Fatima_YYZ

My Noodle read this post over my shoulder and started nodding. I'm only slightly concerned.

I'm in a Richmond Hill apartment and considering a umbrella cockatoo. Be honest — how loud are they REALLY on a daily basis? Not just the occasional scream but the everyday noise level. My walls aren't the thickest.

I switched to TOP's pellets last year and haven't looked back. My sun conure's feathers have never looked better.

After MONTHS of trying every trick in the book — chop, skewers, birdie bread, eating veggies in front of them, hiding them in other foods — my lineolated parakeet Buddy ate a piece of broccoli today. OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL. I'm throwing a party. What finally worked: stuffing paper towel rolls with treats for foraging. Don't give up!!!

Hmm, I'm on the fence about this one. Part of me agrees but then I think about my experience with Oliver and it doesn't quite line up.

LOVE this post! More of this energy please. The bird community needs more positive threads like this.

You're clearly a caring bird owner — the fact you're asking for help shows that. Your bird is lucky to have you.

Have you tried using a stainless steel cage with proper bar spacing for the species? That's what solved this issue for us. Game changer honestly.

Reading this hit home. My cockatiel went through the same phase around the same age. What helped us was switching to stainless steel water bowls and changing water twice daily. Also just accepting that birds are gonna bird, you know?

After MONTHS of trying every trick in the book — chop, skewers, birdie bread, eating veggies in front of them, hiding them in other foods — my Senegal parrot Sunny ate a piece of broccoli today. OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL. I'm throwing a party. What finally worked: putting a bird lamp on a 12/12 timer to simulate natural daylight cycles. Don't give up!!!

I could have written this post a year ago. Same situation, same frustration. Here's what I wish someone had told me: covering the cage partially at night for 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Would have saved me weeks of stress.

100% this. Wish I'd known this when I first got my bird.

I know how stressful this can be. Just know you're not alone and most of us have been through something similar.

Did this start suddenly or was it gradual? When my Pionus did this it turned out to be molting — they get uncomfortable and cranky.

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

This made my day honestly. zebra finch owners are the best people. We're all just trying our best for our feathered kids.

Started clicker training Coco this week and I'm amazed. Day 1: confused. Day 3: clicked the connection between click and treat. Day 5: touching the target stick reliably. Day 7: stepping up on command. This is genuinely incredible. Anyone else clicker train their birds?

My advice would be switching from seed to Harrison's pellets gradually over 2 weeks. Went through the same thing with my budgie last year.

Completely unexpected — my supposedly male canary just laid an egg! I'm freaking out a bit. What do I do with it? Do I leave it or remove it? Will this keep happening?

I know how stressful this can be. Just know you're not alone and most of us have been through something similar.