First Day home for my Quaker

[sherylb]

when I got this Quaker today, he was of course very affectionate in the store and cuddly. I realize a new home is a shock to him. He has only known that store where he was bred and hand raised. He seems to just want the cage. When I first got him home he clung to my neck and then when we got the cage up and put him in, he doesn't want to come out. I let him sit on top of the cage where it opens and now that it's later I closed it and put him on the perch in the cage but he doesn't want on the perch. He wants on the top and it just clinging to the side of his cage! I guess this behavior is normal?? WHen I did get him out to sit with me he tries to fly off me then he walks to his cage! He is already shaking his head NO at me when I try to get him to step up! lol.....just alot of changes for him. Should I just let him stay in his cage for a day or two to let him get use to it or should I get him out?? He has eaten a little and drank some water, he wont eat any treats though. Maybe I am doing to much too soon!??

 

[Terry57]

Welcome to your new family member!
I wouldn't force anything with him, just let him get comfortable and move at his own pace for now.
This link has a lot of great tips for building trust:

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

I'd love to see pictures!

 

[sherylb]

He has been clinging to the side of his cage for a hour , can they sleep like that ? I covered his cage for the night but he won’t get on his perch. I will try to figure out how to post a pic

 

[Terry57]

He may move to his perch, but if not he'll be okay and will get some sleep hanging onto the bars. I have a conure who loves to sleep like that.

 

[GaleriaGila]

What Terry said!

Good for you, for caring, and reaching out, and being open-minded!
Stick with us. We have a devoted community of Quaker lovers here.

 

[Amadeo]

Congratulations on your new friend!
Quakers are quite pretty. What is his name?

And definitely follow the great advice here. Since joining I have soaked up some good, usable knowledge reading though various threads.
Since he is in a new place you may want to give him a little time to relax and get used to the surroundings. Moving home can be a quite stressful.

 

[sherylb]

Not sure of a name yet, thinking about Kiwi. I hope it's not a common name for a green bird. Since I don't know the gender I want a name that can go either way. I also thought about Charlie. He's soo sweet and already shakes his head NO at me. I wish Icould get that video clip on here to show you. Maybe I can.

 

[sherylb]

View attachment 20993
I tried to get the pic smaller, and I also tried to post the short clip of him shaking his head NO at me. Its so cute and the breeder said he didn't do that with her but he is sure telling me NO when I want to pet him or hold him. LOL

 

[EllenD]

Congrats on the baby Quaker! I got my Lita when she was 12 weeks old, and she turned 2 years old 2 months ago, and she's such a wonderful little clown bird...

Your Quaker will be just fine, it hasn't even been 24 hours since he got to his new home, so he just needs to settle in. I wouldn't "give him space" or "leave him alone", I hate that advice, I've heard that around over the years from people, that you should not interact with a new bird for days or weeks after bringing it home...that's just not true...While you certainly do not want to force him to do anything he doesn't want to do, that's not good, you also do not just want to not interact with him.

Where do you have his cage located in your home? If you don't have his cage located in the "main room" of your house, the room of your house where you and others spend most of their time when they are home (usually the living room, family room, TV room, den, etc.), then you definitely want to move it into that room, for a number of reasons. First of all, you don't want him to be in a back room/spare bedroom, etc. where he will be able to hear people are home but not see them...this usually results in a lot of screaming, and as you are going to find out, if you haven't already, Quakers scream quite a bit anyway, and loudly. Secondly, birds are much more likely to happily entertain themselves inside of their cages or on their play-stands with their toys if they are simply in the same room as their people are, even if they're not directly interacting with them...So if you're simply watching TV, reading a book, playing video games, talking, on the computer, etc., you want him in the same room as you, and this brings them a sense of comfort and happiness, as they can see you, they know where you're at, and then they usually will have a great time playing with their toys inside of their cages. And whenever you or others walk by his cage, be sure to talk to him softly/gently....Having his cage or his play-stand located in whatever room you guys spend most of your time will especially help him right now, as he is trying to get settled-in, as he needs to at the very least be "around" and in the presence of his people, so he can get used to you/them. And I hope you have a ton of different toys inside of his cage, because Quakers love to use their beaks to chew/play/destroy, and they are extremely intelligent, so they cannot be allowed to become bored, which happens very easily. So figure on having between 6-10 toys inside of his cage at all times (I hope you got him a pretty large cage), and you should rotate new toys in at least once every month so he doesn't become bored with them...And having a light, easily movable T-Stand or play-stand with some toys hanging from it, one that you can easily move from room to room so that he can be playing in whatever room you're in doing whatever you're doing is a really good idea. You can make a T-Stand out of 3/4" PVC pipe and fittings from Lowes (they have tons more than Home Depot, and are also much cheaper) for less than $10 if you have a hand-held PVC pipe cutter ($10 at Lowes too, get the cheapest one they have, works great). Then if you have an electric or hand-crank drill, you can attach metal S-hooks on the T-Stand to hang toys from. I have a ton of these that I have made, one in each room, so that wherever I'm at the birds can be in the same room and occupy themselves. And for right now, if you do have his cage located in the room of your house "where the action is" and where you guys spend your time, while you're watching TV or doing whatever today, I'd simply open up his cage door and let him come-out on his own, which he most-likely will once he realizes that you're in the room with him. He just needs to become accustom to being around his new people, and obviously "leaving him alone" isn't going to help...

Also, Quakers do that "no" head-shake all the time, that's where the name "Quaker" comes from, they shake their heads "no" and most also make that very distinct, Quaker sound...

 

[sherylb]

Thanks for all this info it helps alot!!! I've been moving Kiwi to each room with me today. He is getting comfortable it seems. I was washing my hands and Kiwi hopped on my arm to make his way down to the water. One thing I wanted to know is, my husband works nights so on the days he is off he is up until 2 in the morning. Is covering the cage sufficient for Kiwi to get the rest needed or should I move him to another room where it is quiet?

 

[sherylb]

Hello, I've read your post to one of my questions about my quaker that I just got yesterday. i also read other posts from you. I like your knowledge so I hope it's ok to contact you to ask you a little more? My quaker is 9 weeks. He was hand fed by a breeder that raises many birds. He was sweet and friendly in the store and there were so many people around handling him so I know he isn't afraid of people. I realize he needs to adjust to being in a new home and I am following adivce given. Today he was more at ease, he ate alot and drank water. When we got home from errands he eagerly got excited to see us but wanted out of the cage....seems like he really likes just sitting on top of the cage. He doesn't want me to pick him up and hold him but when I do an take him to another room he seems comfortable and plays a little. One concern is that he will fly off his cage and then walk back to it wanting back on it. If I take him from the cage and he sees the cage he flies off me and walks to his cage. Will this pass? Is it just his safe place for now or do I need to train him in this area? Should I keep him in the cage even if he wants out and teach him that? I am so new to this, I feel like I don't know what he wants or needs. I guess only having him for 2 days is a bit much to really know him. Seems like in the evening he's a little more grouchy too! lol. I keep saying 'HE' but i dont know what it is! lol. Thanks for all your advice!

 

[noodles123]

Sounds normal and scared (typical). Birds are very upset by tiny routine changes, so him liking you at the store means little in a new environment. He will like you again, but be VERY SLOW with things. Nothing too loud, too new, too different, too pushy...
You may have to live a strange sort of life for these first few days while the bird adjusts. Try to do quiet activities at a nearby table and wait for the bird to adjust. The bird may not want to hop up onto your hand for weeks (even if he did before at the store), and that doesn't mean he hates you or that you should give up.


If you are okay with letting the bird out every time you get home, then feel free, but it will be hard to sustain. You need to be careful about him flying off because that isn't safe when it is unpredictable and frequent. He could get stepped on etc. Find out what motivates him and go from there....Does he fly off often? Or are you just worried he might?

 

[sherylb]

He seems to fly off when I try something new like showing a toy to him or if my husband and I are both at the cage talking to him. He flies off then wants back on. Also, when I have him on my shoulder in the same room as the cage he flies off me to get to the cage

 

[noodles123]

He sounds like he is going back to his "safe place" when startled/scared (when you and your husband talk to him, he likely is overwhelmed and flees, only to regret the choice once on unfamiliar ground ha). I have found that if doing something crazy (like using the vacuum or moving furniture lol) that leaving my bird on her cage is the safest place. When on her travel perch or me, she is more likely to fly when freaked out by something. Originally, she was also startled on her cage top, but if that is your bird's refuge, then consider that when doing things that may startle him. Take it slllllloooooowwww


ps: My bird didn't know much about toys when I got her (adopted/rehomed), and it took about 1 month for her to investigate the main toy I had in her cage from day #1.


I have found that if I tell my bird what I am about to do, that she seems to do better (like she has learned the words for routines and isn't so shocked when I initiate them).