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Monday 8am - 6pm Tuesday 8am - 6pm Wednesday 8am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 8am - 6pm

Exotic Bird Hospital

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United States
Jacksonville, FL
Exotic Bird Hospital

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We are open for client appointments Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. Please call 904-256-0043 to make an appointment. We are avian-centric!
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The Exotic Bird Hospital is dedicated to excellence in avian and exotic animal health care. The hospital opened its doors in 1995 with the purpose of providing full and expert veterinary services for birds. We also specialize in small mammals including rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and mice. Our practice is staffed, designed and equipped for every avian and small mammal need, from a basic wellness exam and grooming to the most complicated and life saving surgery. Our veterinarians and support staff focus and specialize in avian and small mammal health, medicine, husbandry, and regularly enhance their skills and experience with cutting edge continuing education and training. The hospital's facilities are laid out and outfitted with the comfort and well being of our avian patients in mind. Our exam rooms, hospitalization units, in house laboratory, surgery suite, boarding facilities and product offerings are all for the birds.

10/16/2026

Our Nanday conure patient Frankie is a joyful bird who loves to dance, especially when hearing vet techs talk about Olive Garden. Does Frankie have a connection to Olive Garden? Does Frankie just like Italian food in general? We aren’t sure, and so far, Frankie isn’t telling.

Nanday conures are native to South America, but there are some feral populations in Florida that are likely made up of escaped or released pets.

Frankie was found outdoors about two months ago and brought to us by a Good Samaritan. We have not been able to find an owner to reunite Frankie with like we hoped to, so we will be looking for a loving home for Frankie through Phoenix Landing Foundation. As you can see, this is a cute bird with a lot of personality!🦜💃🏻🕺❤️

Nanday conures are playful and energetic. They love being with their people, and Frankie is no exception. This bird is extremely social, which makes sense because in the wild, flocks of Nandays can number in the hundreds!😯

Nanday conures can be pretty loud, so despite being on the smaller side, these birds can have big voices and telling them to use an “indoor voice” won’t make much of a difference.😂

Isn’t Frankie cute? Do you have a pet who dances when a restaurant, treat, or food item gets mentioned? What’s your pet’s dance party prompt?

10/13/2026

When it comes to wearing many hats, we usually mean our techs, but in this case, it’s our adorable boarder Apple who wants to remind everyone that we have a FREE PARROT CLASS THIS SUNDAY FROM 1-3PM! (Many thanks to our techs Shayna and Lola for convincing Apple to wear this hat).😂🦜😍

Sweet birds like Apple are looking for loving homes and this class meets the requirement to foster or adopt!

🦜Free Parrot Care Class - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm🦜 (Jacksonville, FL)

The Good Life - This class looks at essential ingredients for providing a good life for the parrots in our homes - from nutrition and behavior to enrichment, health, and anatomy of our “dinosaurs.” We also offer tips on parrot care that can make life easier for you and your birds. There is also time at the end of class for you to ask questions and get specific advice.

Space is limited, so let us know if you would like to attend, and we will save your seat! You can comment here, message us, call us at 904-256-0043, or tell us in person if you plan to attend.

There is no cost to attend class and the classes are always fun and informative. We hope to see you here!🤗🦜

10/09/2026

A Quaker couple - Kermit and Winston - boarded with us a couple of months ago, and they sure were fun birds with tiny voices and lots of energy!

Quakers are small birds with big personalities. They are known for being social, engaging, and charming.

Although not all of them talk, many Quakers are quite good at talking and can learn many words and even songs. These cute birds have characteristic gravelly voices, making their words and songs incredibly cute!

There is a legend that states that Quaker parrots, also known as a monk parakeets, were accidentally let loose in the US in the 1960s from a broken shipping crate at JFK airport. The escapees sought freedom and are one of the only tropical birds capable of handling the winters of northern states. Quaker parrot stick homes are well-insulated and some are quite elaborate.

Like the nests they make in the wild, a Quaker’s cage is his or her castle, so some can be a bit territorial in and around the cage.

For any cage territorial bird, an option is to train them to step up onto a wooden perch (or a rope perch you curve in a u-shape and hold both the ends) to remove your bird from the cage area to take to another place to step up.

There are theories the name Quaker comes from the bobbing, shaking, and quaking motions these birds make when excited or content, or it could be a result of the feather pattern on their chests resembling a bib or collar worn by the religious Quakers. Which one do you think it is or do you have a different idea?

10/07/2026

Our bearded dragon patient, Roscoe, peeked out of her box at her recheck exam with Dr. Colbert and informed us she wanted to set an eggs-ample to show that birds aren’t the only exotic pets that can have complications from egg-laying.

Did you know that female bearded dragons can produce and lay unfertilized eggs? Even female beardies that haven’t been around any males can lay eggs.

Roscoe previously had follicular stasis, which happens when eggs stay in a soft form and don’t develop into a formed egg with a shell. We suspected this on Roscoe’s first visit and confirmed it with radiographs, which showed multiple follicles in both the right and left ovaries.

During reproduction, the bearded dragon’s ovaries produce follicles in a process called vitellogenesis, which then move through the reproductive tract, develop a calcified shell, and are pushed out of the cloaca and deposited in the nest site. This may sound simple, but the body's calcium supply must be optimal, and the bearded dragon must be in peak health. If any internal or external requirements aren’t met, follicles and eggs can be retained.

This is extremely concerning because it can lead to infection, and if the follicles/eggs rupture, life-threatening inflammation called egg yolk coelomitis can occur.

At that first appointment, Roscoe’s owner was given information on how to construct a dig box to encourage her to lay the eggs.

Sometimes spay surgery is necessary, but in Roscoe’s case, monitoring over the next months with imaging like ultrasounds and radiographs showed a reduction in follicle size, and her last recheck showed no evidence of vitellogenic follicles!

In cases like this, monitoring through rechecks with imaging allows us to keep an eye on how she is doing.

Egg-laying in female bearded dragons can make the abdomen look larger and rounder, and you may even see bumps. She may lose her appetite or show frantic digging or lethargy.

Learn what is normal for your pet so you notice changes, as Roscoe’s owner did, and get help from an experienced exotic pet veterinarian anytime your pet’s appetite, weight, behavior, or bowel movements change.

Isn’t Roscoe cute? She’s sneaking a peek.😂

10/05/2026

🦜Free Parrot Care Class - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm🦜

The Good Life - This class looks at essential ingredients for providing a good life for the parrots in our homes - from nutrition and behavior to enrichment, health, and anatomy of our “dinosaurs.” We also offer tips on parrot care that can make life easier for you and your birds. There is also time at the end of class for you to ask questions and get specific advice.

This class satisfies the Phoenix Landing adoption process class requirement. This post features some wonderful adoptable birds currently available, so feel free to share it so they are seen and so anyone interested knows about our free class.❤️

Space is limited, so let us know if you would like to attend, and we will save your seat! You can comment here, message us, call us at 904-256-0043, or tell us in person if you plan to attend. There is no cost to attend class and the classes are always fun and informative. We hope to see you here!🤗🦜

10/02/2026

Dr. Borger’s Quaker patient, Kiwi, sustained an injury in his cage. When he came in to see Dr. Borger, his third toe was displaced and swollen. There was also a bit of dried blood in the area at the base of that toe, and his grip was weak.

Because birds have small, sometimes hollow bones, breaks can happen. Fractures often occur from accidental trauma such as a fall, getting caught on a cage or toy, etc.

A broken bone, even a toe, is incredibly painful and is an emergency.

The best way to get a definitive diagnosis of a broken bone is to take a radiograph, an image created by an X-ray machine. As you can see, the radiograph clearly shows where the break occurred and what it looks like, which is important for the doctor to know.

In many cases, like Kiwi’s, broken bones can heal with a splint made from special tape that is safe for a bird’s sensitive skin.

An experienced veterinarian must do this because splinting must be done correctly. If you splint at the fracture, it won’t heal. Placing the splint is done under general anesthesia because the doctor must be able to stabilize the area above and below the fracture site; otherwise, it will remain unstable and won’t heal.

Along with placing a splint, Kiwi was given an antibiotic, pain medicine, and oral calcium. After discharge, Kiwi needed a smaller cage and temporary separation from his Quaker roommate while healing at home.

With a fracture stable, the bird often feels much better. The splint needs monitoring, and the bird will need to be rechecked by his or her veterinarian to assess the splint and healing progress.

More complicated fractures sometimes require surgery. We also want to mention that underlying health issues can weaken bones and make them more susceptible to fractures. Regular exams can help identify health issues through physical exams, bloodwork, and radiographs or other imaging if your veterinarian thinks it is needed.

A broken bone is painful and requires immediate veterinary care. Kiwi received prompt medical attention for his injury, and we hear he is doing well at home and had his splint removed at his last recheck. Check out all the pics to see Kiwi in his cute little splint. Isn’t he adorable?😍🦜❤️

09/29/2026

The doctors and staff of Exotic Bird Hospital know that innovation in veterinary medicine isn’t just an idea or ideal; it’s essential.

Innovation in our field means early disease detection and better outcomes, reduced pain and stress for patients, and safer procedures.

We're pleased to announce that we now offer on-site CT scans at Exotic Bird Hospital, so no out-of-town transfer is needed.

A CT scan (computed tomography) is medical imaging created by a circular, rotating X-ray machine that uses X-rays from many angles, which a computer then combines to create high-resolution 2D and 3D images of bones, teeth, internal organs, blood vessels, etc., that show much more than standard X-rays can.

For exotic pets, the high-resolution, three-dimensional digital volume created by 2D cross-sectional slices of a pet’s internal anatomy is excellent for diagnosing dental disease, chronic ear infections, and respiratory conditions like pneumonia, rhinitis, and lung changes, as well as internal masses, shell fractures, bone infections, and trauma.

CT scans can detect illnesses earlier and provide accurate diagnoses to guide treatment. Many exotic pets have small bodies, and standard X-rays may not show enough detail.

If you have questions about CT scans or would like to schedule this advanced imaging for your pet, give us a call at 904-256-0043.

09/25/2026

When the patient is so cute, techs wanna be his twin…🤩❤️😍

Our vet tech Sky did her best impression of our adorable guinea pig patient and his full lips.

What do you think, did she nail it?😂📸

09/23/2026

🐰How to Wrap a Rabbit🐰- For today’s tech talk, our lead tech, Faith, demonstrates how to wrap a bunny burrito, which is a safe, temporary restraint in a towel for rabbits.

Knowing how to wrap your rabbit in a bunny burrito is helpful if you ever need to hand-feed or give oral medications to your rabbit with a syringe.

It is important to note that your rabbit should always be upright as shown and never placed entirely on his or her back, as this can cause panic that results in injury.

When you wrap your rabbit, wrap securely but not too tightly, and avoid compressing the chest, lungs, or neck. The wrap should be snug, but you should still be able to fit your finger under the fabric.

If your rabbit struggles aggressively or seems distressed, stop and let them free so they can calm down.

❤️Special thanks to Faith and gorgeous Gizmo😍, our bunny boarder and assistant, for being such a good bun during this demonstration. He is so cute and such a sweetheart!🐇

Have you ever wrapped a bunny burrito?

09/22/2026

Tongue Out Tuesday! Do you know why snakes flick their tongues?

When a snake flicks its tongue, it collects microscopic scent particles to analyze its surroundings. Tongue flicking helps snakes find food, assess threats, and explore their surroundings.

Most of us know someone we'd describe as a drama queen, but have you ever seen a drama queen snake?

Hognose snakes are famous for their upturned, pig-like snout, and we think they are so CUTE! They use their adorable little upturned nose to dig, burrow, and unearth toads. They are thick and heavy-bodied, and females are typically larger than males.

You may be wondering how they are drama queens…

If they feel threatened, a hognose snake will flatten its neck, raise its head, and hiss to mimic a cobra. If that tactic fails and they still feel threatened, they may roll onto their backs to feign death, open their mouths with their tongues hanging out, and even emit a foul smell to accompany this dramatic presentation. If you then turned the snake upright during this display, it would roll back over and fake its own death again, still watching the threat. Once the threat is gone, the snake stops playing dead and returns to normal behavior.

Hognose snakes are calm, docile, and curious. When threatened, they may strike but rarely bite. They are considered rear-fanged and venomous, but their venom is harmless to humans and is specialized for amphibians. Another interesting fact: hognose snakes are immune to toad toxins!

Hognose snakes are illegal to own in some states. Hognose snakes are legal to keep in Florida as long as they are captive-bred.

Two native hognose snake species live in Florida. The Eastern Hog-nosed snake is found in every mainland Florida county, including this area, and the Southern Hog-nosed snake is west of the St. Johns River, in the Panhandle down to Lake Okeechobee.

Snakes and other wild animals need to stay in the wild, and they deserve our respect for the lives they lead and the important role they play.

Snakes can’t self-regulate their temperature and rely on their environment, so providing the proper temperature gradient is essential. Discuss your snake’s housing, lighting, heat, humidity, and diet with your snake’s veterinarian to support its health. We love our snake patients and enjoy seeing them. Have you ever seen a hognose snake?

Are the drama queens in your life more or less dramatic than a hognose snake?🤣🐍

Address

11744 Beach Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL
32246

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 6pm
Saturday	8am - 6pm

Telephone

(904) 256-0043

Website

https://www.exoticbirdhospital.com/

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