On the subject of toucans...

[agilebrit]

Yes, again.

I called a local vet, and they treat and board birds, including toucans. She wondered why we wanted one as a first bird (maybe I should have specified that we're getting an aracari rather than a toucan), and I explained about how they're sweet and don't bite and they're pretty and don't live as long as parrots. And she told me they're messy (all birds are messy), and about the iron thing, which I was already aware of. High maintenance, live a long time, etc. Which we've already researched. :)

Today we're going to toddle up to Bountiful and see what Pet Village has for bird cages, and if they have the softbill diet. We may have to have that special ordered in.

If we even do this. There's an exotic bird expo in Tucson in April, and we'd want to visit Emerald Forest before we made a final decision. It's a huge commitment.

Comments

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

It is a huge commitment and it sounds like you've researched and thought about this so I won't try to disuade you. You are indeed correct that all birds are messy. The farthest I ever got was a pair of budgies but it was enough to know birds were not the choice pet for me.

I wish you a great deal of happiness with yuor aracari and look forward to many pictures.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Oh, we haven't made the final decision yet. That will require a personal visit to Emerald Forest and talking extensively with the people who work with the birds on a daily basis.

But we priced out cages today, and it looks like we can get the one we want on eBay for about $430, shipped. The vet can order in the low-iron softbill diet for us. We've discussed building an outdoor aviary that the bird will have access to through a window in nice weather.

I'm right there with you on trying to talk people out of buying exotic pets. But considering that just the initial outlay for this is going to be in the neighborhood of $3000, we're going about it very methodically. And toucans really sound a whole lot easier than parrots, which don't really appeal to me anyway (for a number of reasons).

We even talked about teaching it bird-sized Agility. LOL

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Yikes! That's a lot of money. But I know you will make a well considered decision. Agility is certainly doable, if time consuming, but if you're investing that much in your pet I imagine you'll be willing to devote the time.