Should I get a pet toucan?

People often comment on my TikTok and Instagram posts with "I want a toucan!" And, while this may be a short-lived statement with no real intent of acting on it, I know there are some people out there who may be inspired to get a pet toucan. So, I created this blog post (and this website) to outline what it's actually like to have a toucan as a pet. I'm not here to preach that no one should own a toucan. Clearly, I own one. But I did a lot of research before adopting Chester, and I hope anyone who is seriously considering getting a toucan, or ANY type of pet bird, will take the time and energy to thoroughly research the responsibility of being a bird's caretaker.

Let's start with the cons, the negatives, the dangers and the level of responsibility required.

It takes a lot to give any pet bird a good life. They aren't meant to spend their lives trapped in a cage on display. They are meant to fly, socialize and have enriching lives. To recreate this in a human environment requires a significant amount of time, money, attention and energy.

The Cost

Exotic bird vets are expensive. And toucans (especially aracaris and toucanets) are very clumsy. It's not uncommon for a toucan to lose a few toes throughout its life. In one vet visit, I spend a minimum of $100. That's if I'm lucky and it's a basic checkup. But in a year, the vet can cost a total of $5,000+. In addition to the cost of vet visits, the cost of toucans' diets is significant. First of all, they require special low-iron pellets. They also require fresh and exotic fruit. Toucans eat a LOT. Even my very small aracari costs about $100/week on fruit. It spoils quickly and they need a variety of fruit. Melons, berries, papaya, mango, etc. The cost adds up. In addition to vet and diet costs, toucans (like all pet birds) require lots of toys. You don't buy one set for the cage. They need new toys constantly to continue enriching their lives and stimulating their minds, so you have to invest a lot in new bird toys. Or, do DIY and make your own. I've found that Chester enjoys a paper towel roll more than a plastic ball any day of the week.

Forbidden Household Items

All pet birds have incredibly sensitive respiratory systems. The requirements to ensure no toxins are around your pet bird are much greater than many new bird owners realize. Some will tell you "I've cooked with teflon pans all my life and never killed a bird." But trust me, they absolutely will. If you aren't willing to part with the below items, think twice before getting a bird:

• harsh cleaning products (I only use white vinegar & water in a spray bottle to clean)

• perfumes, colognes, air fresheners, oil diffuser rods, plug ins, Febreze, candles, essential oil diffusers, potpourri

• hair straighteners, hair dryers, hair curlers, ironing boards

• nonstick cookware of any kind (no teflon, PTFEs, PFOAs, PFAS etc.)

• heated plastic of any kind, rubber spatulas (heated), plastic oven bags, nonstick aluminum foil, nonstick pizza pans

• fireplaces, fire pits, cigarettes, cigars, grills, or smoke of any kind

• portable heaters, heated blankets

• strong smelling fabric softeners, hair products, lotions

Additionally, there are many types of household plants, food and flowers that are toxic to your bird if they get ahold of them. You can review a great list of safe and unsafe plants here.

The Emotional Expense

To give a toucan (or any bird) a fulfilling and healthy life requires ample quality time, training, enriching activities, and attention. You cannot simply lock a bird up and expect them to be happy. They need to be engaged constantly. I work from home and spend all day with Chester. From morning to evening we are typically together. If I go in another room and close the door, he cries. If I leave him alone and lock him up to run an errand, he will cry for hours calling out to me. It breaks my heart. Leaving on vacations where he cannot come (even a single overnight trip) feels emotionally devastating every time. I remember my first Thanksgiving, I boarded Chester and went with my family on a trip. I cried at the Thanksgiving dinner table about how I missed Chester and wished he were with me. It's hard to go on a trip knowing your bird is sitting in a cage wondering if you're ever going to come back.

Personal and Family Relationship Issues

You don't get to pick who your pet bird bonds with. They may like your partner better than you. They may hate you. They may be sweet the first few years and then turn into violent demons with knife faces flying at full speed to stab you in the eye. For example, Chester hates my family. He violently attacks my sisters and mother any time he gets the chance. This complicates my ability to spend time with them and with him simultaneously. He also is very wary of new partners in my life, as it means these people are taking attention away from him. I'm honestly terrified of the next time I may get in a serious relationship, as I have a feeling Chester will have a problem with that person unless they win him over and make him feel like he's the center of the world.

Aggression & Destruction

Toucans are social birds, and one of their main forms of communication is through biting. Additionally, they get hormonal around age three, meaning that their hormones will be primed to mate and make tiny toucan babies. This increases their levels of aggression, especially during breeding season (~April through September). I have had quite a few times where Chester got VERY close to stabbing me directly in the eye. His previous owner apparently had an issue with Chester going for her eye and he would try attacking the family dog.

In addition to the aggression, toucans can be quite destructive. Chester chews up all my plants. Recently, I had an orchid that finally bloomed after 6 months of waiting. Chester ripped the petals off while I was on a client call. Also, their poops are chaotic and stain so easily! Toucans will poop while flying, projectile poop on your wall, stain your furniture/clothing and potentially attract pests.

Other Pets

If you own a cat or want a cat, don't get a pet bird. I don't care if you know someone who has a bird and a cat who coexist. It's only a matter of time. Fun fact: cat saliva is toxic to birds. Their saliva is designed to poison and paralyze birds. All it takes is one bite or scratch and your bird can be dead. It's not worth the risk. Additionally, having a pet bird coexisting with another pet such as a dog carries similar risk. The animals may seem like they get along, but all it takes is one time and you won't forgive yourself. I've read so many horror stories of people's pets "all of a sudden" biting their bird and wounding them. The truth: If you want to give your pet toucan (or pet bird) the attention and safety it deserves, don't have another pet.

So, what are the pros? Why do people get toucans as pets?

I can only speak for my personal experience owning an aracari (toucan), but they are incredibly snuggly and affectionate. Toucans are crazy goofballs full of mischievous energy and silly little personalities. Fun fact: they don't walk! They only hop or fly. Chester spends half of his day up to no good and the rest of the day snuggling in my shirt. Sometimes when my friends are feeling brave, I'll stick Chester in one of their shirts. It's hard to explain how cozy and special it feels to have a toucan snuggling up in your shirt, but trust me, it's lovely.

Toucans smell delicious. I really don't know how to describe it but anyone who has a pet toucan and has buried their face in their pet toucan's feathers knows what I'm talking about. Toucans are incredibly clean and bathe themselves almost daily. I don't know...something about their smell is intoxicating.

It's a special thing to bond with any animal. The bond between me and my toucan is so beautiful. But even though he loves me and sees me as his "partner" I'm still bitten, I'm still attacked. Toucans are wild animals. They aren't domesticated.

My advice: Let a bird pick YOU, not the other way around. I didn't go out looking for a pet toucan. I met Chester when I was just looking to pet some birds and give them love and attention. Our bond was so special and I visited him several times, bringing him blueberries. I couldn't stop thinking about him. Finally, I decided to figure out how to adopt Chester (it had to be approved by his previous owner, as she wanted a good re-home for him). The very first day I took Chester home, he hopped right up onto my arm. There was an instant connection we both felt, and that is largely what drew me to adopt him.

If your plan to get a pet bird is based off what you've seen on social media, don't get a bird. Find someone in your area who owns a bird and ask to spend a day in their home. Go volunteer at a bird rescue and see what it looks like when a bird is neglected. Be sure you understand the significant emotional burden you're signing up for. The amount of time you will need to spend with them. The cost. The mess. The lifestyle changes. It shouldn't be an easy decision. Birds are a lot of work, and exotic birds of any kind are highly emotionally intelligent. Treat the responsibility the same as taking care of a human toddler. You (hopefully) wouldn't leave a toddler in a cage all day. You'd feed them, play with them, teach them, talk to them, take them with you places, give them activities and games, and make sure they're always in good health.

If you are thinking about getting a pet toucan, please join the Facebook group Toucans, Toucanets and Aracaris so you can find trusted breeders/rescues, talk directly with other owners and ask any pertinent questions you have before you make a decision.