CozieOak Exotics

05/29/2024

With Pet Expo approaching, I’m working on a little true/false; myth/fact activity for our table. I know my page isn’t very big here (my IG is a bit more popular!) but I wanted to start with a fun fact about pigeons every day or so until pet expo!

Myth or Fact?
Pigeons need grit.
Answer will be in the comments!

05/18/2024

Still here! Just going through a massive life change, but our dreams are just around the corner 💕🥰 stay tuned!

05/18/2024

02/29/2024

Just a typical morning in the Howlett house! 💕

02/21/2024

Each year people from around the world come together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds. Join us in February!

02/21/2024

People need to talk about helium more. We have a fragile supply of it, and it’s non-replaceable. It’s important in medicine and MRI machines. And that’s just the start.

You don’t need it.
Your birthday balloons don’t need to float.
You don’t need to make a silly voice by inhaling helium.
And another good reason to not get it for balloons is that balloons choke animals, cause birds to fall, down sea life, and litter our land and oceans. For those who are religious; balloons do NOT go to heaven.

Helium should be reserved for important medical uses only.

I think about my carbon footprint a lot. It’s why even though I’m not vegan, I go for vegan/vegetarian materials and items / foods because biodegradability is VITAL.

I take the bus.
I walk.
We use h**p papers when smoking w**d.
We recycle.
We use electric heat.
My reptiles have their own bioactive tanks so I’m not wasting cleaning materials or paper towels.
My hamster has a natural tank so no plastic is used (besides his water dish)
I even shop at stores like Lush who take back their plastic pots which get recycled to be used again for products!

The only thing I need to improve on is using reusable coffee tumblers, and I’d like to make a grass and chia mat for my birds to reduce cage waste! That’s my challenge this year!

Let’s set environmentally friendly goals🌱💕

02/18/2024

CBC pigeon interview

02/16/2024

I will be on CBC around 6-7pm NST!

02/06/2024

Tarot is getting big!
*her bio enclosure is 7.5”Lx4.5”Wx5”H*
Still hoping it’s female and I’m so excited for them to molt again~ ALMOSTTTTT
🕷️ Hapalopus sp Colombia / Pumpkin Patch Tarantula

02/05/2024

Earl Gray is really enjoying attention right now 🥹💕

01/29/2024

Anyone else have little things you do out of love for your animal? Mine is spending about 30-45 mins sifting my pigeons favourite bird seed to 86 all of the corn I find~ corn is a choking hazard, and the flattened pieces can scrape their crops.

At least it is very satisfying on my little neurodivergent hands to stick my hands in a container of seed like my inner-child always wanted 😊 and my birds get to keep their fave seed (they refuse to eat any other brand)

Win win!

01/18/2024

We did not plan or want a Gemini doppelgänger 😅 we requested a pied diamond. But alas, some things just happen! At the end of the day this decision is to help combat Aries’ loneliness. It’s possible the breeder only does cinnamon/red’s and silvers. He is a male silver white rump, but I will say he is a darker silver, his white extends down his tail and is like snow, and he has more peach/cinnamon on his wings. Definitely different regardless of his type!

We haven’t named him yet, I was planning for comet, but that was for a pied variant! So I’m putting a pin in that name for now 💫 my husband is going to choose this lil guys name 💕

Came in with a minor boo boo—the exact thing happened to Aries and Gemini for some reason. Maybe it’s the way they’re grabbed before they get to me? Maybe it’s the boxes? Who knows, I know first aid for avians so I’m not worried about it. He is also missing a claw? That’s so weird. I might find a different supplier for doves in the future 😅

01/18/2024

👀💫 oh? What’s this? Where am I going with an empty bird carrier?

01/05/2024

New Pokemon weighted blanket by Oodie is Mango Approved 🐍✨ it got that ssssseal of approval!

11/28/2023

If you currently keep or want to keep Tarantulas, I highly recommend the Tarantula Collective on YT.

I think the Tarantula hobby is evolving, and rightfully so. I am "new" to actually keeping T's, but I have been observing the community and researching species and care for a very long time in preparation. Now that I have owned my T, I feel like I can add tarantulas to my list of topics.

🪴 Tarantulas do actually need enrichment, and the era of 4 inch round plastic containers and paper towel rolls are/will become a thing of the past. My sling, maybe 1/3" long, is in a 6"x4" bug carrier that I melted holes in for horizontal air flow. Her enclosure is bioactive and has leaf litter, cork bark, and cork bark twigs. When she is fullgrown, she will be moved into a 10 gallon bioactive. 5 Gallons is also suitable as she will be 4" max when fullgrown.

⭐️ It's now a myth that T's react only on instincts. There is now actual research done by biologists in the hobby, and T's are shown to have preferences, get curious, as well as know when theyre about to be watered or fed. Each T will also have it's own personality--isn't that neat?!

🌈 Many hobbyists used to (and still do) recommend T's as the perfect pet for everyone when it isn't entirely true! Some species; like old world tarantulas, do have vemon. And new world T's have urticating hairs that can fall off when threatened and cause skin irritation, as well as issues when inhaled or if they get in your eye. I find their hairs aren't talked about enough!

🍒 Temperature gradients are making their way to T care. Many breeders and old keepers don't want this information validated, but change isn't a bad thing. It's necessary for their mating behaviours, they egg sacs, and egg hatching. This should be kept for their all-round care as well. Not just for reproduction purposes.

"As we know better, we should do better. We should be willing to--at the bare minimum, spend as much money on their enclosure as the spider itself."

Some fun resources include
- Tarantula Collective (YT, and has his own website)
- Tarantula Cribs (website)
- Marshall Arachnids (YT and website; biologist)

Happy enting 🕷🪲

11/23/2023

This doesn’t feel real… I’ll miss you little buddy.
Rip Gemini ❤️‍🩹 I don’t know how or why this happened, I’m so sorry your meds didn’t work. I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more. I’m just sorry.

11/22/2023

For those who don’t follow me on my personal account, I’ve been dealing with a URI in Gemini the past few days. It came on very suddenly with the weather inconsistencies, but he finally saw his vet today and started an antibiotic. It was terrifying watching him even 2 hours ago… but I think the meds are. Starting to run their course.

I was terrified to lose him today. He’s on my chest in our warm and humidified bedroom until I have to leave for work, then my husband will be by his side until I’m off late tonight. My poor little Gem… gonna be making sure the bird rooms heater is always on going forward even a little, just to prevent this. They’ll also be getting their own humidifier just incase. I feel so terrible, but It happened so fast on a little accident because I didn’t realize how cold their room got one night until the next morning as it happened overnight❤️‍🩹🥺

11/22/2023

“Day 147… still undetected”

11/21/2023

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while! I’ve been quite preoccupied 😅 I have been more active on my instagram, so feel free to pop over there under the same name!

I got a pet Tarantula I named Tarot 🩵 she is a Hapalopus sp Colombia, also known as the pumpkin patch tarantula! I also still have our foster pigeon, chilli, as a new home didnt fall through.

Some pics of some of my big family!

10/23/2023

Something is coming 🕷️✨🕸️

10/12/2023

Just a reminder this darling is still at Kenny’s Pond and looks like it will need shelter soon. Looks very weak and hungry, not as strong as the others, and small. It needs a forever home! THIS IS NOT A FERAL ROCK DOVE!!!!!!

I’m capped right now but I can always give tips on how to catch a pigeon!

09/28/2023

Please support Erika Wilson ( The Pigeon Nest) who is the admin of Canada's Pigeon and Dove Rescue Adoption and Appreciation Group

09/27/2023