Alternative to happy hut

Matt_95

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Aug 13, 2014
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Brisbane, Australia
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Calvin - Blue quaker parrot
Hi guys, we are putting my Quakers cage outside in a sheltered porch area (it has walls around 1 1/2 of the sides, a hedge that reaches the ceiling on another side and is only open fully on one side. It's also right next to my bedroom window so he will be able to see me when I'm at my desk. I've got his daytime cage outside because I want him to catch the filtered sunlight that we get in that spot during the afternoon and morning and also because it has allowed me to get a larger cage than I have room for inside. The main trade off I've thought of is that we occasionally will have a bit of a chilly breeze through there even though it is very protected. I want to have something he can be cozy in for the occasion breeze we get through there. I looked into the happy hut however I have found that they can be a hazard with loose threads. Is there an alternative I can use? I found some finch nests at the bird store this week that hang inside of the cage and are made from what looks like a cane sort of material. Is something like that appropriate for him?

Regards,
Matt
 

weco

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Nov 24, 2010
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Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
Hi Matt,

What about a small nest box type that would mount to the inside of the cage?

We often worry that our feathered friends might get cold, but they are often warmer than we think they are.....think fleece lined coat under an outer overcoat.....

Our feathered friends have that lining, though not fleece, they have down feathers the can raise individually to put an insulating layer of air next to their skin and if they need another layer, they can also raise/fluff their outer feathers...though we're always hearing that we need to keep our birds warm, when in reality, our bundles of feathers are better equipped than we are for cold weather...they just don't handle heat well.....

There are breeders in Europe who break the ice from their birds water bowls every morning, for them.....as long as temperature changes are relatively gradual, our birds can usually handle it.....
 
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Matt_95

Matt_95

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Aug 13, 2014
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Brisbane, Australia
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Calvin - Blue quaker parrot
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Thanks Weco, fantastic suggestion, I'll see if I can find something that will fit my cage.
I'm not to worried about the air temperature, in my research I found that quaker parrots have feral colonies in England and some parts of the US like NY, that's a lot colder than what it ever gets here. I'm more worried about the breeze, I'm not sure if that will be an issue for him but I have found suggestions saying to keep cages away from draughts.

I'm glad to hear that they're very well equipped to handle low temperatures. It doesn't ever drop below 0 degrees here so I should be fine. It never really goes below 3 degrees in winter here.
 

Allee

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Oct 27, 2013
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U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Aren't quakers amazing? I've read extensively about their feral colonies. They are a tough species and incredibly adaptable. I think it's pretty safe to say most quakers really like happy huts, but they can be very dangerous according to the bird. Instead of a cloth sleeping hut, I would use weco's suggestion of a nest box, or maybe a cardboard tunnel open at both ends. I think I would invest in a cover for their outside cage at night to help keep the breeze off.
 

Hornetkc

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Aug 20, 2014
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I cut up 10 old socks and made a bunch of them together my quaker gets in the middle of the hanging socks and sleeps
 

noblemacaw

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Sep 23, 2011
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Valentino - Red Fronted Macaw - Hatched August 12, 2012
I wonder if tying up piece of baby blanket to shield out the breeze/wind might help. I bought a used baby blanket at a thrift shop, washed it and cut it up in pieces then tied to to the cage. Valentino loves them because the soft material touches his back and he loves the softness of it. They are safe because the material does not easily come apart with beak gnawing (Valentino likes to take one of the fringes into his beak and grind on it. Reminds me of a baby sucking on material.)

He is on his second piece and I only have enough material for two more sections before I run out. The first one got gross even after a wash so I tossed it and cut out a new one for him. I don't know if Quakers like this kind of set up but I think it will at least block some of the wind.

100_2474_zpsb9775bf5.jpg


Here is a video of Valentino playing with his blankee. My Ex used the cell phone to video if I was to walk up to his cage to film him Valentino would immediately scramble to the front perch to be taken out.

http://s34.photobucket.com/user/noblemacaw/media/CAM00311_zps85633fde.mp4.html?sort=3&o=3
 
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Matt_95

Matt_95

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Aug 13, 2014
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Brisbane, Australia
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Calvin - Blue quaker parrot
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I cut up 10 old socks and made a bunch of them together my quaker gets in the middle of the hanging socks and sleeps
Thanks for the suggestion, all of my old socks have threads in them so I think I will go with the other suggestion of a baby blanket.

Aren't quakers amazing? I've read extensively about their feral colonies. They are a tough species and incredibly adaptable. I think it's pretty safe to say most quakers really like happy huts, but they can be very dangerous according to the bird. Instead of a cloth sleeping hut, I would use weco's suggestion of a nest box, or maybe a cardboard tunnel open at both ends. I think I would invest in a cover for their outside cage at night to help keep the breeze off.
They are very amazing, I would hate to see them become established in Australia though! I like the native parrots here in the wild as they are :D.
I've bought him a sleeping cage so he will be sleeping with me in my room rather than outside. I feel uneasy about leaving him out there all of the time.

I wonder if tying up piece of baby blanket to shield out the breeze/wind might help. I bought a used baby blanket at a thrift shop, washed it and cut it up in pieces then tied to to the cage. Valentino loves them because the soft material touches his back and he loves the softness of it. They are safe because the material does not easily come apart with beak gnawing (Valentino likes to take one of the fringes into his beak and grind on it. Reminds me of a baby sucking on material.)

He is on his second piece and I only have enough material for two more sections before I run out. The first one got gross even after a wash so I tossed it and cut out a new one for him. I don't know if Quakers like this kind of set up but I think it will at least block some of the wind.

100_2474_zpsb9775bf5.jpg


Here is a video of Valentino playing with his blankee. My Ex used the cell phone to video if I was to walk up to his cage to film him Valentino would immediately scramble to the front perch to be taken out.

CAM00311_zps85633fde.mp4 Video by noblemacaw | Photobucket

That is a very cute video. Valentino is gorgeous! I'll see if I can find a baby blanket around here, maybe I coukd line the nest box with one as well!
 

BirdyMomma

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Aug 4, 2013
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Lilac Crowned Amazon (Bacci- Forever on my shoulder, forever in my heart.)
Yellow Collared Macaw (Loki the Monkey Bird)
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Citron Crested Cockatoo
(Knuckles)
Hi! I have a Yellow Collared Macaw, who I have had since she was 12 weeks old. She has been a cuddle monster since day 1. She used to sleep in a salad bowl, with one of my t shirts in it. When she out grew that, we got her the COOLEST thing. We found a little straw guinea pig hut, and she LOVES it. I'm sure you've seen them in the pet store. It's a loaf shaped straw hut, with a circular hole. I put an old pajama shirt inside, and she goes in to sleep whenever she wants. She doesn't chew it, and I scrub any poop (from when she's above it, on her perch) off, and dry it in the sun, with no problem. It is the best thing I ever purchased. I wish I had a photo.
 

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
She used to sleep in a salad bowl, with one of my t shirts in it.

I wish you had a photo of her sleeping in a salad bowl! Now THAT would be *adorable*:D


I was unhappy with the sizes/shapes of store bought happy huts, so I made one myself. I used a quilted fabric remnant and made it to fit in a corner to give more of a "tent" that hangs over a perch. Pretty simple to make, and it's held up for almost 6 years through repeated washings. It's a warm fabric too, so Kiwi loves snuggling up in it (and is oh so adorable doing so):
DSC_5698_zps2c7a3357.jpg


If you can't sew, I think theres a seller on easy who makes them with a perch included! https://www.etsy.com/listing/121721...uzUChhm7R0fc4DowFDbxcsvRAKW28Sz9nHxoCQSfw_wcB
 

noblemacaw

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Sep 23, 2011
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Valentino - Red Fronted Macaw - Hatched August 12, 2012
I love Kiwi's quilt blanket set up and as I do have a surger I thought about copying your idea for Valentino. Then I remembered how much Valentino likes to knaw on the fringes of his current blanket so I am afraid he would work free the threads and cause me a lot of concern.

Unfortunately I have to stick with tread free material for Valentino. I do think your "happy hut" would be adorable for a Quaker (maybe for my baby Amazon I want to get someday too)

I also want to see pictures of your YCM Loki in the salad bowl but also interested in seeing your current guina pig hut you are using now. I think that would be safe if Valentino was to break it apart with his chewing and could be easily replaced upon destruction. If you can please post a picture of it.
 
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Kalidasa

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May 8, 2013
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1 green cheek conure (Kumar)
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When my conure went thru his sleepy hut phase, I would give him plain brown paper bags. He loved the way his feet would make little tapping noises when inside. He actually never chewed them, just like to play inside, or even nap.
I keep an open grocery paper bag on top of my dryer (stacked atop the washer) with some paper napkins and toys, and he often chooses that place to nap when he's sleepy. And he never poops in it. It's a win/win :)
 

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Noblemacaw brings up a good point that I never seem to remember. Some birds do like to chew fabric, so you'd need to select materials more carefully for a parrot who would potentially bother the threads. Other birds (like our Kiwi) don't bother stuff like that at all. I took that picture the other day. I made his tent around the time we got him and wash it monthly. It's still like-new.

Selecting something like a snuggle hut may be a better idea to wait until your bird is home and you have a little better idea of their personality:) When we first got Kiwi, I never even thought of the potential danger threads could pose if he turned out to chew fabric, so I guess we got lucky he just uses his tent to sleep in;)
 

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