Nest building?

[Vilatus]

Hi all,

I’ve got a question about nest building. So I’ve seen more and more people allowing their Quakers to build nests in their cages. This goes directly against any advice I’ve ever seen for parrots, but I know for Quakers it’s a little different. Should I encourage this behavior? Nico very clearly is trying to stack and build with his toys, but I don’t want to encourage this if it’s going to become a hormonal problem. Any opinions? If I should allow it, what are some good things to give him to build with?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I wouldn't encourage anything that would get them hormonal. I read up and learned that Quakers use theirx zonenests to roost in year round gx ð

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Oops .Quakers roost in their nests year round even when theyre not nesting. I dont think they need to make nests. All it will do is make them more hormonal.

 

[Vilatus]

Oops .Quakers roost in their nests year round even when theyre not nesting. I dont think they need to make nests. All it will do is make them more hormonal.

Hahaha, trying to type and do something else? See, that’s my concern. But I also see folks saying it won’t make them more hormonal because it’s natural for them to build year round… why can’t anyone agree on anything lol

 

[cnyguy]

My Quaker Ralph liked to build and it never had any effect on hormonal activity. He never built an actual nest, but liked to arrange and rearrange the thin wooden dowels I gave him for building materials. Building kept him busy and he always seemed to enjoy it. When the hormones kicked in every spring, it didn't change Ralph's building routine at all or ramp up the hormones. Of course, every parrot is an individual and some Quakers may behave differently.

 

[Vilatus]

My Quaker Ralph liked to build and it never had any effect on hormonal activity. He never built an actual nest, but liked to arrange and rearrange the thin wooden dowels I gave him for building materials. Building kept him busy and he always seemed to enjoy it. When the hormones kicked in every spring, it didn't change Ralph's building routine at all or ramp up the hormones. Of course, every parrot is an individual and some Quakers may behave differently.

Nico is kinda doing the same thing. I haven’t noticed any hormonal behavior changes happening when he starts trying to arrange his toys, so it makes me wonder. I know this is a bit off topic, but did you have yours on a strict schedule? I’m wondering if it would benefit my Nico.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Hahaha, trying to type and do something else? See, that’s my concern. But I also see folks saying it won’t make them more hormonal because it’s natural for them to build year round… why can’t anyone agree on anything lol

I have to admit I dozed off mid sentence!
Ive been reading about them and Quakers really are unique in the parrot world in that they build these elaborate structures to nest and roost. Maybe it's because they come from a climate that isn't really tropical and they need shelter in the winter. Since you say Nico is a male (confirmed?), there's no risk of egg laying, so if he wants to practice his building skills I suppose it wouldn't do any harm. I'd just watch for him becoming overly cage territorial as he builds his "house".

 

[Vilatus]

I have to admit I dozed off mid sentence!
Ive been reading about them and Quakers really are unique in the parrot world in that they build these elaborate structures to nest and roost. Maybe it's because they come from a climate that isn't really tropical and they need shelter in the winter. Since you say Nico is a male (confirmed?), there's no risk of egg laying, so if he wants to practice his building skills I suppose it wouldn't do any harm. I'd just watch for him becoming overly cage territorial as he builds his "house".

Oh gosh, I’ve been there!!

Yes, that’s the issue- they’re so unique in that aspect it makes it hard to get a good opinion. Obviously I’d never encourage this in a cockatiel or a budgie, but they don’t build just to build so… Yes, Nico is confirmed male. He’s already overly territorial just because he’s a Quaker, so I’m not sure this would really make it worse lol.

 

[Jcas]

My male Quaker used to love building! Popsicle sticks are a favorite. As he’s getting a bit older, he’s shown less interest though he still enjoys “ weaving” with his favorite shoelace! I’ve never noticed that his building causes any sort of hormone issues. For my bird, it seems strictly recreational/ entertainment.

 

[Vilatus]

My male Quaker used to love building! Popsicle sticks are a favorite. As he’s getting a bit older, he’s shown less interest though he still enjoys “ weaving” with his favorite shoelace! I’ve never noticed that his building causes any sort of hormone issues. For my bird, it seems strictly recreational/ entertainment.

Thank you for the response! That’s what I was thinking about getting Nico. After this thread I think I’ll let him try it.

 

[cnyguy]

Ralph did have a fairly set schedule most days. When I first brought him home he decided on his own bedtime, between 7 and 7:30. I would usually have him out to play after dinner and he would let me know when he was ready to head back to his cage for bed. He got served fresh food at about the same times every day too, and his out of cage times were almost always the same every day. He could accept changes in routine, but he didn't necessarily like them.

Of course if your Quaker gets too hormonal when building, the building materials could always be removed temporarily. I never needed to do that with Ralph.