Getting a quaker

[lovleeko]

I guess I'm getting a Quaker. YAY:19: I dont need to spend the money right now but the bird expo is coming this weekend and it's now if I want one because the only other people can find a quak from that have their price reasonable smoke around their birds which I don't like at all. I am a bit nervous about my first bird being so expensive. I was thinking of just getting an english budgie to start out with but my husband wants an excellent talker. I hope I don't buy it then hate all the noise. I'm real excited though. thumbs2:

[Fishguy2727]

I had one for a year, they are definitely noisy. They are very friendly, excellent talkers, and very hardy (so they make a great first parrot). Keep it entertained, I can give you tons of ideas if you need them. Get 'Parrots for Dummies'. It is a great book and has tons of information that you may never even think you needed to consider but can actually be life and death.

Definitely don't buy from people who smoke around them. The best sources are people who are almost hesitant to sell to you because then you know they care about the bird and not the money.

Get a nice big cage. Mine was about five feet tall on the stand, about 32" long, and about 22" wide. King's Cages has one that is almost identical, but I don't like the locks on that one.

[lovleeko]

I had one for a year, they are definitely noisy. They are very friendly, excellent talkers, and very hardy (so they make a great first parrot). Keep it entertained, I can give you tons of ideas if you need them. Get 'Parrots for Dummies'. It is a great book and has tons of information that you may never even think you needed to consider but can actually be life and death.

Definitely don't buy from people who smoke around them. The best sources are people who are almost hesitant to sell to you because then you know they care about the bird and not the money.

Get a nice big cage. Mine was about five feet tall on the stand, about 32" long, and about 22" wide. King's Cages has one that is almost identical, but I don't like the locks on that one.

Thanks fish guy! It's good to know I have you to talk to if I need some tips. It's funny you said that because I have parrots for dummies on hold at the librarythumbs2: My cage is huge. It is 4 foot I think. 3 or 4. Pretty big. I already have lots of perches I just need to get a concrete one and some toys. I also wanted a rope perch. I was looking at a blue one but it was 8 months. I wanted to get a smaller one so that I can get it really socialised since I want it to be good to my kids. My kids are really gentle but I read that not having birds around kids from the get go can be a problem.

See the people who smoke they do love their birds. It's hard to explain.I watched them not sell a bird to someone who bought one the week before because it died. The guy was straight mad that they killed the bird. The lady was smoking while she was talking to me though and the birds were all around me so that was my problem. I think their just like older people stuck in their ways. My grandmother is also like that. She can't seem to understand why smoking around my kids is a no no. It didn't hurt me right? LOL But yeah I dont want a bird that they hand fed and smoked around it since birth. That stinks.
Why did you only keep him for a year?

[Rue]

Keep in mind that not all birds will talk. So be prepared to enjoy your bird if it doesn't. They will also pick up words that you don't want them to. And they'll pick up noises that they repeat endlessly.

Parrots are horrifically messy. There's no nice way around saying that. They make a huge, constant mess. If I miss a day of vacuuming, it's literally nuts. I could vacuum 3X a day...that might keep it under control...however, I try for daily and live the mess the rest of the time.

Make sure you feed a good quality pelleted mix and fresh fruits and veggies daily. A seed mix is fine too - as long as it's never the staple of their diet.

Quakers tend to be nippy. And all birds tend to be one-person animals - and they'll pick who they want to buddy up with. I'd watch them with the kids, and for the most part I'd say they're really a 'hands-off' animals except for 'their people'.

Teach your bird to step-up onto a stick. That way anyone can move them without being nipped or bitten, should the need arise.


Good luck! Let us know how it all pans out!

[Fishguy2727]

The noise was just too much for me. If you were around but didn't have her out she would just start screaming and making tons of noise.

The flexible rope perches are great. The concrete ones are also vital. I like the natural ones at Petsmart that only mount on one end. Mine loved her Happy Hut like at the bottom HERE (http://www.birdguys.com/bird-nest-nesting.html). And a bowl big enough to take a bath in is also important.

I used newspaper in the tray because the ink can actually help prevent bacterial and fungal problems.

[Fishguy2727]

If you keep it socialized with lots of people when young, it should be the same as an adult.

I fed Zupreem Natural Parakeet food. If seed is part of the diet it shouldn't be more than about 20%. In addition to the pellets I fed millet on the spray, and fruits and vegetables are also important. You will have to try lots of different fresh fruits and veggies for a long time to see what it takes to and likes.

[lovleeko]

Keep in mind that not all birds will talk. So be prepared to enjoy your bird if it doesn't. They will also pick up words that you don't want them to. And they'll pick up noises that they repeat endlessly.

Parrots are horrifically messy. There's no nice way around saying that. They make a huge, constant mess. If I miss a day of vacuuming, it's literally nuts. I could vacuum 3X a day...that might keep it under control...however, I try for daily and live the mess the rest of the time.

Make sure you feed a good quality pelleted mix and fresh fruits and veggies daily. A seed mix is fine too - as long as it's never the staple of their diet.

Quakers tend to be nippy. And all birds tend to be one-person animals - and they'll pick who they want to buddy up with. I'd watch them with the kids, and for the most part I'd say they're really a 'hands-off' animals except for 'their people'.

Teach your bird to step-up onto a stick. That way anyone can move them without being nipped or bitten, should the need arise.


Good luck! Let us know how it all pans out!
Thanks for the tip ruth. I know that it will bond to me the closest but keep reading that their great family birds if socialised with many people at an early age. And that their great with kids with the same exception. I am prepared for the mess I guess. LOL I also can't tell you how many times people tell me the no guarantee it will talk thing. :) I know and I'm okay either way but do hear that not too many quakers don't talk and mostly getting them to shut up is the problem LMAO

[Deleted User]

I just googled to see whigh type of parrot you were getting. They look very pretty. thumbs2: Good luck with him / her.:ssmile:

[Sharon]

Can't wait for pictures!thumbs2:

[Rue]

Parrots are awesome. But they're 'different'. As long as you're prepared for that then you should do fine.

I have 3 'well-socialized' parrots.

The pionus will step up for 3 of us - he's taken my 19 year old son into dislike.

The amazon will only step up for me - unless I'm not in sight...then she'll step up for others.

The african grey is fine with me...but loves my husband. She was attacking the 3 kids. I have that mostly under control now, but I still don't trust her.

The point is, no matter how well you socialize your bird, it will still likely be a one-person pet - from a handling perspective. This might not be apparent when they're babies, but will be more noticable when they're sexually mature.

Many parrots also present with aggression when they reach sexual maturity, at least seasonally. Some females will also have chronic egg laying issues which in some instances requires medication to stop.

Quakers are also known for plucking...they're argueably as bad as the Red-tailed (Congo) African Grey - just something else to be aware of.

As far as pellets go. I'd argue that Roudybush is probably the best. Harrison's 2nd. And after that it's a bit of a toss-up. I also feed Zupreem Natural (not the coloured product) because I can get it locally.

[Fishguy2727]

The Roudybush is good too. In my experience it seems a little easie to get them to switch to the Zupreem. The switch can be challenging and take months.

[lovleeko]

Thanks guys for the food suggestions. I will look out for those. Thanks Rue for the run down. Hopefully he will be tolerable with everyone else. I will be getting it sexed shortly after I get it. If he doesn't attack the kids, I'll be happy. The kids probably wont care too much about him besides the occasional pet or two. I will make sure I keep their presence constant during socialization. It worries me for it not to like my kids. I was a bit concerned about the loud but I guess this varies from bird to bird. I really keep going back to my budgie idea but the hubby really wants a quak.