BirdNerd416

Anyone near Hamilton should check out the bird section at Pet Valu — surprisingly good for the area.

Have you tried offering chop first thing in the morning when they're hungriest? That's what solved this issue for us. Game changer honestly.

Was sitting on my balcony in Liberty Village with Gizmo on my shoulder and a kid walking by literally GASPED and said "MOM LOOK A REAL PARROT!!" Made my whole week. Moments like that remind me how special it is to share our lives with these amazing creatures.

There's a great bird supply store in Burlington that carries exactly what you need. I go there all the time.

I used to think the same thing until my budgie proved me wrong. Now I'm firmly in the other camp.

Can we start a support group for this? Because SAME.

Just got my zebra finch and I want to make sure I'm prepared for the long haul. What's the typical lifespan? Any tips for keeping them healthy into old age?

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

My Senegal parrot did this too! Turned out it was because of molting — they get uncomfortable and cranky. Once I addressed that, everything went back to normal.

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

Hi everyone! I recently adopted a rescue lineolated parakeet from a shelter near Newmarket. Their name is Maple (the shelter named them but it stuck). They're a bit shy and don't trust easily — no idea what their previous situation was. I want to give them the absolute best life possible. Any tips for helping a rescue bird settle in and learn to trust again?

YES! This is exactly what I needed to read today. My lovebird and I have been going through the same thing!

Welcome!! Looking forward to hearing more about your feathered friend. Don't be shy about asking questions!

Just wanted to come back and say the advice in this thread WORKED. My Amazon parrot finally stopped being afraid of hands after I tried putting the food bowl higher up — birds feel safer eating at height.

Oh man, this brings back memories. When we were dealing with this with Pepper, I thought we'd never get through it. Now it's just a funny memory. It gets better, I promise.

Have you reached out to Bird Sitting Toronto? They really know their stuff when it comes to bird care.

I used to think the same thing until my budgie proved me wrong. Now I'm firmly in the other camp.

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?

I'd suggest trying playing calming bird sounds from YouTube during the day. My avian vet recommended it and it made a huge difference.

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