Bird boarding in Pickering
Everything you need to know before you book — pricing, daily care, and what to bring.
Pricing by Bird Size
We price by bird size rather than charging everyone the same flat rate — a lovebird and an African Grey simply don't ask the same of us in a day, so it wouldn't be fair to bill them alike. The 13% HST is added at checkout, with nothing buried in fine print.
| 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 & similar | $26 / day |
| Large | African Greys, Goffins cockatoos & similar | $30 / day |
*XS rate is $18 per cage, maximum 2 birds per cage.
Additional Fees & Policies
- 13% HST applied to all bookings
- $30 short-notice fee for bookings made within 7 days of drop-off
- Payment required before drop-off
- African Greys, Goffins cockatoos and similar-sized parrots are welcome — please confirm availability in advance, as the largest birds we take need our roomiest space
- We are not accepting large macaws, large cockatoos such as umbrellas and moluccans, or large amazons for boarding at this time
What's Included Daily
Cage Cleaning
Liners changed and grills scrubbed every day, and a full disinfect before the next guest moves in. A clean, low-dust room matters in a region that swings from damp lake air to bone-dry winter heating.
Water & Food
Water freshened at least twice a day, more if your bird is a dunker. Daily food top-ups, seasonal fruit and veg sourced locally when we can, and a treat or two — spoiling our guests is part of the service.
Individual Play Time
One-on-one out-of-cage time for stretching and enrichment, scheduled per bird. We never run shared play across households — keeping flocks apart is the surest way to keep everyone healthy.
Birds We Board
We care for the full range of companion parrots, and a few species come through our doors more than any other. Each has its own temperament, diet, and stress triggers when away from home, so we've written a dedicated guide to how we board the most popular ones in Pickering.
Budgie Boarding
Flock-aware care for budgerigars and parakeets — bonded pairs board together, with forage toys and calm, dark nights.
Cockatiel Boarding
Gentle, crest-reading care for cockatiels, with a night-fright-aware setup and head scratches for the tiels that want them.
Conure Boarding
Hands-on care for loud, playful, social conures — contact calls answered, nip-aware handling and energy-burning enrichment.
Lovebird Boarding
Warmth-aware care for feisty little lovebirds — bonded pairs board together in a cosy, draught-free spot of their own.
Macaw Boarding
Why the large macaws are the one group we turn away, and exactly where our size line sits.
African Grey Boarding
Patient, enrichment-rich boarding for a brilliant, sensitive bird — steady routine and a calcium-conscious diet.
Large Parrot Boarding
African Greys, Goffins cockatoos and similar-sized parrots get reinforced housing and confident, hands-on care.
Health & Safety Requirements
Every boarding bird needs an avian-vet health exam from the past 12 months and a clean bill of health, with a copy brought along at drop-off. We hold firm on this for one reason: the bird sitting beside yours deserves the same protection yours does, and an undetected illness can move through a boarding room fast.
We don't take hand-feeding babies or birds on active medication. If your bird is mending from an illness or injury, get in touch first and we'll talk through honestly whether a boarding stay is the right call right now.
Planning Your Stay
Whether you're heading off on a trip or just weighing up what a stay involves, these two guides answer the questions we hear most before a booking.
Vacation & Holiday Boarding
Planning bird care around vacations, the holidays, March break and business trips — and why peak dates fill early.
What Boarding Costs
What actually drives the price, what's included as standard, and how to get a clear custom quote for your bird.
What to Bring at Drop-Off
Here's the full checklist. Forget a minor item and we can usually improvise — but the one thing we can't work around is the vet record, so make that the first thing in the car.
- Cage + thoroughly cleaned travel cage
- Food for the full stay (plus 2 extra days of buffer)
- Blanket for nighttime cage coverage
- Toys and perches (if using our loaner cage)
- Completed client intake form
- Veterinary health exam proof (current year, avian vet)
- Payment (e-transfer, credit card, or cash)