Hello from Almost Heaven!!

[Wvbirdlover]

It's nice to have Finally ( hopefully ) figured out how to post on here. I've never had anyone to ask questions, so I'm Really excited to have found this forum. I've had a few birds in the past, and have just recently gotten a baby Quaker. He's super sweet, and fairly spoiled already. He seems to be pretty unsteady on his feet, so I've switched out perches in his cage to help him. He does this little cry like quaking thing, and when I go to pet him, he acts like he doesn't want me to, however, he's at the cage door, wanting me. If I cup both of my hands over him, he will let me rub on the sides of his face for a few seconds and then gets out of sorts and does this same sound over and over. I've worked on getting him to step up, but it's like he's out of sorts, so I scoop him up with both hands, and hold him under my neck, he will get really quiet, and let me love all over him. Also, he's right at 3 months and trying to talk up a storm. I'm amazed at all of the words he is trying to say. The other morning, I uncovered his cage and he met me at the door and said, Peek a Boo, as plain as day.


Is this a normal thing for a young bird to be saying so much? Do you suppose there is something else he is wanting from me when he is doing that little cry? Should I offer some food from my hand? Holding him close and loving on him, seems to calm him down, but there have been a couple of times that hasn't worked. I've never had a bird that would rather be close, than rubbed from afar, I guess??

 

[Terry57]

Hello and welcome!
I am originally from WV, nice to meet someone else from there

That is awesome that your baby is already talking! I wonder if his cry to you means he is hungry...I wonder how long he has been weaned. I think I would try offering him food and see what he does.
What is his name? I'd love to see pictures

 

[Wvbirdlover]

That is So neat that you are originally from WV. Actually, everywhere we go, we meet people 'from' WV.

The only hint I have about his weaning is, that he did good on his own the weekend prior to him being shipped to me. BUT, (I also had the impression that he was being fed with a dropper/syringe up until then) when I asked the breeder about him not wanting any of the food I was offering him, he was only going for the little bit of seed, and I thought he looked thin. She said that was odd because they didn't give lots of seed there. I asked if they handled them, when they were feeding them, and she said, that they basically put the food in the bowls and let them eat, so he was used to following his siblings lead. So then I began holding each new thing I was offering him, and letting him taste it, then cutting it up really small and putting it in his bowl. I barely give him budgie seed ( not everyday and not very much at all) he gets pellets, hot & hearty cooked food, cut up veggies and fruit, birdie bread muffins, and I made this butternut squash recipe for my family last nite, and gave him some for breakfast, and he Loved it.

I will try offering him food when he's doing that cry and see if that seems to soothe him.

His name is Kiwi, btw Lol


I'll attach the pic of the butternut squash salad too from pinterest. It was Awesome, and minus the cheese, it's healthy for birds.

 

[Terry57]

That recipe sounds amazing! I am going to have to try that for sure, thank you for sharing
Kiwi is adorable!! I just love Quakers.
I am glad he is eating the food you are working so hard on for him. There are several folks who have Quakers who I'm sure will jump in soon with some more suggestions as well.

What part of WV are you in? I lived in the South Charleston area for several years, and in Hurricane, Cross Lanes and St. Albans as well.

 

[Wvbirdlover]

You are more than welcome! I hope you like it. We surely did. My daughter wasn't crazy about the goat cheese, but I liked it, so I left it on the side as an option

Right now we live in the Bridgeport/Clarksburg area. I've lived here my entire life. We had such a terrible winter last year. We would love to move south! Haha

 

[Terry57]

LOL...I actually moved North!
When I go outside here in the winter, and it hurts to breathe, I wonder what on earth I was thinking

 

[Wvbirdlover]

Oh geez.. What were you thinking?? Lol
The cold just makes us hurt more. we watch these shows about moving to Alaska, and we think 'why'?

 

[Terry57]

I guess it is a good thing that I love snow....the cold is another thing, though..lol.
Love sure makes us do crazy things!
[URL=http://www.sherv.net/][/URL]

 

[Wvbirdlover]

YES, it certainly does, because I personally have a more 'distance' appreciation for that white stuff! LOL ( like uh, 600 + miles or more towards the equator) haha

 

[Allee]

Hello and a warm welcome to you and Kiwi! Congratulations on being adopted by a quaker parrot! Quakers are huge birds in medium sized packages. The quaking, crying thing Kiwi is doing is a begging behavior, some quakers do it well into adulthood. Since Kiwi is so young, he may actually be letting you know he'd like to be fed, but not necessarily.

Like any other species, not all quakers talk, but it isn't unusual for those that do to say their first words at a very early age. Quakers are known for their speaking ability and a lot of them give the impression they are very aware of what they are saying, they use most of their words and phrases in appropriate situations.
Most are excellent mimics, don't be surprised if you hear barking, quacking, clucking, crying, singing, beeps, sirens, ...etc.

It's great you are offering Kiwi a variety of foods at a young age, they can be hesitant to try new things as they get older. Best of luck to you and Kiwi. Adorable photos, he's a real cutie.

 

[RavensGryf]

I get it!! John Denver... The song hit me when I read your title and I thought you must be from WV then I saw your username Welcome.

 

[Wvbirdlover]

Thank You all for your thoughts. I did offer him some food today when he started that cry, and tried to coax him into stepping up to get it, but he just seems out of sorts, when this happens. He Really seems to go for 'green' stuff, so I fed him broccoli and kale that way, then later on this evening I have him a couple of pieces of air popped popcorn, which he seemed to like. ( I read that it might be good for putting weight on him? It was one of the foods along with nuts ) I worry he's not chunky looking.

And YES, John Denver! LOL


ALL of your birdies look absolutely gorgeous btw!