Help Needed New Quaker

griggypiggy

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Afternoon, help needed please my daughter got her new quaker, Rocky on the 21st December at 3 months old, she isn't new to birds has had a conure in the past, however hes a lovely bird and happy to come out of his cage but reluctant to return will sit on the top of it all night if we let him and had to be really stealthy to catch him to return to the cage before school today, an excellent flyer and will perch on anything curtains, the edge of posters. He hasn't stepped up as of yet and isn't keen on coming near us, should we leave him in the cage and get him to come and take treats from our hands through the cage and work up to it that way, as we cant 'catch ' him every day to return as the bond will be gone, should she leave his food out for a couple of hours prior to tempting him with treats so he is a little hungry?, his cage is certainly big enough with lots of toys that he likes and plays in there, she is very committed, patient and trying hard just looking for some solutions to help her move forward, we have read the advice on here, just couldnt find anything about them flying away from us, were not keen to clip either,
thanks in advance Mark
 

Laurasea

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Welcome!!! I justed typed a long list for you only to have it lost!; I have to walk the dogs now darn. But I will be back later to post ideas!!
 

Laurasea

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he needs his own " furniture " to hang out on. I use ceiling hooks and attach with fishing line some big rope hoops or bungie ropes. I have two over my breakfast bar, abd got a plastic tray at the dollar store to out under to catch poops. I also use the fishing line and ceiling hooks to hang rope hoops and rope latter's over the cage, with plenty of perches attached to cage top. At pet supermarket I got one if those metal stands that you can cage, and I hang perches from that tmso I can move it it around and have the parrots hang out bear me, but off furniture.

Ok you want to shape behavior. You can do this while in cage, and when out of cage. If your bird doesn't take treats by hand yet. Then put a small treat only dish in cage, and one on top of cage. I think safflower seeds those white ones make the best training treat. Also always use the same phrases.. to starts when in cage or out, day hi Rocky, walk to the treat dish show him the seed put it in the dish then walk away. Repeat several times e ety fee minutes. Once he gets the idea and always comes quick to get the seed. The next step is to say hi Rocky, come here, show him the seed and wait, if he takes one step to you put the treat in say good bird, and walk away, repeat try and get him to come a little closer each time. Always telling him to come here, and praise for each time. Rrspeat often several times a day until he comes right to the dish to get treat. Then start giving treat by hand. Then start have him gilow you to get the treat while telling him to come here. At first just a step, then more till he will follow you the length of the cage. These same techniques you can use to teach tricks and step up. You might need to use a hand held perch a first.

For the cage , once he steps up for you, you have a phrase like time to go back, you take him to the cage, put him in give treat , take him back out , put him on cage top or other " furniture" then wait a few min and repeating. He learns then the cage is a good place, and he isn't always locked in. When it's time to leave him in the cage, already have a slice if apple, or some popcorn ( piped) ir something yummy waiting for him, then go get him tell him time to go back, take him still give the seed when he steps in and use the door.

You also want to hand feed him little yummies off and on all the time. I say here's a yummy and I might give a seed, a pellet, veggies, just something's. My Quaker Neptune's comes flying and asks Yummy? It's a great way to get them trying new stuff. At first you give stuff they like to get them used to the idea , then you offer new stuff, by this time they are coming to you to see what you got. Birds like rituals and routines. And these guys are very smart. I hope this helps!
 
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Laurasea

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I like this link, covers lots if good stuff. I don't like usual a clicker, I shape behavior, say good bird , give treat instead of clicker, works the same.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

This one covers normal behaviors all the way at the end problem behavior so it's a good read.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

We covered a lot of the same stuff for this new Quaker owner , so you might want to give this thread a read.
http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/83739-hello-all.html

Quakers love to bathe, I use a casserole dish or shallow sturdy dish, a couple of inches of water, really slash around the water with your hand, they can't resist!!

You quaker us young, when he gets older he will be cage agressive ( most all are). You can't train it out if them, just respect their cage, have then leave cage to clean. Once they are out if the cage they are tgeir lovey selves again. I put a short perch attached to the door, so when I swing open the door the perch is now out of the cage, and I have them step up from there. My quakers scream bite and loose their mind if I dare put my hand in. Away from the cage they kiss love on me, are wonderful. In the cage they are beasts. This didn't start till they were aroun a year old. So just heads up! No humans allowed in cage ;)
 
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wrench13

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Great advice from some of our best members!

Only suggestion is to use shelled pine nuts as the treat, my little Amazon, Salty, would build me a Volkswagon for a pine nut. Get them at any large supermarket in the nut section, and cut them into 1/2s or 1/3s depending on size.

When training parrots two things to keep in mind. Be consistent in your request; if you say "Step Up" as the request, don't decide to change it, it will confuse your parrot. And always reward immediately after the action is done successfully, so they can associate the treat with the action.

Parrots as a whole are scary smart and can put 2 and 2 together so training them is easier than with most other animals. When motivated by treats and praise they can soak up things at a astonishing pace.

Good luck!
 

Laurasea

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Mark,
I hope you keep your thread active, and share your journey, of what works. We have people post questions , but few follow up. You've already had a 100 or more veiws on this post. Lots of non members are interested to see what works, as many are in the same boat.

Also I hope we get see a pic of your new family member!

Quakers are really, really smart. I've read that they are on par with African greys. But as I've worked with greys, I would say Quakers are very close , but not quite at grey level. Quakers are also very u iwue in how they live in apartment nests in a community nest. So they are also a very vary social parrot. They are engineers! Very active, like to manipulate things, and be busy.

Because of all those traits mention above, Quakers are prone to behavior issues. Much like the similar in intelligence and social species like cockatoo and CAG. These smaller Quakers often don't get the respect their intelligence deserves. If their intelligent minds and active bodies aren't kept busy, if they don't get lots of human contact, they are prone to screaming, plucking their bodies and self mutilation. The Quaker Mutilation Syndrome..

So to prevent this. Keeping them flying is excellent!!! Work on recall training in the house. Train them to fly through hoops.. teach them to FORAGE, one if the best ways to keep a parrot busy while everyone is gone to schoole and work. Provide easy to destroy stuff every day, get good at DIY, use cardboard, old paperback book, cut strips off brown paper bags, or paper, stuff them i to stuff for him to pull out. Quakers like to make noise, do teach those words, whistles , and sounds. Come up with a flock call, and everyone in the house uses the same word, whistle , to answer flock calls. Start rewarding good behavior. When you bird is quite, give praise and treats, when they play with toys , give praise and treats, when they stay put on play stands give praise and treats. Read up on behavior modifications for screaming and other stuff before it happens. On page 10 of my Ornithology thread I have many behaviors links. http://www.parrotforums.com/general...hare-discuss-scientific-articles-parrots.html

I love quakers. But the sad truth is this probably the most re-homed Parrot out there. Because they are small, relatives cheap, breed well in captivaty, there are large numbers of them. They are often first time parrots, and their great intelligence, active , and social nature isn't taken into account. They become screamers, cage agressive, plucking sad messes. Passed around by the hundreds on craigslist and the like, or shoved off to garages.. they never make it to those rare parrot rescues. . Or they Mutilate themselves till they die......

When taken into account their intelligenc, active , social nature's. Like owners of cockatoo and Congo African Greys are warned to. They are increadible happy wonderful company. Becoming the favorite species of those who have had or have multiple different species. As I'm often secret messaged! Often they don't receive that respect as a smaller species. So I'm trying to increase awareness.

I rescued one of the many. My sweet Penny. She was heartbreaking abused and neglected. A screamer, a biter, a plucker, and Mutilating her feet. Stuffed in a tiny cage, full of poop, herself covered in poop, with dirty water, and only sunflower seeds to eat. She has come so far, is so funny, and a happy girl now. You can read her story in my thread Rescuing Penny. http://www.parrotforums.com/quakers/76519-rescueing-penny.html

I also took in a re-home Quaker from a college student who have excellent diet of pellets and veggies, and flying out if the cage social time. But noise, unsafe roommates, and time constraints if school, work, dating, made him re home. And if he reads this, I hope he knows I have deep respect for him. We had a poster who's roommates killed his cockatiel by spraying it repeatedly with Lysol. And a wife who's husband hated her GCC, and did something similar, while she was away.

Quakers are illegal in many states. And I don't the age, commitment, and responsibilities level of your daughter. But if she is living at home, then her life probably has a lot of changes ahead. This Quaker may really be you and your wife's companion. At the very least you will play a role in guidance, and development, of this young Quaker who will live 30 years, as part of your life.
 
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griggypiggy

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have tried all suggestions and were still struggling, he flies away every time, will get the treats but doesn't let you get very close atal before flying, did get given advice to catch him in the cage and hold hime gently but have tried once but it stressed him too much trying to get near him to hold him, it is frustrating :(
 
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griggypiggy

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Laurasea

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Never force hold a bird, even gently, that terrified advice that someone gave you. Can't see your pictures darn it.

Let him be close without trying to touch him. Stop rushing everyday. You are making progress. He us coming to get the treat that's great. Build on your trust. Let him decide when to be touched. Just work on step up and being near to him .
 

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