Future Bird Mom

Lynn816

New member
Apr 7, 2021
5
3
Parrots
Timneh African Grey, Buddy
Hello All!
My family has been researching different parrot breeds and hope to add a parrot to our family in the near future. I am wanting to establish myself in the bird community so that I can learn from your experiences and have some support available when we bring our new bird home.

So, hello and thank you for letting me be a part of your group!

We are currently researching parrotlets and quakers - feel free to share your thoughts and opinions. :)
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
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Full house
hello and welcome! Great people here, ive learned a bunch. Even let the group talk me into sprouting fir myself and the birds!

This is a nice article, covers bird body language, and behavior, with some tips on bites
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/
 
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wrench13

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Welcome and be welcomed.

Species. Parrots are different species. Dogs are the same species but different breeds.
:)

Quakers and parrotlets, two very different species, both in size and personality.
And while there are generalizations to be had about any species, every single parrot is it's own bird and may act 180 degrees different, exhibiting some traits but not others or all of them.
 

Inger

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Mar 20, 2017
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Everett, WA
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Bumble - Pacific (or Celestial) Parrotlet hatched 02/19/17
Parrotlet mom here. I am deliriously in love with Bumble. What are you looking for on a bird? maybe I can tell you how parrotlets might fit.

I can tell you they’re (comparatively) quiet, super smart, sassy as heck, funny. Bumble says a handful of words which is unusual for females; the boys CAN be great talkers but no guarantees. Bumble likes to make up games to play with me and is very clear about her likes and dislikes so I can adjust my behavior to her desires [emoji23] HOWEVER sometimes they get a little TOO sassy-they’re often nippy - she never breaks skin but it hirts. They are stubborn. They are GIANT birds in a tiny package. If you have small children, I would probably steer clear because of the nippiness.

If you want to see about life with a parrotlet, pop over to my thread that starts with the day I brought her home. And keep posting we love new people!!

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...read.php?t=68167&share_type=t&link_source=app


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Welcome to you and your aspirations, thanks for joining!! I'm not familiar with either species, though quakers are well represented by membership. Feel free to post specific questions and check out the species-specific subforums of quakers and parrotlets.
 
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Lynn816

New member
Apr 7, 2021
5
3
Parrots
Timneh African Grey, Buddy
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Thank you for the responses! I would like to find a bird that will want to interact more. I work from home and would love a friend to be near me during the day. My husband really wants a talker (although, I do know that there is no way to guarantee that any bird will talk).

Our son is 10, so he is old enough to understand when and how to handle a bird.

I felt confident that a Quaker would be the bird for us. I stopped by a local bird store recently to meet some birds and chat with the owner. He acted like I was crazy to consider a Quaker as a first bird. He pointed out the cage aggression in these birds and that I will likely have the police called on me due to the noise.

Has anyone out there started with a Quaker or have thoughts about doing so? I do know that it will be hard work and I have a lot to learn, but I am working on getting my research in.
 

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
8,145
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Welcome and congrats!!!
Here is a copy and paste of mine for people living with birds after a long time, or for the first time:
Birds can cause allergies-- especially cockatiels, african greys and cockatoos...but others too

One really important thing when keeping a pet bird in the house is that you cannot use scented products or chemicals/fumes in your home (even things that smell nice to us(---things like smoke, perfumes, air freshener, standard cleaners, vaping, burning food, incense, cigarettes, glue, paint, window sealing kits, polishes, aerosol sprays etc can harm your bird's sensitive respiratory system (which is not the same as mammals'). Using products that heat or are heated which contain Teflon/PTFE/PFCs = very very dangerous. These products off-gas and can kill a bird in under 5 minutes. Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/PFCs are most commonly found in the kitchen (pots, pans, cookie sheets, drip trays, air fryers, popcorn poppers, baking mats, crock pots, toasters, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers, waffle irons, electric skillets etc. They can also be found in space-heaters, curling irons, blow-dryers, straighteners, heat lamps, heat guns, irons, ironing board covers etc. These fumes have killed birds through closed doors and on separate floors of a home, so you should replace your cookware with stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic. You may be thinking-- well, I have used them before and my bird is fine, but they kill very inconsistently and it depends on what you are cooking, the age of the pot/pan, the specific bird etc. There was a member who lost many of her birds from a pan she had literally used for years...then one day, her husband cooked an egg (without burning or overheating) and many of them died, while the rest showed signs of respiratory distress.

You will need an avian-safe cleaner to use within your home (both on the bird cage, but also, around the house). Again, chemical cleaners cannot be used in the home unless avian safe. F10 SC (the yellow/clear concentrate) is a great, avian-safe disinfectant. Other (less effective) options include products such as "poop-off", white vinegar + water, grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda etc. Peroxide is also fairly safe for disinfecting places like your bathroom, but you do not want your bird to come into contact with it.

Some foods are toxic to them--avocado, coffee (even decaf), caffeine, rhubarb, alcohol, onions/garlic/leeks/chives, mushrooms etc. Salt is also very bad for them, as is most human food. They love it, but it's not healthy.

They should not just eat seed--you will want to feed lots of washed fresh vegetables. Fruit is fine in moderation, but too much can lead to obesity and behavioral issues due to sugar. I feed my bird a mix of high-quality seed (no sunflowers, no peanuts) and pellets (in addition to fruit/veg). ECCLECTUS PARROTS SHOULD NOT EAT PELLETS. Fruit pits are toxic, as are apple seeds. Corn cob and certain nut shells (if swallowed in big pieces) can cause blockages, so you should be very cautious if you give your bird nuts in the shell. Peanuts can harbor aspergillosis, and should be avoided altogether (even they you often see them marketed towards parrots).

It is important to make sure that your bird's toys and cage are made of safe metals. Stainless steel is safest. They can get metal poisoning from playing with or mouthing objects made of unsafe metals.

They need a set amount of sleep each night (at least 10 hours) and the largest cage you can manage with lots of different perches. You want to avoid the totally smooth/round ones as they can lead to a condition called bumblefoot. Never place a cage near drafts and never allow cool air to blow on a bird. They are sensitive to drafts and any temperature shift greater than 10 degrees can cause a shock to their system.

They need lots of safe toys and safe wood to chew. Not all wood is safe, so don't just assume you can give them any kind you want. Pressure blasted or chemically treated wood (e.g., lumber and many other types of wood from the hardware contains toxic chemicals or are cut from trees that are naturally toxic.

They hide illness and so you have to watch them to make sure they are eating normally and pooping normally etc. You should try to find an avian vet (certified avian) if at all possible and take your bird AT LEAST 1 x yearly for an exam. An avian vet is NOT the same as an exotics vet who sees birds--- so if a certified avian vet is available within a few hours of where you live, you will want to set up care.

All parrots can easily confuse the relationship with their human for a sexual one. You don't want this to happen, even though it seems sweet at first. Stick to petting on the head and neck only (the rest is sexual) and do not allow your bird to play in shadowy places, like boxes or under furniture, as these spaces are similar nesting sites and are hormonal triggers. NO SNUGGLE HUTS/TENTS!

Food and water should be replaced daily--- wash the containers daily. Never leave wet food out for more than a few hours (as it can lead to bacterial growth). Never try to medicate a bird via drinking water and never add vitamins to water. Vitamins can be over-dosed easily and harm a bird. Plus, when you add things to water, it makes it impossible to know how much they have gotten and it also encourages bacterial growth. Sometimes it can prevent them from drinking adequately if they don't like the flavor of whatever it is you added. Citrus and fruits high in vitamin C should be given in extreme moderation because they can cause "Iron Storage Disease" (for a cockatoo, 1 small tangerine slice 1-2 times a week was okay, according to my vet).

These birds have the intelligence of 3-4-year-old human, but they are wild animals (not domesticated like dogs). This means that they see the world (and humans) in a very unique way and so you must learn about their behavior in order to prevent problems (screaming, plucking etc). They need lots of time out of their cage daily and a lot of interaction (at least a few hours). At the same time, you don't want to spend TOO much time with a bird of they will become overly dependent and not know what to do with themselves when you go to work etc.

Finally, baby birds are ALWAYS sweet compared to adult birds. When your bird hits puberty, expect that it will exhibit some annoying and problematic behaviors (much like a teen). A through knowledge of behavior and setting expectations at an early age will make your life easier when that time comes, but do prepare yourself and expect that things will not always be so smooth-sailing. Think about a baby human compared to a teen...

I am sure there is more...but that is a basic overview of caring for birds.

Here is an excerpt from another post (which you may want to reference when shopping/ calling about Teflon:
The most insidious is the Teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs because you have to call the company to verify that anything that heats or is intended to be heated does not contain these substances ("PTFE free" doesn't mean PFC free and so there are a lot of marketing gimmicks out there to make people buy what seems like healthier cook-ware, even though it still contains a version of the same chemicals). Also-- these chemicals can be woven into fabric, mixed into metal during the moulding process, applied as a powder, applied as a clear-coat, or mixed with a colored coating. You cannot assume that you will be able to identify them visually, so, when you call, you must provide all abbreviations and full names + spellings of each chemical compound (and then they usually give you "the run around" for a week or so IF they ever answer your questions at all---because sometimes it's a "trade secret"). It's all very sketchy and DuPont (manufacturer of Teflon) claims that off-gassing only occurs at really high temperatures, but there have been numerous documented/scientific and anecdotal reports of birds passing away at temperatures in the 300 F range (and again, it kills through closed doors and on different floors).
FYI- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
A perfluorinated compound (PFC)
Teflon (a common brand-name of non-stick cookware containing these chemicals)

10- 12 hours nightly for sleep, so if you get up at 6 and make a bunch of noise, you will wake the bird up (even if they are still covered). If they wake up at 6, bed should be between 6-8. You want to keep it around the same time if possible (because that's how it is in nature).


OH-- something I didn't mention in my last post-- stainless steel is really one of the only safe metals for them. Research the heck out of your cage and make sure that if it uses a powder-coating it is truly non-toxic. Birds can get metal poisoning from playing with sketchy toys (many made in China do not adhere to best practices) and just mouthing things like money, bolts, locks etc can cause toxic impacts...A man I know allowed his bird to play with un-used toothbrushes and (unbeknownst to him) there were small copper bits that held the bristles in place-- this nearly killed his bird even though the bird didn't actually swallow the pieces. Copper, zinc, nickel, some iron, lead etc are all toxic. Chicken wire and most screens= bad news.
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
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Full house
Not every quaker is cage protective , but all of mine are especially during the spring and fall ( breeding season) . Away from the cage they are sweet and affectionate. My green cheek conure can also be cage protective . I just let them out to clean and change food and water.

A quakers default to boredom, or unhappy is usually to make a lot of noise. I took in a rescue and a pet store baby that were bad screamers....like a full 8 hours a day screaming. But with work and meetings their needs they are good now. In my opinion they are not a species that can be left in the cage all day. Part of the family , included in everything I think they are great, most parrots of any species prefer this.

Do I think they can be your first bird , yes. As long as you think of them as a family member not a pet. Stuck in a cage by themselves, they are inclined to screech.

Any parrot you pick should step up for you when you meet them. As a furst time parrot owner yiu will really struggle and be unhappy if they are hand shy.

Being careful and diligence, you can find small hobby breeders listed in Craigslist sometimes, of many different species. That are raised as part if a family. But trust instincts , as always their can be scamming and bird flippers.
 
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GaleriaGila

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Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,045
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The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
Hello, welcome...
I'm so glad you found us.
Wow... YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT... REACHING OUT, RESEARCHING, BEFORE YOU PROCEED.
Stick with us. We look forward to sharing your journey.

9lhIlM0.jpg
 

Inger

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Mar 20, 2017
3,395
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Everett, WA
Parrots
Bumble - Pacific (or Celestial) Parrotlet hatched 02/19/17
There is no such thing as a starter bird. Your first bird should be the bird that you can’t live without (given obvious consideration to your living situation-space, noise tolerance of neighbors, etc). Having specific birds that are good “first birds” infers that those birds are of less value and can be discarded after you’ve practiced on them long enough and are ready for your “real” bird.

If you think any Quaker is the bird for your family, find your Quaker. If you want a parrotlet, get one of those. Do what feels best for you, your family, and the bird.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Lynn816

New member
Apr 7, 2021
5
3
Parrots
Timneh African Grey, Buddy
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
You all are GREAT! I am so glad that I found this group!
 

saxguy64

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Apr 24, 2018
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Tucker the Red Sided Eclectus
Baxter the YNA
Avery the CAG
Patches the Grand Eclectus, my best friend. RIP
Cuckoo the BFA RIP
You all are GREAT! I am so glad that I found this group!
We're so glad you're here! We love it when folks plan and research, and keep an open mind. There's so much information to be found here, and I truly believe this is the best, friendliest forum out there! Questions are always welcome, that's why we're here :)
 

saxguy64

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Apr 24, 2018
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Patches the Grand Eclectus, my best friend. RIP
Cuckoo the BFA RIP
Just throwing this out there... Have you considered a cockatiel? They generally make wonderful family companions, friendly, loads of personality, love head scritches, not known for cage aggression. I had two, many years ago, and loved them dearly. After I lost my BFA, I was looking for another one when I met my first Ekkie. No tiels available at the refuge at the time, but it all worked out. The Ekkie was meant to be. I still love the tiels though.

Nothing against quakers at all, they're awesome little birds, I just have very limited experience with them. Folks I know with them love them to pieces, and I completely understand the attraction. They have their quirks, but really, all parrots do. It becomes a matter of preference, and your thoughts about which quirks typical of a particular species will fit your desires and lifestyle the best.

Not sure where you're located, but in the US, quakers are prohibited to own in some states, and transporting them across state lines is illegal in some places as well. Dumb laws, I know, but something to consider as you research. My state is one where they're prohibited. :(
 

wrench13

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The best parrot is one that picks you, not the other way round. They are much better at it.
 

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