Toucan?

[Millimi]

I just stumbled across a breeder selling toucans as pets. That seems really unusual. They have such big beaks, I can't imagine them being happy in a cage. Does anyone have a toucan or know any in captivity? I would think it is very cruel...

[Lungfish]

From what I've read on Toucans they are more difficult to keep as pets on the nutritional side. It seems like they were prone to iron overdosing? It seems like I remember hearing they can be good pets though.

One of the pet shops that used to be around here had a Toucan.

[Dayna]

Toucans are very messy. They "shoot" their poop and since they cannot climb, they require a very large 'cage". Most people use rooms to house them in since they need so much space. They are very difficult to feed.

However, all that aside, people I have talked to said that if you can handle all that, they are nice pets.

[Monica]

As far as diet and droppings go, it's somewhat like caring for a lorikeet. They both eat a lot of fresh foods and have messy droppings. I've seen two toucans (keel billed) in a birdstore before, and one of them sure had a personality! He was sitting next to the door on a stand, when he decided to go back to his cage (one suitable for a cockatoo or grey) he hopped off the stand, hopped around the shop for a bit, then headed to his cage. However, he could not get in his cage because my mother was standing right infront of it. He didn't like it, so he pecked my mother on her foot which got her attention (and she moved). He then proceeded into his cage by hopping in!

Beyond the fact that they need a lot of fresh fruits to eat and the messy droppings, as well as an aviary or bedroom to live in, they really do seem like great birds! They are just UGLY as chicks, but oh so gorgeous when fully grown!

[bgmacaw]

The bird store I frequent has one named Pig, because of the sound he makes. Very pretty. They have him in a long short cage and he spends most of the time hopping around the bottom.

[sweetie&meli]

Well at nature pet centers in canada where i work we have one a toco tucan named robee hes 6 years old aqnd what a handful he is :) he eats his formulated pelets but prefers grapes (seedless) red olny..papaya , mango, apples, raising muffins, meal worms , crickets :) his cage is a glass enclosure about 12 feet long and 15 feet high with lots of trees for him to jump on:)

heres a pic of what he looks like ill get one of him soon :)

[LissaKokoKiwiKaseySam]

From what I've been told, they are definite 'hands off' birds- not cuddly at all, and the size of the cage to me would be daunting...no room for any more birds!

[Spinnergirl]

That was a funny story Monica...the Toucan pecking your moms foot...probably thinking "lady your in my way and I wanna go home ~ move it"!!

[ParrotJoe]

lmao, i was thinkin the same thing spinner, thats hilarious. good story Monica.

[Monica]

It was actually quite funny to see! My mother wasn't really sure what to think and was surprised so she had a good laugh as well!