Quaker tips

Hi everyone.

So Xander has been getting a lot of pin feathers the last few days, shame because he's just started letting me pet him but I don't want to irritate him as he has so many pins now. Is there anything I can do to help him with this? I tried misting him yesterday and it really scared him.

I also want to teach him how to forage and make some foraging toys but I'm not sure how to or what kind of foraging toys they like. I am fairly good at making things though.

Also I was wandering how many pellets your guys Quakers are eating a day? Xander will eat about 2 small spoons but I hand feed him some of that twice a day and mash some up in his Oats for breakfast. Is this enough for him?

Ive tried all sorts to get vegetables into his diet too but he wants nothing to do with them still. He seems healthy though as he is very active now and chirping away but I want him getting all the good stuff he needs.

Just one last thing, I want to let him explore the house more but if I try taking him out the room he just fly's back to his cage. I put him in the bedroom with me when I got him because its right at the top of the house and I have windows in the roof so he can see the sky and birds flying by etc and he does seem to love that. but also I'm up here mostly when I'm home.

Thank you x

trying bringing him into the bathroom when you have a shower, the steam helps with the pin feathers and gentle rubbing of them, he'll let you know if you're bothering him.

As for foraging start small, a bird kabob is a good place. I also found putting some treats in an egg carton with the lid just pushed to (not held closed with the locking flap thing) is pretty good, they just gently knock it open and tada instant treats!

As for exploring give him some time, he just needs to become more confident moving around different spots of the house

Carl,if Xander allows you to,you could try to put the "loose" sheaths of the pin feathers between your thumb and forfinger,and GENTLY rub your fingers back and forth,to loosen up/break the sheaths...don't try that method with fresh pins cause it could hurt the little guy. I know Amy loves it and will lower her head in anticipation.





Jim

Our quaker baby had an adjustment period before he started eating new foods. We ended up finding a veggie he really enjoyed and going from there. He loves broccoli... raw, steamed, thawed from frozen... it doesn’t matter. He loves it so much that it’s all over his beak while he’s eating and he looks like a tiny dinosaur munching on it. That was the gateway veggie. As far as pellets, we keep his bowl about a quarter of the way full and let him eat as many as he wants. It seems like he eats a ton but he also has a ton of pin feathers and he’s under a year so still growing. Our vet said that unless we see that he’s becoming overweight, freefeeding is ok for the first year.

Percy comes into the shower with me every day for the steam but prefers baths in a small stainless steel bowl with cold water (we’re on the south so it’s pretty warm here year round). I play with the water and splash him a little and make splashing sounds with my hands and he gets all fluffed up and starts bathing on his own. He does let us know if we hit a sore feather when we’re rubbing his head and neck but he really enjoys that we help him with the sheaths that can come off.

Sounds like you and Percy are having fun times!

Xander also likes to try bath and splash in his steel water bowl. I still don't think he is eating enough pellets. Ive started giving him exactly 2 spoons every day and there is always a good spoon left in his bowl.

Must of tried every veggie every way, he will just take food from my hand and try it but veggies just get thrown. He eats Kale, a good pinch and has a spoon of oats for breakfast and fruit gets devoured.

Ill just keep trying x