TDotBirdNerd

Conures love a midday siesta, so a little is fine. But 'more than usual' + any other change (quieter, fluffed, eating less) tips it toward 'call the vet.' Rule out poor night sleep first — overtired birds nap more.

A friend keeps asking me to recommend a 'starter parrot.' She's never owned a bird, has a busy-ish schedule, and lives in Toronto. I have my opinions but wanted to crowdsource — what do you all recommend for an absolute beginner?

Zupreem Natural is a decent mid-range option and available at most Toronto PetSmarts. Roudybush is another excellent one. For the transition, mix pellets in with seeds and gradually shift the ratio.

Saw a post in a Facebook group saying cooked eggs are a great protein source for parrots. This seems bizarre to me — am I wrong? Is it actually healthy to feed birds eggs?

Found a small lime-green budgie flying around my backyard on Curzon St (Leslieville) this afternoon around 3pm. He came right to me — clearly hand-tame. Currently in a spare cage with food and water. Please contact me if this is your bird or if you know who might be missing one. Can describe distinguishing markings.

Add a small heat source (a 'hospital cage' setup) — a sick or shocked bird needs to be kept warm (~28–30°C) on the way to the vet. And a travel carrier you can grab instantly.

Behaviour helps too — males tend to whistle, mimic, and do the 'heart wings' display; females are usually quieter. But it's not reliable. For certainty, a cheap DNA test from a feather/blood sample is the only sure way.

Reading all the lost-bird posts made me realize my budgie has no ID at all. What are the options for identifying a pet bird — leg bands vs microchips — and what's realistic for a small bird like a budgie?

One thing nobody tells you: cockatiels are LOUD at dawn and dusk. That's completely normal — it's their flock calling behaviour. You'll learn to love it... eventually 😄

Rosedale Animal Hospital is also good and more central. They see exotic birds. Always call ahead and confirm the vet seeing your bird has avian experience — not all at a practice do.

Agreed — airborne stuff is the danger people underestimate. Some essential oils are outright toxic to birds and even 'safe' ones aerosolize particles their lungs can't handle. Ventilation and fragrance-free is the way.

Flyers in a wide radius, and post to every channel: Kijiji, neighbourhood Facebook groups, Nextdoor, PawBoost. Call local vets and shelters — finders call those first. Time matters; spread it wide today.

14 months is completely within normal. Some wait until 2 years. Einstein mimicking sounds is a great sign though — he's clearly paying attention. Keep talking to him in context: name your actions as you do them.

A grey cockatiel landed on my balcony railing in Scarborough (Kennedy/Eglinton) and let me bring her inside. She's clearly someone's pet — tame and well-fed. How do I track down the owner the right way?

I keep seeing people rave about sprouted seeds being way healthier than dry seeds. Is sprouting genuinely worth the hassle (and the mold risk) or is it a fad? How do you do it safely?