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We
acquired our pair of Rainbow Billed Toucans(Ramphastos
sulfuratus) Leonardo & Twitchy several years back from
Emerald Forest Bird Gardens at first to possibly breed them in
a backyard Aviary. Well things sort of changed, We ended up keeping
them in the house and since then they have became part of our
family. They have adapted well and are very healthy to this day.
I've owned an African grey parrot in the past, but the experience
was never really quite the same as owning a pair of toucans. To
this day, they both fly around the house freely during the day
when someone is there and at night we put them in their bedrooms(cages).
When they are out they interact with us a lot, they like to follow
me around the house from room to room and demand my presence the
majority of the time. There as been times were I'll have to get
my work done and they can be quite a distraction sometimes, so
what I'll do is make a run for my office when they're not looking
and slowly close the door so that if they are right behind me
I wont close it on them. As time has gone by I've trained them
to do a few tricks which was pretty easy, they are fast learners
and have the ability to learn tricks just as proficient as parrots,
I have an Avian Acrobat team, at least that's what I call it,
I have taught my female rainbow bill toucan to do back flips and
my citron cockatoo to rollover, and they fly to me when I call
them. I just love to show them off when we have people over which
seem pretty impressed after the performance. Both toucans have
a close bond with us, I have to say Twitchy is the one that requires
the most affection, she just loves it when you pet her, she'll
start purring like a kitten demanding more. She always has to
be around someone, it makes her feel comfortable, I'll be sitting
on the couch and within seconds she has landed on me and starts
purring. I have been very pleased with the decision of getting
my birdies and hope that each and everyone who owns these beautiful
birds shares the same experiences that I've had.
-Paul
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