To Birdmama61 - Quakers

[birdybabies]

Hi Birdmama, I am thinking of getting a quaker and I feel your imput would be invaluable as you have THREE (lucky you) The reason I am asking you is I am getting so much info overload on these guys.
My situation is: my flock is a mixed flock of 2 budgies, 1 tiel, 1 cinn gcc (the tiel and gcc come out of cage a lot, the budgies have a huge cage and tend not to come out very often, but I do open the door daily and see if they want out)
With 3 quakers, I am sure they are not all the same in their personalities, behaviours, talking ability, food likes and dislikes, screaming, cage aggression etc.
I just read that they were all re-homes so your story will be different to mine as I will be getting a baby from a reputable breeder (Australia does not have bird rescue centres, so you either buy a baby or an older bird that is for sale cos its no longer "wanted" for whatever reason)
Can you give me your experiences wih your little guys, the good and "bad". With the "bad" and I use this term lightly because we are talking about a living creature and they like us are entitled to an off day and like kids, they misbehave. How did you deal with naughty stuff, how did you encourage good stuff? Any other info will be appreciated. I am so over-loaded from internet searching, that I am confused, so I want to get my info from somebody that has this species and will tell me the truth. Thanks in advance. PS, if anyone else has some imput, go for it, especially if you have a mixed flock.

 

[Pedro]

Birdybabies if you have a GCC then there is no reason why a Quaker wouldn't fit into your little flock. Getting a baby has a lot of pluses as you can train it to be just as you would like him. Quakers are such a fun little bird full of personallity.

I also have 3 although they are in an aviary now. My first ever male i got is such a sweetie now. He is about 10 years old, talks up a storm. I have had a few behavior issues when he was younger. Mostly being a little to territorial when strangers got to close to me. But all in all with positive reinforced training they are so much fun. To be honest parrots don't have behavior problems, i very much believe it is the owners.

It doesn't matter how many companion parrots you have you must be responsible for their safety & use commonsense whenever you have them out of their cages.

 

[birdmama61]

I think it depends on the birds themselves . The little blue one is a baby and he was so easy compared to the other two . Arnold the first one I ever had he was so easy too but I gave him his room and let him get used to me . Another thing clip their wings because it is easier to train them and let them get dependant on you for where they go and can go . Also in the united states in some state quakers are illegal which I think is a crock ., but in my state of Ohio they must be clipped state law . Feed them a mix of pellet and seed and fruit . The thing about quakers is some can be easy and friendly and some are hard and mean . I did meet a mean one and he was a total terror , but if given my choice I would have a baby in a heart beat . My oldest bird hit my car window and I adopted him after that , the blue one I got him as a baby and this lady did not want him cause he was friends with an indian ringneck and she wanted to breed the ringneck and could not with the baby in there with him , the thrid one I got him cause the girl got tired of him cause she had him since she was a teen ager and she was going to have a baby . sad really . But as long as Im alive they have a home . I think a quaker or two or three would fit nicely in your home . I dont think i would ever have them around a big bird because they are fierce and will go after a big bird I have seen it with my own eyes . But with you having smaller birds it will be fine . I hope I answered all your ?s and if I can be of further help please dont hesitate to contact me thanks and have a good one .

 

[birdybabies]

The only real "negative" that I have read about quakers for me, is cage aggression. Did you experience it? What I have read is:
- dont clean cage with birdy inside it (which I dont know anyway, they are out playing at this time, so not an issue)
- change the location of cage periodically and changes toys around (I think this is so they dont get too comfortable and in a routine, throw them off a bit - can do that
- have a young son (8yo), and even though I will train him NOT to put his hands in the cage, but wait for birdy to come out to him, if he forgets and goes in CHOMP! Kids fault, not the birds, but dont want anyone to get hurt. Memo to mum, train son, no probs
- ensure the safety of all birds - can be managed

Son loves the tiel and gcc, and keeps asking when I am getting the next one LOL. So I guess, there is no reason NOT to get a quaker. Like you said, it is the owners who cause the problems, behaviours in our birds. Thanks for your help, it is appreciated (Cos we have had some warmer weather, currently winter here, his quakers have gone all nesty - Yippee!)