KeetKeeper_YYZ

Paper cups with treats inside, folded shut, placed in the cage. My budgies spend 20 minutes working those open. Also muffin tins with tennis balls covering each cup — the foraging puzzle keeps them busy.

My conure goes wild for banana but I want to make sure it's actually good for him and not just a sugar hit. Are bananas safe, and which tropical fruits are best vs ones to limit?

I put tape on windows so birds can see the glass. Also make sure ceiling fans are clearly off and labelled, and close off any rooms you don't want the birds to access.

Start ridiculously easy. Put treats in an OPEN clear cup right next to the food bowl. Then loosely cover it. Then move it slightly. You're building the 'food can be hidden and I can get it' concept one tiny step at a time.

I'm in a downtown Toronto condo with fairly thin walls. I've fallen in love with green cheek conures but I'm terrified of noise complaints. Are GCCs actually apartment-friendly or is that wishful thinking?

Dawn and dusk are your windows — she'll be calmer and more likely to fly down. Millet spray is great bait. If she has a cage-mate, putting that bird's cage outside and letting it call is gold.

I see wildly different numbers online — some say 2 hours, some say 'as much as possible.' Realistically, how much out-of-cage time does a parrot need each day to be happy and healthy?

Try adding harder materials: chunks of pine (not cedar or treated wood), coconut shells, thick leather strips (untreated). Also cactus wood is indestructible and birds go nuts for the texture.

I'm trying to decide between getting a budgie or a lovebird as my very first bird. I live in a 1-bedroom apartment and work from home. I can dedicate a good few hours a day to interaction. Which would you recommend for a first-time bird owner?