First experiences

[lsaucedo]

So far so good. Mickey seems to really like me. Sometimes he kind of bites at my wife when she reaches to take him out of the cage or off the top of it. With me he jumps right on my finger. Is this normal, I know he may get used to one person but I'm really trying to get him used to everybody. Is there something I need to do in particular? He really loves to play with toys, so I will get him a whole bunch this weekend, I will also make him alot of them. I have not brought him near the cockatiels yet, would that be good for him? Maybe as company? Or should I wait a little longer? By near them I don't mean the same cage, just put the cages next to each other.

Luis S.

[Monica]

Wait a bit longer before introducing your quaker to the tiels... As far as the quaker goes, try and find his ALL TIME FAVORITE TREAT, and have everyone else feed this very special treat to him, except for you. This will make it slightly easier for the others to form some type of bond with him. You can also sit around in the livingroom or kitchen (when no one is cooking, and the area is made safe) and pass Mickey around to everyone. It may help if each person has some of that special food that Mickey likes, once you discover it, and let them feed little pieces to Mickey. This may also help socialize him!

Good luck!

[The Outlaw]

Just be sure to handle him every single day. They tend to get "wild" very quickly if not interacted with. My quaker will go to most anyone SOME of the time, but only me ALL the time.

They are silly, territorial, smart and aggressive little things and I think they may be my all time favorite little bird. If your wife does as Monica suggested, he'll likely be her best friend. They are REAL good eaters, if my Tilde is an indicator. I have to keep an eye on his/her weight all the time.

THE OUTLAW

[lsaucedo]

Thanks for the tips guys, I will have to try and figure out something he really likes, right now he eats anything and everything. So it may take some time, but that is OK, I got into this knowing exactly how it would be.

Luis S.

[LtlWngdAngl]

Cayo eats more than I do...mostly b/c he eats my food off my plate! good thing I plan bird-healthy meals when I eat at home! I even bring him home "birdie-bags" if I go out and eat something I know he likes. I'm not sure Cayo could ever turn wild, I don't even think he knows he's a bird!
You're right on the territorial thing....and Cayo considers me his property too...though he tolerates me giving attention to the other birds. He's fine around the other birds, and plays well with all of them, except my conure when starts instigating things. Some of his best friends are 'tiels though (his breeder keeps 'tiels) and he plays REALLY WELL with them...of course he grew up in an enclosure with those 'tiels...so that could have something to do with it.

[primrose04]

I have 2 tiels and my quaker is just fine with them. I have more trouble with the pied tiel trying to be domonate. I only have 2 shoulders and when I come to the computer they scramble to see who can get to one of them first. the last one takes the back of the chair. they are all characters.

[The Outlaw]

Just a word of caution on Quakers: once they hit 3, they can do complete personality turn arounds. That's why I constantly preach to train them and keep them current on "the rules" when they are small. They really are clueless about their size. I have twice seen Tilde run BGs off of a playgym. She only has to really look a them and they scurry. However, they are all very young. I have no illusions about what a 5 year old macaw would do to a bratty Quaker and its not pretty. Just be careful. They are depending on you to keep them safe.

THE OUTLAW

[primrose04]

My quaker is 3 1/2 and I have only had her about 6 months.If she has gone through a personality change she probably did it before I got her. But she was a rescue so I think that she is just happy to have a loving home. Believe me she has her moments that she is hard to get along with. I just talk to her and calm her down then she is just fine.(except the time she went totally psyco for about 2 weeks. then the only one that could handle her was my husband. then she layed 3 eggs and turned back to herself.)

[lsaucedo]

My Mickey has his moments already. I especially love when he can't get a toy to do what he wants, he starts screaming and pulling at it. It is pretty funny. He does have his loving side and we see that alot. He already blows kisses at me. I love it. I started building his playground. I just need some manzanita trunks and branches(or something equivalent.) I already have the stuff for his swing, ladders and toys. I am currenlty looking for some info on dried maple tree branches. I don't know if they are good for perches. I will post pics of "Mickeyland" as soon as it is complete. Maybe also post some during its construction.

Luis S.