A couple of questions about quakers...

[hands2talk2u]

Hey all,
I have an opportunity to rescue a blue quaker from a local shelter (Monica, please don't be too jealous...lol). I'm wondering what type of set up it will need. I have read some about cage size, etc on here. I currently have a budgie and have been working with him a lot lately. Anyone have any experience with parakeet vs. quaker demands? I'm going to try to go look at the little fellow soon. This shelter is reputable and my cousin volunteers there, so I feel sure that he is fairly healthy. What types of toys will he need? Will he need bigger/stronger toys than the budgie?
Thanks in advance!

[stepht25]

I haven't had a budgie since I was little - but I'm pretty sure a quaker is more demanding. Your quaker will definitely need bigger/stronger toys than your budgie. Our quaker, Skittles, loves to beat up her toys! A lot of quakers tend to be territorial about their cages. Skittles will take a chunk out of me if I put my hand in her cage - for any reason. My daughter on the other hand, can put her hand in the cage most of the time without much issue. I just open her door and ask her if she wants to come out. Once she's out - she'll usually step up for me no problem and is a generally sweet bird. We remove her form the room when we need to clean her cage as this irritates her to know end! Skittles cage size is 26x20x32. I was worried whether or not it was really large enough - but I have read that the larger the cage - some times the more territorial a quaker can be. Since Skittles does tend to be territorial - and she has lots of out of cage time, I think the size is okay. I wouldn't go smaller than that for a quaker though.

If you end up getting the quaker - be careful to not let it get to your budgie. Quakers can be jealous if they see you showing affection to other birds - and the quaker will be quite a bit larger than your budgie!

Let us know after you go visit the quaker! I hope it works out well and you like each other!

[hands2talk2u]

After much prayer and soul-searching I have decided to not get the Quaker after all. I will have my hands full with work this coming year (I'm a teacher) and all of the learning curve with that and I won't have time/energy for a more demanding bird. A quaker is something I might want down the line, but probably when I live in more than a 2 room apartment. Maybe after Cayman has passed. Besides, I hope to travel to other states to teach and so many states have laws against Quakers that it would put a major hamper on my plans. In the end, a different forever home would be best for this lil birdie. I think I would still like to meet him though.
Thanks for your advice and good luck with Skittles!

[myrebalynn]

Hi Sonya,
I emailed you back about avian vet. Guess what? I just got a Quaker at the bird show in Richardson today. I didn't know there were laws against Quakers in certain states... yikes! Will you share the link to that if you have one? Thanks so much!

[hands2talk2u]

Ummm I found it on this site...lol. Let me see if I can find it. State Laws for Quaker Parakeets

There you go. AWWW. You should have gotten this one from the shelter :( . I don't think I can have it and he's sooooo cute. Look here he is: Petfinder Pet Photo

Anyone in the DFW metroplex go rescue this baby....lol. The shelter is AWESOME and does home checks. However, I'd love for him to have a foreverhome. (especially if you'd let me come visit..lol)

[Monica]

He (she?) is gorgeous!!! Too bad you can't get the little one! They certainly are fun! There's a quaker here up for adoption, as well as an indian ringneck.

I'd love to get either one (okay, if I got the ringneck, it'd be for a friend, if he could handle her), but have decided not to. I'd especially love for Charlie to have a buddy which may help mellow him out if he had one (he had a lilac crown amazon before, but the LCA was not for adoption, too!).

I wish the best of luck to the little blue one!

[hands2talk2u]

OK...I'm totally helpless and emailed them about possibly meeting the lil guy. He's so adorable. I hope (crosses fingers...kinda) that he doesn't like me so that I don't lose my heart and have to get him...lol. I'm so torn. I've never been a big bird person and I used to think those of you who had dozens were a little loco (in a good way), but now I think I understand how you got that way.

It says that's he's 16 weeks. I wonder how well they can confirm that. Can you tell the gender without DNA like in budgies? Or would I need to DNA him (or just live with an ambivalent name....lol)? Grrrr....I feel like a teen picking daisy petals "I want him...I want him not...I want him...I want him not" lol. I'll keep y'all updated!

[Monica]

I say female, but I don't know.... they are one species where it's best to get them DNA'd! Best of luck either way!

[myrebalynn]

Thanks, Sonya! I'm glad Oklahoma and Missouri are legal, as that's usually where I do travel by car and would take my birdies. My Quaker is still petrified today - I am just leaving him alone. He has toys, food, and is within view of my cockatiel girlie, who really likes the new Quaker already!

[Ginich]

You did the right thing, if you are not comfortable commiting to another FID at this time. But it is very cute. I agreed to foster a 20 yr old Quaker and 20 yr old Maroon Bellied GCC in April for the Florida West Coast Avian Society and Rescue The Florida West Coast Avian Society, Inc.. Their people decided to retire to Mexico and dropped them off at a shelter, without even telling them their names!

Well, here we are in August and these two have worked their magic on me and I can't imagine giving Shrek and Fiona up, at this point. Besides we have 6 other younger Quakers in the Rescue Room right now and no one has even inquired about these two.

Shrek eating his first greenbean


Fiona on my desk