Sarasota

Sweet Potato! Sweet Potato! So cute. If I move too slow with breakfast in the morning mine yells "Ah-poh! Ah-poh!" until I bring him some apple He's got me trained perfectly.

Excuse my dorky laugh in the background...my bird cracks me up. He loves to stir things...even the if bowl isn't there.

Awesome! I think you have to include the "other" Einstein. He's really catching up...and makes up his own sayings (Merry Christmas is "Merry Corn!!!"):http://www.youtube.com/user/4zebird?feature=watch

This reminds me of a strange thing that happened. About a year ago I took some new meds. They hit me so hard. I got home from work, took Sondheim out of his cage....and passed out! When I woke up a few hours later it was pitch dark, and he was still sitting happily on my back. I was stunned. And, yeah, I never took that evil stuff again!

I use the Avian Hotel. It's pretty awesome, BUT it's very heavy. It's wonderful if you are going from car to vet...but not something to carry for a long time.

I've had a few questions about what Toucans/Aracaris eat compared to parrots (and about poop!). Here's a few photo examples... It has to be all fresh fruit. Today's meal is papaya, cherries, squash, cucumber, blueberries, banana and Mazuri softbill pellets. I'll also feed apples, mangos, pear, various melon and some grapes. Every so often I'll feed them a little scrambled egg cooked in RPO. Note: That's one daily portion for two Aracaris. The male is 159 grams, the female 143. They are roughly the size of a Western Scrub Jay. I'd guess they eat double their weight in fruit and pellets everyday. Their digestive tracts are SUPER fast. What goes in, comes out almost immediately. Yep, that's a pile of blueberry poop at the end of the day under a perch. And, they manage to spray the wall which is about 8 inches away from their cage. And its fruit, so it's pretty sticky.

It's so very difficult when a little one passes. At least you know the reason why, poor thing. I'm so, so sorry!

He will! My grey is fluent in Green Aracari, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Collard Aracari, Western Scrub Jay, Mockingbird, Pigeon, Song Sparrow, dog and Guinea Pig.

Oh man is he cute!! That grey is gonna get the seal off the bottle!!

...the parrots will play! Just in case anyone was curious about how big a cage you need to house small toucans.

I make about enough for a week or two, freeze the servings in ziplock baggies and defrost daily. It's the only way to keep things running smoothly! The toucan's food has to be prepared fresh daily, no getting around that. And I have a loft to feed, two dogs and four fish. It cuts down on a lot of chopping and cooking!

What a looker!

I just love that naked chicken!

Seriously, I only have two parrots! What a glorious mess. And Sondheim just went to town on the toucan's papaya. Little monkey!

Thank you! Made me a little misty-eyed.

Where do I begin? My backyard has been completely wired in for an aviary. My backyard corner is a loft for pigeons. Every room has a perch...even the bathroom. I've turned over 98% of the refrigerator and pantry for their food. All my shirts have holes. I sing aloud. I don't swear inside my house. When I buy new furniture or decor it must be washable and wipeable. I pull over to pick up really good tree branches. When I buy new clothes I ask myself "Is this a scary pattern?" I don't wear earrings anymore. My co-workers save their newspapers and tissue boxes for me. I'm referred to fondly as "The Bird Lady." I find it hard to focus on what someone is saying if there's a really good bird nearby. I shop the baby aisles at Target because the Toucans love rattles and pacifiers. I have poop on my walls and a perch in my shower. I turn down a lot of social events to stay home with the animals. I sweep at least 4 times a day and have an iRobot to pick up the rest. When I went to the shelter to look for a dog I asked for a "bird friendly" animal. I'm looking for a job closer to home so I can spend more time with them. My first "vacation" in 3 years was attending Natural Encounters' workshop. My wallet is - ahem - much lighter....and I love every minute of it!

I am so very, very sorry. I don't even know what to say. Judy is right, you should have a necropsy done to ease your mind and let the store/breeder know what happened. My heart hurts for you.

Right?! What a character! He seems very bonded with the female, but also very well socialized with others. And I've never seen a grey quite so vocally interactive. I'd love to send a message through YouTube and ask him/her to join the forum! p.s. My TAG just called out "I gotta use the doggie door!" Huh? That's a first.

Holy moly! I'm moving to your neck of the woods. My toucans are At LEAST $400 for the annual check up, the parrots can be even more. Welcome to Los Angeles! My friend is a first time grey owner. She bought from a local pet shop and then came to me with a bunch of questions. The store/groomer insisted that the wings, beaks (including the inside the mandible) and toes need to be done once a month.

I didn't even notice it was called "Swearing Parrot" until after I posted it. I think I missed most the swearing...I was too busy enjoying it singing Baa Baa Black Sheep!

It's such a great feeling when they are finally home. It's even better the first morning you wake up and hearing them talking in the other room. Such good things to look forward to!

Oh no! You've got to see this bird...it's hilarious!

If you are the owner and are on this board...please come forward! This bird is so wonderfully interactive. What a DOLL!

I hope everything is ok. I see you're in CA. So Cal? I know a few avian vets in the SoCal area if this one doesn't work out!

The SoCal flocks are really exciting!! Check this site out: http://www.californiaparrotproject.org/ Some are actually now considered "established' species. We have 13 species living here...some since the 60s! Red crowned, Lilac crowned, mitered parakeet, etc. http://www.californiaparrotproject.org/id_guide.html