Toucans, Part II: Domestic Housepets
© Glenda Gibbons
The history of domestic toucans goes back to the first European explorers of the Americas. Such odd-looking and colorful birds were quite a curiosity. Attempts to domesticate the birds were successful. It wasn’t long before the capture and importation of toucans, toucanets, and aracaris; all members of the family Ramphastidae, became big business on the high seas. Toucans are the larger birds in the Ramphastidae family. All species look and behave very similarly, so it is usually the toucan that is described when information is given. Toucanets and aracaris are smaller, therefore, less costly than their larger cousins.
The toucan is an intelligent and entertaining pet. Toucans are smart, affectionate, and playful. They are highly trainable, and can be taught to roll over, play catch, and move small objects from one place to another. They share popularity with the parrot, but cannot mimic voices, and therefore, cannot talk. People looking for a pet toucan should make every effort to buy a hand-fed bird, as they have already become domesticated. It is advised that when you first bring your pet toucan to the place he/she will call home, the bird is given time to look around and adjust to its new surroundings. Moving to a new home is as stressful for birds as it is for people. The size of enclosure used to house your bird is very important. Toucans need room to grow and exercise. They can sometimes be rather “assertive” with small finch-sized birds, so if you are considering a flight aviary, it is best to leave the smaller birds out. Watch your bird closely for several days. Always make sure that it is eating and drinking in a normal pattern. Any deviation from the normal could be a sign of impending trouble.
Do not clip the wings of your toucan! They do not have the advantage of using a beak to help them maneuver around a cage. They must fly from one spot to another. If by chance, you buy a toucan that has had its wings clipped, it is important that you install many perches at differing heights around the cage so that the toucan can easily move from one area to the other. The smallest cage size recommended for the larger toucan has dimensions of 8’x 12’x 6’. Most serious toucan breeders admit that they like their flight cages to be 12’x 24’x 8’. Remember: it is perfectly alright to house birds of similar sizes together, just make sure that they have plenty of room. Always keep their living environment clean and free of hazards.
