free but risky
• Pet sitter (general): $25-50/day
• Specialized bird sitter: $35-75/day
• Professional boarding (like BST): varies, but worth the peace of mind

Don't cheap out on bird sitting. Your bird's safety is priceless. What are your experiences?

How old is your bird? That might explain it — my blue and gold macaw went through something similar around 7 years.

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

I went through this exact thing with my Senegal parrot Kiwi! It lasted about about a month and then resolved on its own. Hang in there.

My cockatiel goes CRAZY (good crazy) when I play reggae music. Full-on dancing and singing along. But puts on classical and they fall asleep instantly. What music do your birds enjoy? I want to make Zazu a playlist!

What water do you give your birds? I've been using Toronto tap water (which is generally good) but now I'm second-guessing myself. Is filtered necessary? Distilled? Spring water? Am I overthinking this?

I dealt with this for months with my Pionus. What finally worked was changing the lighting and being really patient. They come around eventually.