Blog

The toucan community, as you might imagine, is a small one.  Over the years I have made some very close friends, some of whom I’ve never even met.  But, they are my biggest support system when it comes to the triumphs, the treasures, and the pitfalls of owning a pet toucan. Recently, some of my[…]

Toucans and Diet Toucans are subject to iron storage disease or hemochromatosis.  Therefore they need a low-iron diet.  Following a strict diet is necessary to ensure toucans’ longevity in captivity. Many years ago toucans would often perish from hemochromatosis from diets that had too much iron.  Luckily, this is no longer the case.  Breeders, zoos,[…]

If you are like me, I’m a sucker for any animal in need.  Tell me it’s a toucan and you have my full attention! Meet Twizzy!  ToukitheToucan rescued Twizzy.  She is a two-year-old black-necked aracari and she needs your help! Twizzy has a beak deformity, essentially her beak is twisted.  It is unknown what the[…]

The day had finally come after waiting for nearly a year and a half to get our male Curl Crested Aracari.  We had his name picked out all this time, Niko!   During the ride to the airport, my stomach was in knots.  While I was so happy for him to come, I was as nervous[…]

Target training is considered one of the building blocks of training animals. Once it is learned it can lead to the shaping of many other behaviors.  Many zoos and aquariums teach this skill as the first skill an animal learns.  Zoos and aquariums use target training to do all kinds of things including voluntary blood[…]