nervous about rehoming a Quaker

[Pthomas]

I will be a 1st time parrot/bird owner. Needless to say I am very nervous. I do not know much about the bird itself. The problem is neither does the owner. The bird is comming from a divorced home and the wife was the main care giver. When she left she left the bird to the husband. He found that he did not have time nor paitence to care for the bird. The only information that I have is that the bird is Green and they think male (judging by the name Rico). I have found out that they have him on a seed based diet right now. They have been feeding him a Wild bird seed mix but have recently (last week) changed him to an exotic bird mix. I know from research on the internet that I need to get him to a parrot mix, pellet, and fresh fruits/veggi diet. Does anyone have any recommendations as to how to go about changing his food? should it be done all of the sudden or all at once? Also, any recommendations as to rehomeing him into my family would be much appreciated.

 

[Allee]

Hello and Welcome to the forum! Lucky you, quakers are so much fun. They are a fascinating species and have a large range of personalities ranging from sweet and docile to outrageous.

As a general rule, quakers can take more time to adjust to new things than other species. According to your bird's personality, he may move in and make himself right at home, but more than likely, he will appreciate some time to acclimate and build trust. It helps to put at least one side of the cage against a wall to provide a little security. Quakers are small but have powerful beaks and some are avid chewers. They appreciate a large cage with plenty of room for a variety of perches and toys to keep them busy. There are some good tips on bonding in the following link.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

You have the right idea about diet and a very good basic plan. Don't be surprised if it takes Rico several weeks to accept his nutritious new diet. It's according to his age and background how readily or reluctantly he approaches the new menu. A lot of times it's just a matter of the bird learning to recognize the new items as food. Persistence pays, you may throw away a lot of leftovers at first, but your bird will develop a taste for fresh produce. I know from experience quakers do better on a variety of vegetables, grains, sprouts, and organics if possible. If you decide on a pellet based diet, the colorless ones with the fewest additives are good choices. Soaking the pellets in water or 100% fruit juice (I dilute it with two parts water) is a good way to encourage a quaker to have a taste. It's a good idea to convert slowly instead of depriving him of the familiar food all at once. There are several good conversion methods, here is a link with some good ideas.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

Unless your quaker lays an egg, the only way to be sure of gender is a DNA test. You can request a free sample kit from Avian Biotech and send in a blood or feather sample for a small fee. Avian Biotech is only one of several reputable labs that offer this service.

Good luck with your new buddy. Looking forward to photos and progress reports.

 

[Pthomas]

Thank you so much this helps alot

 

[Allee]

You're Welcome!

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you have, we have a great group of quaker parronts with knowledge to share. I'm sure they'll be around to say hello when they have a chance.

Enjoy your stay in the forum.

 

[BruceV]

Quakers are SO much fun! They talk, they're little clowns, and who can resist those cute little faces? Yeah, I have 2 of them.

 

[cnyguy]

Welcome to the world of Quaker parronthood! You might want to invest in a good book or two about Quaker parrots. Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Quaker Parrot is a good one with lots of useful information. Some others are Guide to Owning a Quaker Parrot by Gayle Soucek and Pamela Leis Higdon's The Quaker Parrot: An Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet.

This Forum is a good source of information too. Feel free to ask questions-- someone here is almost certain to have an answer for you.

 

[Giggleagain]

Welcome to the QP forum I'm a beginner Quaker Parront myself (I've been at it for only a year) and both my fids are rescues/rehomes with special problems. I've received - and still receive - so much good advice here that I'm sure you will love this place and it's people the way I do!

 

[Siobhan]

My first parrot (as an adult) was a Quaker and he made sure I was thoroughly trained in being a good servant. They can be frustrating, bossy, moody little dictators but then they do something so cute and sweet that you want to kiss them all over their chubby-cheeked little faces.

 

[flyingron]

We had an intervention with our quaker and took it from a friend who: never let it out of the cage, never bathed it, fed it exclusively seeds, and never took it to the vet. Despite all that she's the sweetest, social bird. Apparently our friend while having her for four years or so wasn't the original owner and the first owner trained it well.

Bacca loves jazz music and she'll talk (primarily for attention) but loves to mimic sounds (zippers being zipped, the shoes squeaking on the floor, my wife's whistles). I was watching a video of a machine gun being fired and next thing I know she's behind me making machine gun sounds.