New quaker owner

[Audio_bubbles]

Hi there I have recently become a new owner to a rehomed quaker. I believe she is female and around one year old.i have had her a few weeks and was hoping for some advice. She is reasonably friendly and steps up no problem however she has started nipping at me if I do anything but let her perch on me. She will happily preen on me and sometimes preens me I know shoulders are a no to birds who nip but the old owners let her and she sometimes nips at me when I ask her to step off my shoulder. She sometimes likes scratched on head other times in fact most times I am met with a sharp beak. Is she still wary since its only been a few weeks.

 

[Laurasea]

I love quakers!¡ Congratulations! What's her name? I think you just need more time together to really build the trust. My rescue was sweet then biting, and now a sweetie she just was confused and had trust issues. Remember your girl has been through a lot of big changes and Quaker s are smart and emotional, she is still mourning her past home and person. I hope you will share pictures! Are you feeding her her veggies? Welcome!

 

[bill_e]

Hello and welcome!

Is she still wary since its only been a few weeks.

Others will jump in with more detailed answers but in a nutshell, yes, she is still acclimating to you and building trust can take months. Right now from what you described she is acting quite normal. Spend time with her and give her time, she'll come around. And unless you like pain I would keep her off your shoulder until you can trust that she will not bite you.

 

[Allee]

Congratulations and a warm welcome to you and your new quaker. Quakers are amazing parrots but they can be nippy by nature and some tend to be territorial. With quakers I've found it's a good idea to approach them quietly and determine what kind of mood they are in, better to let them approach you. Quakers are very smart and quick to learn, as you get to know your quaker you'll get better at avoiding the beak. I have three Quakers and they all needed a little training to curb their biting. A neutral spot works well, riding a shoulder should be a privilege, if she bites, immediately return her to a time out spot until she can calm down and be friendly.

Please tell us more about your new family member.

 

[Audio_bubbles]

Thanks for the replies and warm welcome. Her name is Freya. She's being quiet the little grumpy pants today. What is the best training to stop biting? Today I have her out then she's being very nippy she's being back in the cage to calm down. The previous owner used to allow her to drink from her mouth but I have heard that our saliva is bad for birds so I think she's annoyed cause I won't allow her to do it. I have been feeding her fruit and veg such as apple banana and sweet peas. What other things are good for them to eat and how much per day should I give her.?

 

[Laurasea]

Romaine lettuce, brussel sprouts, bell pepper, hot red chilli peppers they love the seeds of peppers too, broccoli, squash, cooked sweet potatoes, bok choy, water cress, radish abd they can eat the greens, dandelion greens. Anyway you can find here and elsewhere food lists. Also in case you didn't know no Teflon no non stick pots and pans the off gassing can kill them even if they are behind a closed door in a different room!!!! I set up my rescue with a perch on the outside of the cage and put a treat bowl next to, treats every time I cane over, then treats Everytime she stepped up , a d I put her right back.mine had issues about being afraid I would put her right back in her cage , so I did lits of in the cage tight back out, mostly it was lots of treats, abd not forcing head scritchs till she wanted them, she also had fear when I came bear her, so I always have to approach the cage straight on from the front abd talk to her, then ask her to step up, I still have to cone to her cage from the front she freaks if I come from the side. She just likes every thing slow. Abd oh lordy dont rearrange her cage!!! Complete meltdown and pulls out her feathers, she likes all changes to be slow and methodical. She is a little territorial of her cage, do I attached a perch to the door on the inside so when I open the door the perch swings out she steps on that and then is fine coming to me if I say hi first and give her a moment to settle. I think ElkenD has mentioned her quaker also doesn't like her changing things in her cage. So I really think with a new cage and new stuff and a new person, she just needs you to be understanding and giving her a little time to make up her mind about new stuff. Penny bit my neck for about a week I still put her on my shoulder as it was clear she needed comfort and being near, I just move slow don't let things frighten her and don't just randomly reach up to her. Penny now never bites, she just shoves my hand away. At first we just sat together until she cane to my chest and out her head in my hand. Then at first I could only touch a little and slowly, it's taken a couple of months for her to trust me to really pet her , and now she purrs her eyes closed and she lays her head on me while I pet her head and stroke her beak. I think k you are doing great, and that Freya really likes you, and you are well on the way to being very close. Are there other pets in the house?

 

[Audio_bubbles]

Thanks for the list of foods I'll definitely be getting some of that in. How much veg do you normally feed per day? Thankfully she doesn't seem to cage aggressive as yet she is happy to step up when I put my hand in. Also it's her cage from her old home so it's not all too different for her. I do have other pets in the house a dog and cat. Both of which are scared of her lol. We just had a nice wee session with her out she was very calm and just sat on my hand letting me scratch her she had her eyes closed and nussled into my hand.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Hello, and welcome. As you're surely noticing, you have found a great community. I am so glad you're here. It has greatly enriched my life (and my bird's), and I know it will be the same for you!

 

[Laurasea]

Oh my goodness she is gorgeous!!!!!!! Any bites may be due to the pets causing her fear, then she bites you so you will fly away and be saved!!! I feed veggies not fruit first thing in the morning, as much as they want I usually offer three kinds , I only offer fruit once a week, cherries are good, and they love cranberries some said they might be high in vit C but I checked and they are not, then they get pellets, then seed mix with no sunflower or peanuts, peanuts are prone to fungas that can make them ill and high in fat. Also save up you need a much much larger cage, at least 32 inches long, amazon and eBay have new cages that would work from about 100-150 bucks.

 

[Laurasea]

With her fluffed and sleeping on you, it's very obvious she trusts you and has bonded with you. Sometimes birds bite if there are other people in the house, and they can see them when with you, maybe because if jealousy wanting to keep you the choose one away from rival, or from fear of the other people just a thought.

 

[Audio_bubbles]

She doesn't seem to bothered by the other animals she was trying to preen the dog earlier lol. Yes I have a much bigger cage 32" x 24" x 23" the one in the pic was just a spare one the previous owner gave me.

 

[Laurasea]

Please be so careful with the dog and the cat, just last month we had two or more dog attacks posted not all of the parrots survived, and some had extensive veterinary care to survive. Cats also have been killers here. Even the saliva of the dog or cat can be deadly! I have dogs, I never ever let my dogs abd Parrots interact. I teach the dogs to give a strict distance to the parrots. My dogs have been around parrots since they were puppies and still I would never ever let them touch. Nor do I let the parrots pull the dogs hair , or touch or go near the dogs or the dog toys. Please don't let your parrot groom the dog, this is an accident waiting to happen!!!!