Weather alert and Quaker frightened!

[HeatherG]

I have Willow out on his basket. We just had a text weather alert and it was gusty outside. I was trying to give Willow a fruit treat and he couldn’t get settled down. Kept dropping the treat, scurrying around flapping, making grumpy noises. It seemed like he wanted to fly or hide.

I ended up cupping him in my hands while he sat on the basket against my nose and cheek. Told him I love you and it’s ok and rubbed his head and beak. He stopped fussing and settled down. Nibbled on the dried cherry but then dropped it again.

He just did a tail wag and yawn so I think we’re ok now.

 

[HeatherG]

And we’re getting tall and flappy again. Wish I knew what was going on. Maybe a change in barometric pressure? Poor flying weather?

 

[Laurasea]

If its dark, mine are uncomfortable away from cage.
But they haven't reacted to storms, hurricane, or fireworks if tucked into their tents

Id say instincts are telling him to hunker down in safe roost

 

[cnyguy]

QP Ralph and CAG Scooter don't like it when it's very windy. The swaying of tree branches really upsets them. Closing the window blinds helps calm them.
Changes in barometric pressure affects many things. It could affect parrots' behavior too.

 

[HeatherG]

Well, Willow continued to act unhappy. I asked if he wanted to go back to his house, his cage. He flapped so I brought him back to the living room and he ran into his cage to settle in.

 

[HeatherG]

Saturday was calmer and Willow is happy and calm. He had a nice long snuggle time and is fast asleep now.

 

[HeatherG]

Willow is clearly a smart bird, but he is scared of so many things! I try to give him little gadgets that other Quakers or conures have liked to mess with and he runs away. It makes me sad because he doesn’t get many new toys. I would expect him to steal little things but he avoids and stares at anything new.

Do you think this will change ever? He’s been with me a year and a half. I would like to give him more toys but that doesn’t work. How silly!

 

[Laurasea]

I agree as standard quaker are not afraid of new toys or stuff and steel anything small im working with and fly up to the ceiling fan out of reach .

But Penny my rescue took a long time to rehabilitate. Still not much interested. But she will take anything I hand her very polite, then tosses it like I don't want your junk!

I like kinda annoying them. Like tie beads outside the cage, ooo tgey try and get them. Or I put hoops on their perches or stuff they have to drag to the end if the perch to dump. Or cut up toys tgey can chew and dangle head hight over their food bowl, or drop a bottle cap in their water bowl or marbles . Or hang papper fringe over their favorite perch so they'll have to duck under it

 

[HeatherG]

I agree as standard quaker are not afraid of new toys or stuff and steel anything small im working with and fly up to the ceiling fan out of reach .

But Penny my rescue took a long time to rehabilitate. Still not much interested. But she will take anything I hand her very polite, then tosses it like I don't want your junk!

I like kinda annoying them. Like tie beads outside the cage, ooo tgey try and get them. Or I put hoops on their perches or stuff they have to drag to the end if the perch to dump. Or cut up toys tgey can chew and dangle head hight over their food bowl, or drop a bottle cap in their water bowl or marbles . Or hang papper fringe over their favorite perch so they'll have to duck under it

I try to ‘hand’ him (beak him?) things I think he would like, such as a heavy plastic ring or a coffee stirrer or a jingle bell and he freezes and stares at them like they’re terrifying. There are several fun toys on Willow’s cage floor which he ignores. I don’t think he’s been down there. If a half cherry tomato falls to the floor it’s just gone from existence .

Willow used to fly around someone’s home. I would think that would be a rich experience but he is so leery of any toy he hasn’t had for years. I cleaned up and fixed his old old toys with beads so they’re a bit more fun. But he is so wary. Finally after a year plus he will play with a seagrass net playgym.

Today we watched and listened to Quakers talking on YouTube. He seemed to think that was pretty neat at first, but after a half hour he was done. He flapped and got very restless. So I cuddled him a bit and then brought him back to his cage for dinner and probably sleep.

 

[HeatherG]

It’s late spring/early summer and there’s a thunderstorm here in the upper Midwest u.s. i heard some sort of horn earlier today. Tornado watch, maybe? Now it’s storming and I hear ambulance sirens outside. The lights have flickered a bunch of times and it’s quite dark in the mid afternoon.

Willow seems ok, in contrast to that last windstorm that happened in winter. Actually, he’s on his basket, on my lap, puffed up and sleepy. Now he’s crunching his beak. I wonder what the difference is? If Willow was outside I bet he wouldn’t be all happy.