Parrot-focused boarding tucked into Pickering's lakeside neighbourhoods, looked after by people who actually live with birds. When the 401 takes you out of town, your flock settles in with ours.
Plenty of Pickering households juggle a demanding GO Transit commute, weekends at the cottage, and a parrot who notices the second a suitcase comes out of the closet. We started this retreat for exactly those families: a calm, home-based place where your bird is greeted by name, given its own daily play schedule, and watched over by people who have shared their living room with parrots for years.
From budgies and cockatiels through to African Greys and Goffins cockatoos, every companion species is welcome here. Rates are set by bird size so you pay only for the care your bird needs, our health policies keep the whole flock safe, and we answer questions the same way we'd want answered about our own birds — directly and without the runaround.
Our Story
Liners swapped and grills scrubbed every morning, with each cage fully disinfected before the next guest arrives. A tidy, low-dust bird room keeps sensitive respiratory systems happy.
Fresh water at least twice a day, daily food refills, and seasonal produce — we lean on what's good at the Pickering markets when we can. A few treats are part of the deal; spoiling them is half the fun.
Out-of-cage stretching and enrichment, one bird at a time. We never mix households during play — keeping flocks separate is simply the safest way to protect every guest.
Day rates step up by species size, so a budgie family isn't subsidizing the African Grey down the street — you pay for the care your own bird needs. 13% HST applies, and we ask for a vet health exam from the past 12 months before any stay.
| Size | Species | Day Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Small | Budgies, Canaries, Lovebirds | $18 / day* |
| Small | Green cheek conures, Cockatiels & similar | $24 / day |
| Medium | Senegals, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Sun conures, Pionus, Jendays | $26 / day |
| Large | African Greys, Goffins cockatoos & similar | $30 / day |
*XS rate is $18/cage, maximum 2 birds per cage.
A few species come through our doors more than any other, and each has its own temperament, diet, and stress triggers away from home. We've written a dedicated guide to how we look after the most popular ones.
Flock-aware care for budgerigars and parakeets — bonded pairs board together, with forage toys and calm, dark nights.
Gentle, crest-reading care for cockatiels, with a night-fright-aware setup and head scratches for the tiels that want them.
Patient, enrichment-rich boarding for a brilliant, sensitive bird — steady routine and a calcium-conscious diet.
From the Frenchman's Bay waterfront to the wooded streets of Highbush, we board birds for families right across the city. Find your neighbourhood for local drop-off details.
Lakeside community around Frenchman's Bay, minutes from Pickering GO and the Nautical Village.
Central Pickering around the Town Centre, City Hall, and Esplanade Park.
Leafy executive homes in the northwest beside Altona Forest and the Twyn Rivers valley.
Practical, no-nonsense advice from people who live with parrots — the same things we keep in mind for every guest in our care.
Pellets, fresh foods, seeds as treats, and the common dietary mistakes worth avoiding for a long-lived bird.
Birds hide illness instinctively. Learn the subtle early signs and when it's time to call an avian vet.
How to prepare your companion for a calm, comfortable stay while you're away from home.
Finding someone who actually understands parrots is not easy. These folks get it. My Grey, Archie, can be picky about new people, but he warmed up to them within hours. I have used Pickering Bird Retreat three times now and will keep coming back.
I was nervous leaving my Sun conure for ten days. They sent me a photo update on day three and my bird was clearly happy. Individual play time makes a real difference.
Professional from intake to pickup. The vet-exam requirement gave me peace of mind knowing every bird there is healthy. Our two budgies came home relaxed and chatty.
Send us your travel dates and a little about your bird through the booking form, and a real person here in Pickering will get back to you within one business day.
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