One Year Later… Remembering Fiji

 

It’s hard to believe that it has been exactly one year since we lost Fiji (October 12, 2010) in a tragic accident that shattered the earth beneath my feet.  I’m sure that many of you can relate when I say – that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through.  With all tragedy comes some kind of peace and chance to learn.  This experience really altered my reality and gave me a new perspective as well as an increased gratitude to you, our friends and fans.

Over ...

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Toucan Toys vs. Parrot Toys


Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Orlando, FL
Shown: Swainson Toucan “Fiji”

 

Having a pet toucan is wayyyyyy different than having a pet parrot. Parrots can grab onto things and shred them with their beaks. Toucans can’t do that. Sure, Rocko can step on his newspaper and pull it up with his beak at the same time, tearing it… but you won’t find him chewing on it and making it into newspaper confetti.

 

It’s important with toucans to keep small objects away that they can toss up and swallow ...

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Raising Rocko Our Baby Toco Toucan: Teaching Your Bird to Self Entertain

Photo by Jamieleigh
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Lookin’ tall: Toco Toucan “Rocko”

Lately Dave and I have become more and more aware about what we do to raise birds and form and shape their eventually adult personalities and traits. It has been a lot of fun jotting it all down when it comes to Rocko and sharing every moment (or so I like to think and try!) with all of you to learn from and sometimes just share in.

 

But more recent we’ve become aware of how we have been raising Rocko ...

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Raising Rocko the Toco Toucan: Changes in His Appearance

Photo by Dave
Location: Reno, NV
Shown: 3 month old Toco Toucan “Rocko”

It has been really fascinating to see Rocko grow each and every day. Dave and I keep looking at pictures of adult toco toucans and feel amazed that he is someday going to look like that. How unreal!

 

Because we keep comparing how he looks now to what he is going to look like… we have been able to notice small changes in his appearance.

His eyes are a purple-ish color right ...

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Raising Our Baby Toco Toucan Rocko: Making the Early Stages of Training Fun


Photo by Dave
Location: Nampa,ID
Playing and learning: Baby Toco Toucan “Rocko”

 

There are tons of reasons for playing with your bird with things such as towels, blankets and clothing. The biggest reason to do so is so that you can towel your bird to hold it still in the event of an emergency. The other reason is so that your bird is not fearful of being covered up by a blanket or towel whether it happens on accident or happens on another account.

 

While our birds were babies, ...

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Raising Our Baby Toucan Rocko: Addressing Early Signs of Aggression


Photo by Dave
Location: In the RV
Pictured playing with his ball: Toco Toucan “Rocko”

 

When our baby toucan Rocko started showing signs of aggression every once in a while, most of all when he appeared to be bored, Dave and I looked at each other like, “What do we do to stop a toucan from biting? This isn’t a parrot we’re dealing with…”

 

Rocko’s bite is a completely different type of “bite”. He has two different ways of hurting someone or something. In the wild, toucans ...

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