Considering a Quaker

Hey Guys,

We are shortly going to become new parrot owners and have been reading like crazy trying to find the right species for us. I have 2 kids, aged 1 and 4. I am currently reading up on quakers, but does anyone have any advice on behavior, noise and how they fit in to family life?

Thanks,

Fiona

Quakers are a lot of fun- they have a huge personality in a pint size body. they are loud, but lots of parrots are. they are one of the cuddly parrots from what i've learned and been told. they are great family companions. my lil Tuukee is a handful bc he is unaware that he is smaller than my cats and dogs. he thinks he is big like them =] i love watching him come out of his shell. he can be a nudge sometimes, always wanting me- calling me- but otherwise, they are great lovable pets. they are prone to fatty liver disease. they have a fresh foods list and a danger foods list too. they can live for 30 yrs, and can speak up to 100 words and phrases. they are very smart birds. QP can be pluckers if they don't get enough attention or nutrients. also QP hit their hormonal phase between 5-12 yrs old. but im currently finding out with my 8mos they still feel a lil twitter-pated during the spring. they are territorial birds when it comes to their crib (cage) but rearranging it every 3mos or so to curb the behavior. but that's about as bad as they get. i wasnt planning on getting my QP but ever since i did i am having the time of my life. i think you'll have a blast! =]

Something that I often say is "life is never dull with a Quaker around." Each Quaker parrot has a unique personality and character, so any general descriptions won't necessarily be true of every QP. My Quaker is a 3-1/2 year old male named Ralph. He is on the quiet side. He's learned a lot of words, but doesn't say them often-- he prefers making clicking and tapping noises and imitating the beeeppp! that the toaster oven makes when it shuts off. He never screams or screeches, but squawks (not too loudly), squeaks and chirps a lot. Ralph is curious about everything, he can be quite stubborn, he has a great sense of humor and loves to play. He has a little of the Quaker nest building instinct and enjoys arranging and rearranging thin wooden dowels inside his cage. He likes meeting new people and going out in his transport cage to visit friends. He isn't cage aggressive like some QPs, but he is possessive of his food dish; the only time he tries to bite me is when I take the dish away to clean and refill it. He's never been around small children at all, but I imagine he would at least be tolerant of them.

If you're seriously researching Quakers, I'd suggest reading a good book about them. Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Quaker Parrot is a good choice.

Good luck in choosing the right parrot!

I have a 4 year old Quaker named Job. He is unsexed... But I think he is male. He was extremely territorial at first, but after reading the above recommended book, I got him a separate night time cage. That completely fixed it. Now he lives with his girlfriend Chrissy, a sun conure. He is protective of her, but still loving of his humans. He becomes more nippy when he molts. He talks A LOT, but mostly he sounds like a sun conure lol. He has a vocabulary of about 50 words/phrases. Good luck in your search for the perfect feathered friend!

I have a 3 year old son and my 4 year old Quaker is allowed to sit with him with supervision. I am hand feeding my baby Quaker right now and she's amazing with my son. the older Quaker makes some noise but you get use to it. Also I try to give each of my Quakers an hour of my time a day at a min. The more time each family member spends with the bird the better he will be!