I can't find the answer, so I'm just going to ask! (Dropping size?)

[sesolo7]

Hi everyone.

I'm planning to be owned by a new bird soon and am doing some research on which breed (I've narrowed it down to a Quaker, IRN or Cockatiel). I've always had parakeets all my life, but I'm thinking of letting a different bird try me sometime soon.

I can't seem to find the answer to this question, and maybe it's not important to anyone else, but it's definitely something I'm wondering about. Apologies in advance! How (ahem...) *big* are a Quaker's droppings? As I mentioned I'm only used to parakeets, and of course they lovingly eliminated on me from time-to-time. Since their poo's are very small, it wasn't such a big deal most of the time. My husband is the one who is more concerned than I am, so I'm trying to find out. We visited a local bird breeder who had Quaker babies, but the cage was so clean I couldn't size things up.

Thanks in advance for any info!
Susan

[Monica]

I'd say probably about the same size as an IRN, give or take... you'll just probably have to continue visiting the breeder or anyone who has like-sized birds (such as sun conures) to get an idea.

Dropping size varies as well, as the biggest ones are after sleeping or a nap, while the smallest may be when they haven't eaten much...

[jriley]

Our Quaker's droppings aren't much bigger than those of our cockatiels and they're not particularly messy. She definitely isn't potty trained! If you have her on you for more than five minutes, you can guarantee a spot. It isn't a big deal, though.

Just a warning...Quakers, as well as every other conure I've met, are very noisy! The only pet bird I've seen that is as annoying as a conure would be an irate Amazon. And the Amazons don't tend to scream nearly as often as the conures. Our little girl has several different equally annoying screeches. There's the one for when she is convinced a big hairy monster has invaded her cage (it looks like a food dish to me, but what do I know?). There's the one for when she wants attention. There's the one where she has decided it's time for the whole house to wake up (even if it is 6 am on a Sunday). If you try to cover her cage, she does the big hairy monster screech until you take the cover off (we tried to wait her out one time, she kept going for over an hour). Years ago I had a sun conure and he was a screamer too, though not as bad as she is. A Patagonian conure my mother had when I was a teen was pretty quiet and very sweet, don't see those around much so I don't know if he was a rarity or if that species is quieter. Think about that noise parakeets make when they're annoyed and multiply it many decibels. That's the big hairy monster noise. On the plus side, they are very acrobatic and can really make you laugh. Quakers can tend to be very territorial and ours goes out of her way to attack our children (lucky for us, she refused to leave her cage).

Definitely do your research before you decide to adopt! Our Quaker is my husband's pet who was given to us by a friend of his. Having had conures before, I was definitely not thrilled by this "gift" and she hasn't proved me wrong. I do adore her, though, except at 6 a.m., and she's fun to interact with.

Julie

[Machelle]

Actually, Quakers are not in the conure family, they are in the parakeet family. However, they are known to be noisy.

[Monica]

Machelle, I've read once that quakers are actually in the conure family, so to speak... it's like how cockatiels are in the cockatoo family, only not as closely related. Of course knowing that I've seen this information before doesn't change the fact that I probably wont be able to find it again!

Course from my understanding the golden conure or queen of bavaria conure is no longer classified as an aratinga, but in a group all it's own. Maybe someday scientists will get things straight!

[sesolo7]

This is all really helpful! Thanks to all who responded. I'm still doing my research...I actually hadn't heard yet how noisy Quakers are, so maybe since we live in a townhouse they aren't the best choice. Thanks for your thoughts!

[Monica]

Some people have large parrots in a townhouse.... your best bet is to go and visit breeders and petstores that have quakers and ask your neighbors if they wouldn't mind a little extra noise... you never know.

[LADY_DEBRA]

I just wanted to let u know we have recently moved into a new apartment and my Quaker isn't very loud only when she wants attention then she can get demanding and a little loud ,our managers know we have her and they don't mind, as far as I know she doesnt seem to be to loud for the neighbors, havent heard any complaints yet, so I think u would be okay with a Quaker ina apartment, I'am also getting a IndianRingNeck in about 3 weeks, I hope the 2 of them put together don't get to loud

[Machelle]

Originally Posted by Monica

Machelle, I've read once that quakers are actually in the conure family, so to speak... it's like how cockatiels are in the cockatoo family, only not as closely related. Of course knowing that I've seen this information before doesn't change the fact that I probably wont be able to find it again!

Course from my understanding the golden conure or queen of bavaria conure is no longer classified as an aratinga, but in a group all it's own. Maybe someday scientists will get things straight!

Wow. Everything I have read says they are in the parakeet family. It never mad since to me anyway. THat's the bird world for ya. Always changing.

[Monica]

If it helps clear anything up... Since parakeet means any small parrot with a long tapering tail (in scientific terms), just about anything from a budgie, to a cockatiel, a conure, a quaker, even ringnecks are considered parakeets...

Yes, it is confusing! You can easily look up info on the nanday or black hooded parakeets, alexandrian parakeets/parrots, etc... Yeah, that's the bird world for ya!