Help! with my Quaker

[dj and gracie]

I just got Gracie two weeks ago she is 5 months old was hand fed but not much interaction...Now I have her..Can't get her out of the cage,won't eat anything I give her except seed mixture in one cup only..I have her in a small cage wanting to put her in a large floor cage but not sure it will be to scary for her..I have been reading everything I can and she isn't doing anything the books say....We have been talking to her all the time but nothing seems to work with her...I want to beable to interact with her and play with her during the day..I am afraid of going in after her and scaring her to death she does nip when we do try it (try it once)....Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...Thanks Debbie

[Beaks]

get her out and play with her.

also let her eat with you, when she sees you eating she will soon start asking for some.

Quakers are very smart birds and figure things out pretty fast.

[kathleen]

Remember, she is very young and still very new to her enviornment. Let her get adjusted to her cage. Then, slowly introduce her to the new cage. When I first got my quaker, he was still syringe feeding and I did it two to three times a day. I would put pellets in his food dish and eventually he started eating it on his own with one syringe feeding a day. Then, he started only eating pellets. Eventually, I added the fresh fruits and veggies. Don't be afraid to go in and take her out of her cage. Try putting pellets or other things in her dish with the seeds and see if she tries them. We treated Pumpkin like he was a delicate orchid for fear of scaring him to death, now we wrestle. They are pretty hardy. I also think, because I just took him from his cage, he is less territorial about it. I use books as guidelines because very often you find not everyone or everything has read that book.

When I adopted Pumpkin, the bird store required that I sign a contract that I would bring him back every week, for eight weeks, I think, for a weighing. They kept track and made sure he was thriving. Are you required to do that?

Good luck

[Ginich]

I would also get him/her out of the cage. I have a 20 yr old Quaker that I adopted 5 months ago. His previous owner only gave him cheap sunflower diet. I offered him lots of stuff and he loves greenbeans, broccoli, kale, red swiss chard, sweet red peppers, spring mix, carrots, 1/4 hard boiled egg and, of course, BIRDIEBREAD™.

[Monica]

Can't get her out of the cage,won't eat anything I give her except seed mixture in one cup only...
Quakers are said to be cage territorial... however, she is still new to the environment and may feel insecure. How often do you feed her, and when do you feed her?

Before she gets any food, it may help to offer her seeds or treats from your hand. You can do this by opening the cage door, and putting your hand just inside but no further. Wait 15 or so minutes, and if she doesn't budge, then feed her her regular food. Repeat this process every day until she starts getting used to you... then you can try having your hand outside the cage so she has to come to the cage door to eat... or a little further back with a perch between the cage door and your hand.

I have her in a small cage wanting to put her in a large floor cage but not sure it will be to scary for her..
Generally speaking, birds can feel insecure if they are on the ground. Even if they may be ground feeders, most birds are used to being up high in tree-tops away from predators. If they are low down they may be more frightened.

It will take time for her to settle in, but it would also help to just sit in her company, and maybe eat some food in front of her, without sharing. Make all sorts of yummy sounds and act possessive of your food. She may in time become jealous and want some too.

[dj and gracie]

Thanks for all the advice, I am trying everyday to hand feed her and get her out..
When I do get her out I have to hold her,she will fly if she feels a loose grip.I can stroke her and talk to her she will try to bite but not very hard..
So I am taking her out several times aday and walk around with her and sit with her not near her cage..I do try to hand feed her she doesn't budge off the back of the cage....
Now my next question is can you some how tell the age of the bird? Maybe the vet? I have been watching her for two weeks..I really don't think she is a 5 month old...I do have others that I have, (love birds, keets, finches) so I am familar with birds...
She just should be getting used to us and her cage...I guess I am just confused by her...Or maybe its a male do they act any differently? She was never DNA tested the breeder just thought she was a female...
Well I will keep doing what I am doing and I WILL win her over...LOL

Thanks guys
dj and gracie

[Zanzi's Mom]

My qp was handfed as a youngster and although I was told he is just over one year old now, he still LOVES to eat off of a spoon like a chick would. He especially likes soupy stuff that will run off the spoon. He always wants to share my oatmeal in the mornings.

The lady I bought him from said he had been housed with two other quakers and they all could say about three phrases. When he got here, he was the only quaker and he would not make a peep. I thought he might miss the sounds of other qp's so I downloaded several audio files of "quaker speak". He sits by my pc and I often play his playlist on a loop. I have had him for two months now and have heard him speak combinations about a dozen phrases. His audios make kissy sounds, says gimme kiss, good boy, pretty bird, whatcha doin?(his favorite), ouch!, yummy, nite, thank you, hello and uh oh(when he drops something) If you would like, I can send you those files through yahoo messenger. Just email me if you are interested. :)

[Zanzi's Mom]

I forgot, "I love you", "tickle, tickle" " oh boy" and "whats the matter" are also in the recordings.

[Nestling]

I just brought my 3 year old male GP home yesterday. He was kept in a cage with a big fat female. He will not step up. We will continue to work on that. He does say hello and gives me kisses trough the bars. I am not forcing the issue of getting him out of the cage so soon. But I sure would like a copy of your "quaker speak" Zanzi's Mom. Could you please email me the file. I would be forever grateful. lncvoss@yahoo.com is my email address. This is my second Quaker and I am head over heals in love already. My first died 2 years ago. I wish that I hadn't waited so long to get another one. I was just so broken hearted. I had her for 10 years. She landed on my nieces head 12 years ago out in their back yard.

[Echo><ohcE]

I would wean you Quaker off the seed. Try mixing a little seed with some soaked Zupreem natural pellets. Then when it starts eating the Zupreem, only feed it seed when it is out with you, as a treat. I've rescued many Quakers and turned them into great pets. I did it this way. All mine eat Zupreem, and fresh veggies, fruit, brown rice and lentils. Seed is only a treat.