MacawMama

My Jade went through a phase like this around 4 years. I was terrified but it passed. Birds are weird sometimes lol.

This is so true. Had the exact same experience with Ruby.

What worked for me was putting treats inside paper cups, folded paper, or tissue for foraging. Took about a week but my Indian Ringneck responded really well to it.

A friend who's had birds for 20 years told me to try adding foraging opportunities to at least 3 different spots in the cage. I was skeptical but it actually worked.

Compiled this list over the years. Hope it helps other GTA bird owners!

Big box stores:

• PetSmart — decent pellet selection, basic toys, some fresh food options
• Pet Valu — slightly better toy selection, carries some specialty brands
• Ren's Pets — good variety, staff are generally knowledgeable

Specialty / local stores:

• Tail Blazers (multiple GTA locations) — natural foods, unique toys
• Global Pet Foods — carries Harrison's pellets at some locations
• Menagerie Pet Shop (Parliament St) — great small shop, knowledgeable staff

Online (Canadian):

• Amazon.ca — good for bulk pellets, cages, accessories
• Parrot Stars (Canadian!) — excellent specialty bird store online
• MyBirdStore.ca — wide selection of pellets and toys
• Hagen/HARI (based in Montreal) — Tropican pellets, direct ordering

For fresh/organic produce:

• No Frills — cheapest for bird chop ingredients
• T&T Supermarket — great for tropical fruits birds love
• Local farmers markets (seasonal) — pesticide-free options

For DIY toy supplies:

• Dollarama — paper, wooden items, baskets
• Michael's — bird-safe leather cord, wooden beads
• Home Hardware — untreated wood pieces, sisal rope

Tips:

• Buy pellets in bulk online — way cheaper per kg
• Check expiry dates on pellets in store (they sit on shelves)
• Join GTA bird owner Facebook groups for secondhand cage deals

Anything I'm missing? Drop your favorite bird supply spots below!

A friend who's had birds for 20 years told me to try introducing new foods by eating them in front of the bird — monkey see monkey do. I was skeptical but it actually worked.

My advice would be getting a kitchen scale and weighing them weekly to track health. Went through the same thing with my Hahn's macaw last year.

This is such a great thread! I shared it with my local bird group. More people need to see this forum.

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

I went through this exact thing with my Hahn's macaw Ruby! It lasted about over a month and then resolved on its own. Hang in there.

What worked for me was switching to stainless steel water bowls and changing water twice daily. Took about a week but my African Grey responded really well to it.

What worked for me was clicker training for 10-15 minutes a day. Took about a week but my green cheek conure responded really well to it.

A friend who's had birds for 20 years told me to try stuffing paper towel rolls with treats for foraging. I was skeptical but it actually worked.

This is really hard to write but my life circumstances have changed significantly and I'm not sure I can give my sun conure the attention they deserve anymore. I love Blu but I want what's best for them. How do I decide? And if I do rehome, how do I find them a good home?

My cockatiel picked up a word I DEFINITELY didn't teach them. I suspect my teenager. Is there any way to untrain a word? I have guests coming over and I'm mortified. Or do I just accept my fate?

I have a green cheek conure and I'm thinking about getting a second bird. Should I get the same species or would a different one be okay? Worried about them not getting along.