I would like to know about these birds!

[kq_fan]

On my bucket list, I would love to own a toucan, raven, and a Hyacinth Macaw!!!! But of cores it is not going to happen today or tomorrow! And maybe never because of how much work they are! In the future I would love to work at an exotic bird place! With parrots who have been surrendered or those amazing talking birds! But I would love to know a little bit more about those talking birds and toucans! Does any one on here have that experience?

 

[TessieB]

You need to work at a zoo!

 

[NiRD]

I have experience with corvids. I honestly don't recommend a raven as a pet. Go with a pied crow instead. You'll be happier with your choice. Crows are less intense, more social, easier to train, and more rewarding in general. Just ask Gandalf.

They do need huge enclosures, a varied diet, and a lot of mental stimulation, though. If you have any specific questions about ravens and crows you want answered from personal experience, feel free to message me.

 

[kq_fan]

NiRD: Ok thanks! I wondered if crows are easier. My dad had a crow when he was a kid! But it was only for a little while. He still really enjoyed it! And I will message you because I do have more questions!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

My friend has a raven, a brown necked raven crossed with a white collared raven from corvid ranch. Very very cool bird! But a lot of work. He's starting to go through a aggressive phase and the cudy bird I once new bites me haha.

Personally I love these ravens, mine is so great with my friend. His last raven though was a brown necked raven crossed with a pied crow and it had a better disposition.

 

[Kalidasa]

I raised a crow that had lost it parents from a very young age. (Crows and ravens as you know are extremely similar) I raised it for release, but he stuck to me like glue. It was late in the season, so rather than release him into the cold, I kept him at home during the winter to fatten him up. He was lots of fun, but also very destructive, extremely loud, and unbelievably messy. He was also the ultimate Velcro bird, I got no peace at all that winter. When early spring came, I started taking him outside again, but it was a huge challenge to get him to fly away from me. I set up a little house for him on my back deck, and slowly he started acclimating to life as a free bird. It took all summer, but he eventually hooked up with his own kind, and had some friends, and possibly a mate. It was very fulfilling, but very exhausting. He pestered me for food for years, and his mate did also. But he was so beautiful!

 

[RavensGryf]

He's starting to go through a aggressive phase and the cudy bird I once new bites me haha.

Now I'm wondering what it's like getting bit by a Raven or Crow lol. I imagine it's no where near the strength of parrots, but I'm guessing it can hurt a bit? Can they draw blood?

I raised a crow that had lost it parents from a very young age. (Crows and ravens as you know are extremely similar) I raised it for release, but he stuck to me like glue. It was late in the season, so rather than release him into the cold, I kept him at home during the winter to fatten him up. He was lots of fun, but also very destructive, extremely loud, and unbelievably messy. He was also the ultimate Velcro bird, I got no peace at all that winter. When early spring came, I started taking him outside again, but it was a huge challenge to get him to fly away from me. I set up a little house for him on my back deck, and slowly he started acclimating to life as a free bird. It took all summer, but he eventually hooked up with his own kind, and had some friends, and possibly a mate. It was very fulfilling, but very exhausting. He pestered me for food for years, and his mate did also. But he was so beautiful!

I loved that story! I would think it would be very hard (too hard for some people) to release it after you become attached. Even though you know it's the right thing to do since it's a wild animal. To have him come back for years, wow. That would be something!

 

[NiRD]

It doesn't hurt. Mine frequently play tug with my fingers. Unless they get you with the very top, it just feels like a bit of pressure. I've never had blood drawn from corvid beaks (but have from corvid nails), and have only heard of one bird (a raven) who has drawn blood.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Ravens can draw blood x.x my friends old raven split someone's lip, and I still have a small scare on my hand where he grabbed with the tip of his beak and twisted. Starting to like pied crows more and more lol

 

[Mekaisto]

Seems you have the raven/crow stuff covered well, so I'll give you a little info about the other two

Toucans can be very affectionate or complete idiots, depending on species, age, sex, rearing - a ton of factors!
They are quite expensive to look after - needing a special low iron/low Vitamin C diet. Medicine and vet care can be hard to get - think about how many vets will have experience working on toucans!
They need a big flight aviary since they can't climb with their beaks like parrots can.
Their poo is phenomenal. Since fruit is the main component of their diet, it's very runny and they'll squirt it out everywhere. I've never known anyone who kept them indoors, but I think an outdoor aviary would be a much better idea. Of course the question in that case would be - how cold does it get in your area? Toucans don't do well in the cold!

Hyacinth macaws have fantastic personalities - the 'gentle giant' of the macaw world, and my favourite macaw! They are sweet, easy to train, absolute clowns and get along well in groups. However they need a huge flight made of tough metal - their beaks can easily bend anything that is too low gauge.
Also if you only have one they need constant enrichment, a bored hy will start to pluck almost immediately, they're probably rivaled only by Gang-gang cockatoos and African greys in this department. The aviary we had ours in was huge, plus they went for a fly around the zoo every morning and evening. They were also a flock of 8, so were constantly entertained. By themselves, they need companionship and entertainment more than any other macaw I know.
They need dense wood to chew on, and a regular supply of it too! Plastic/rubber toys are useless, you might as well serve them up a platter of broken shards XD

 

[NiRD]

That makes two. Haha. I've worked with many ravens, been bit by at least a dozen. No blood from their beaks (yet).