Quakers, what can you tell me about them

[Dayna]

I am aquiring a breeding pair of quakers. 3 years old. The lady I know breeds a few different kinds of parrots. She is getting out of all the little guys and just breeding a couple pairs of macaws and a couple other kinds. I think congo and ecelctus.

She says these guys are tame. And very bonded to each other. She said the female is very protective of the cage, but once out is fine.

What do I need to know about quakers that is different from general parrot care? What would the housing be for two of these guys? I have several "finch flight cages" from the feather farm www.featherfarm.com, and they are very large. My amazon Maya lives in one.

Any advice or help would be awesome. This pair breeds mostly green with the occasional blue one and yellow one.

[birdsnthings]

Care is generally the same but of course they can be "loud". I think the Quakers are neat little birds with lots of "spunk". lol
I think the cage aggression is normal for the hen. They can pack a "bite" if they want to.
I have a Pallid here that was forced weaned unfortunately. The person who bought her (a friend of mine) couldn't connect with the little one. Once here, I swooped her out of the cage and held her between my hands and just rubbed her head with both index fingers. Then I rubbed her jaws with my thumbs. Finally, I opened my hands and she stayed. Once she was fine with that I then laddered her once. From then on she steps up for me from the cage with no problem. Only thing.....she nips a little hard and that isn't fun when it's my neck. Now I get the sweetest looks from her and she loves her bird toys. I am waiting for the day her owner sees this. She's been telling her other birds that she will send them to "Aunt Alice" for a visit.
Alice

[Dustin]

It is not uncommon for them to be cage aggressive...it is acutally one of their "traits". But is can be adioded by changing the cage layout often and not alowing them to start the behavior. Another common this is QMS (Quaker mutilation syndrom) where sometimes they will pick and mutilate themselves.... plenty of info on it around the net.

They are great fun. the are playful, mischevious, cuddly and talkative.

[Monica]

They are cute, cuddly, territorial, loud, friendly, talkative, loveable, huggable, kissable, and I want one!!!

Uh, general care... much like many other parrots, although being "conures" may need food richer in vitamin K. Much unlike other parrots, quakers like to build their own nests out of twigs... much like a beaver dam, lots of sticks, and a cavity for sleeping and whatnot.... In a colony of quakers, they like to build huge stick nests with various cavities inside, for the nursery, sleeping room, livingroom..... etc. If it's a must however, they will settle for a nestbox.

Oh, and everybody wants a quaker!

[Dayna]

Hey, with 2 amazons, a cockatoo and a macaw in the house, the quakers could not be that loud! I sold a couple in my store once, and while they were persistant with their calls, they were not that bad.

The quakers would be staying at my house and not at the store. She also wants to send me a pair of parrotlets and a pair of cockatiels. I have much reading to do in the next couple of weeks.

Parrotlets are one of the birds that should absolutly not have pellets right? Monica, I bet you know this one!

[TooLover]

I have two quakers - Nevaeh my handicapped baby (don't tell her - she doesn't know it ) and Pickles who I traded a hot tub for. Yes, I really did trade a hot tub for him - I felt so bad for him as he was neglected. Both of my quakers are different - Nevaeh is a lover and will kiss you forever - Pickles is very cage territorial - thanks to his previous home.
I adore the quakers and wouldn't have a home without one!

[Dustin]

OO about the loudenees...some say they are about a 9 out of 10. i have never thought it was bad at all. Kind of higher pitched. Just like think sun conures have the worse scream, some feel the same about quakers!

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by Monica

They are cute, cuddly, territorial, loud, friendly, talkative, loveable, huggable, kissable, and I want one!!!

Uh, general care... much like many other parrots, although being "conures" may need food richer in vitamin K. Much unlike other parrots, quakers like to build their own nests out of twigs... much like a beaver dam, lots of sticks, and a cavity for sleeping and whatnot.... In a colony of quakers, they like to build huge stick nests with various cavities inside, for the nursery, sleeping room, livingroom..... etc. If it's a must however, they will settle for a nestbox.

Oh, and everybody wants a quaker!

I agree with all the above-just too lazy to type it out.

OK, Chaska, you can stop biting my ear now!






J/K Chaska is a real sweetheart, never bites.

[The Outlaw]

Every home should have a quaker. And, when I'm elected president, every home WILL have a quaker. I love them!

[Monica]

I'm waiting on mine! Even though I had the chance, I'm still waiting! Someday!

Dayna, I can't give you a 100% answer, but I'll give you what I've heard/IMO type stuff.... Generally speaking some people say that the smaller birds, mainly ones who are seed eaters (budgies, cockatiels, and the like) shouldn't eat very much pellets (at least not more than 50%, some might say less). Some people say that mutation parrotlets should not be fed pellets due to the chance that the pellets could cause more harm in a mutation p-let than in a regular colored one... Not exactly sure how that works, but it involves the liver and kidney, and how pellets can affect those organs (same reason why seed eaters shouldn't eat much pellets... the effect on their organs).

If fed in moderation I'm sure it might not cause any harm, however if one has the ability to feed a diet high in fresh foods, of various types, there's very little point in feeding pellets except to maybe make sure that all nutrients are getting into the bird... but even at that, it's advised against feeding pellets AND fresh foods since a pellet diet is designed to be a complete diet (which we are finding out otherwise). So therefore, speaking in those terms, you'd be over-dosing your birds with the good stuff, if you fed both pellets and fresh foods.



Okay, maybe that was more than you asked for, but maybe that will help you decide what you think best fits the parrotlets!