The green quaker parrot I have had for only a week has started biting at my hands everytime I get him out of the cage. I try my hardest not to react but when he breaks skin I wiggle my arm slightly so he loosens his grip. This is unrealistic to do everytime he starts biting and I feel it will harm my trust with him. He is only 5 months 2 weeks and 1 day old so I don't know if this is just a phase or what. I try to distract him by trick training but he tries to bite my finger after we stop. He picks off bits of skin and chews on them. What kind of behavior is this and is it likely just a phase to see who's boss?
Quaker parrot nippiness
- Thread starter Reecemc99
- Start date
Amanda_Bennett
New member
I don't have any quaker experience, but he is very young and you have only had him for a week. He hasn't even had time to settle into his new environment yet and get to know you.
Patients is the key, and then more patients, and then even more patients!
There are a lot of quaker owners on here and I'm sure some of them will chime in when they can and give you some more detailed information about the specific quaker species.
Patients is the key, and then more patients, and then even more patients!
There are a lot of quaker owners on here and I'm sure some of them will chime in when they can and give you some more detailed information about the specific quaker species.
Allee
Well-known member
Congratulations! What did you name your new quaker? We need to see photos!
Quakers are known for nippiness, especially around their cages. They are also a little slower to accept change. I never reach into my quaker cages while they are inside. I let them come out on their own and move them to a neutral location before working with them or cleaning their cages. Give your quaker some time to build trust before attempting too much training. They are very clever and learn quickly, but if you push them, the biting can get out of hand. Try letting the quaker set the pace. This link has some great tips on bonding with any bird and the methods work really well with quakers. Good luck, please give us updates on your progress.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
Quakers are known for nippiness, especially around their cages. They are also a little slower to accept change. I never reach into my quaker cages while they are inside. I let them come out on their own and move them to a neutral location before working with them or cleaning their cages. Give your quaker some time to build trust before attempting too much training. They are very clever and learn quickly, but if you push them, the biting can get out of hand. Try letting the quaker set the pace. This link has some great tips on bonding with any bird and the methods work really well with quakers. Good luck, please give us updates on your progress.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #4
He has feather bronzing on his wings at the moment. He's learned target training and to spin around each within 15 minutes. Target training only took 3 times. He greets me with the same noise every morning and leaves me with a different noise than the morning but it's the same every night as I turn of the lights. He likes to cuddle but he is nippy. We're working on it though and I started letting him come out on his own. He has got better the longer I let him sleep I put him to bed at 7:30 now and he wakes up at around 7 every morning.
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #5
Oh and his name is buddy. It was going to be Clyde but I kept saying hey buddy every morning so that's what I decided to name him for good. He is a DNA sexed male and has had his vaccinations and tested negative for 3 common parrot diseases. He was on an all seed diet but took to eating pellets rather quickly and now will eat his vegetables if they are blended with a 4th and ounce of all natural no sugar added fruit juice, his pellets without being soaked, and his meal worms. Found out he liked those by accident when he found the container and started pecking at it. He gets one meal worm twice a week fruit and veggies everyday and an ounce and a half of pellets with one nutriberry a day. He has his wings clipped now but he will be fully flighted. Are almonds in the shell to much for these guys to handle, and are there any changes I should make to his diet?
mrgoogls
New member
- May 6, 2012
- 638
- 0
- Parrots
- 1 male Quaker-Cooper
I agree, Quakers are kind of known for their nippiness, even more so around their cage. It just takes a bit of time and training to get around the nippiness. When i first got Cooper he was very nippy around his cage. Now i can do whatever i want in his cage and he will just hang on to my arm to try to climb up, ha ha. As for almonds, they are coopers favorite treat. He gets them out of the shell, sometimes it takes him a few minutes, other times less than 30 seconds. I haven't really heard much about feeding parrots meal worms. I know a lot of other birds need them for extra protein, but parrots do not require that much. Especially in captivity. So overall i don't see much benefit in giving them to a parrot. I don't know however if there are any downsides. Maybe somebody else can chime in to help with that or you could look more into it.
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