I met Chester in 2021 when I was at a bird store in Falls Church, Virginia to play with parrots. I was going through a rough patch amidst the pandemic and knew that being around birds made me happy. After roaming around the store, I noticed a small toucan in a cage by the front window and asked the store owner about him. The store owner said his name is Chester and he was available for purchase, but not through the store. There was a woman who was friends with the store owner and was looking for a good owner to adopt Chester. I said I wasn't interested, I just wanted to know about the bird.
The store owner told me I could open the cage door and put my hand in if I wanted to try petting him. I spent the next four and a half hours squatting next to Chester's cage talking to him, watching him hop around, petting him and scratching his beak. I stayed until the store closed and went home thinking how lovely that experience was.
I spent the next few nights thinking about Chester and went back to visit him a few times. The store owner told me Chester had been in the store for six months (I learned later via TikTok that Chester had actually been there for more than a year). Apparently Chester's previous owner was very protective over who was to be his new forever home. I thought to myself that I'd come back frequently to spend time with Chester and keep him company since he was probably alone and very scared (the other birds were all parrots who were a little crazy).
While I was visiting Chester, a woman who worked at the store came over and started taking photos of Chester. I asked her why she was taking photos and she said "A man who wants to buy Chester wanted to know what the toucan looks like." I immediately felt protective over Chester. With little information but knowledge about many irresponsible bird owners, I immediately assumed that this man was likely to be the kind of owner who puts Chester in a cage on display. He just wants to see what the toucan looks like? He's not visiting Chester in person? Red flag.
The woman who worked at the store noticed the way I was interacting with Chester and said "Wow! I can't believe he isn't biting you. He is usually flying all around the cage when we go near him." To me, that was a very good sign of the trust and bond I was building with Chester. Still though, I didn't have a plan to get him. I knew I wanted to own a bird in my life, but I wasn't expecting to get one in my 20s, as owning a bird is a significant responsibility. I have experience volunteering at parrot rescues and I didn't want to just get a bird without being fully prepared for the commitment.
But I couldn't stop thinking about Chester. I went home and stared at this corner of my apartment where there was a window with nothing in it. I never knew what to put in the window so I just left the area empty. Now, all I could imagine was Chester's cage in that window. I cried one night just thinking about how much I loved Chester. The next morning, I started taking action to see how feasible it would be to get Chester.
I did a lot of research before getting Chester. I read every article I could find on toucans, owning a pet toucan, etc. I already had previous experience with birds and bird behavior/lifestyle, so I knew it was just a matter of understanding the financial, personality and health considerations of a toucan versus what parrots are like. I read blog posts others had posted about owning a pet toucan and contacted anyone I could find who may have helpful information. One toucan blogger recommended I join a group on Facebook called Toucans, Toucanets and Aracaris. There, I asked a variety of questions and became acquainted with the “toucan community” very quickly.
Then, I began getting ready to bring Chester home, which included having the right food supply, plenty of toys, and making my home bird safe. Sadly, I had to get rid of $300 worth of TJMaxx scented candles I’d just purchased, along with other unsafe products to have in a home with birds. But it was a small price to pay and I knew the drill. I gave away all my nonstick baking and cooking supplies and ordered bird safe items to replace them (largely I just use cast iron now). I ordered low iron Mazuri pellets in bulk for Chester’s diet, ordered him a travel carrier, and got plenty of safe cleaning supplies (white vinegar, spray bottles, etc.)
On May 31, 2021, I brought Chester home. As soon as he got out of the carrier, he hopped right onto my arm. It was his first time not being confined to a cage in more than a year. He immediately got himself acquainted with my apartment, doing the cutest little toucan hops as he explored all the furniture and items. It didn’t take Chester long to feel comfortable, and he even fell asleep on my chest that night while I pet him. My instincts were right: Chester chose me. It is a special gift and bond that I will never take for granted.
Since getting Chester, I’ve done all that I can to give him the most enriching life possible. We moved into a bigger apartment with lots of sunlight and high ceilings. I take him with me on road trips and to dinner (when the weather is nice). I work exclusively from home and refuse to go into an office. I buy him new toys and a variety of exotic fresh fruits. We work on target training, play catch, snuggle together in my bed (no sleeping, as that would be dangerous), take the trash out together, get the mail/packages together, sunbathe on my balcony, explore new items I bring home, and so much more… My whole world is about Chester. And I couldn’t be happier.
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