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Post by easttex on Dec 25, 2015 7:18:22 GMT -5
I think that food dunking must be instinctive in Quakers. Peppy does it, too, and it seems to be very common. Another good Quaker name: Dunkin. My grey doesn't dunk, but she likes to make pellet soup.
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Post by easttex on Dec 25, 2015 7:12:25 GMT -5
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Post by easttex on Dec 24, 2015 17:42:03 GMT -5
I don't think there would be much risking of the Quaker bonding with the others, especially if they are housed separately and don't have out of cage time together. And especially if you have a hand raised baby and really work on developing your bond.
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Post by easttex on Dec 24, 2015 17:38:32 GMT -5
This is an interesting question to me, because when my Quaker Peppy was hospitalized for several days recently, he got his bariatric oxygen treatments with a Hahn's macaw, and they seemed to be somewhat friendly toward each other. Still, I wouldn't take a chance on housing them together, especially if they are both already adults.
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Post by easttex on Dec 24, 2015 5:53:24 GMT -5
It sounds like Bonnie really has you buffaloed! Have you tried giving her treats through the cage bars while she's in another part of the cage, so you can go in and out without bleeding?
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Post by easttex on Dec 24, 2015 5:47:11 GMT -5
* Stealing things: Offer our QP something to eat and she is not interested...but leave the same thing covered with plastic wrap on a kitchen bench and it becomes the most attractive item on earth. Lesson=if you want him/her to try something new just put it on the bench and APPEAR not to be attentive (just watch that they don't ingest plastic stuff.
This makes me think of my dog, Wanda. She's a very picky eater, and will spurn even things like bits of prime rib that my husband shares with her. (Aggravates him no end.) But let one of the birds toss anything outside the cage, and she's all over it, as if it's nectar and ambrosia. If I'm in the kitchen and say "uh oh", she comes tearing in, frantically searching for what I've dropped.
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Post by easttex on Dec 24, 2015 5:36:38 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! That's a very interesting question. I have no experience with different species as cage mates, and the usual bonding question involves a single species. I would theorize that it depends on what sort of bond they have with each other. If they are just flock mates, you'll probably have fewer problems than if they see each other as mate mates. I think in your shoes I would put them in separate cages, but keep the cages close, if possible. That could help in your bonding process, but I would also be a little nervous about the Quaker becoming territorial. They are notorious for this, and if the two of them are not bonded as mates, that could eventually mean trouble for the smaller parrot. It could be that they will be fine forever, but I don't like to take chances. There may be someone here who does have related experience who will be able to help you more.
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Ouch
Dec 23, 2015 4:58:20 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2015 4:58:20 GMT -5
That is great progress!
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Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2015 4:55:05 GMT -5
Add me to the wall of shame. It's so hard not to do the things that you know they enjoy. I don't have children, and I like to fancy that I would have been a strict parent, but maybe not.
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Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2015 4:49:45 GMT -5
One thing I was not prepared for with my first parrot, a lovebird, was how quickly and how deeply I fell in love. A co-worker said I was besotted, and I've always thought that was a perfect description. As for the mess, it's all relative. If you want a real cleaning challenge, get a parrot with powder down feathers. Greys, cockatoos and cockatiels are the ones I know of. They have special insulating feathers that are constantly growing and disintegrating into "dandruff", and it gets everywhere. When Allie shakes after preening, she launches visible clouds of dust into the air. She also likes to toss her food out to the dog. Peppy's mess does not compare. And except for one unfortunate incident involving my husband irritating Peppy while on my shoulder, he has not bitten me for a long time. He will beak me when he wants me to stop doing something, and I heed his signals. I don't mean to brag, but I would have to call him a Gentleman Quaker.
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Daisy
Dec 23, 2015 4:32:26 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2015 4:32:26 GMT -5
I'm happy to read Daisy is adapting so well. When I adopted Allie, I was torn between her and a Goffin's. I'm still sorry I couldn't take both of them. It would have been way too much, but they seem like such engaging parrots.
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Post by easttex on Dec 23, 2015 4:29:29 GMT -5
That's a calendar-worthy pose!
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Post by easttex on Dec 19, 2015 14:22:04 GMT -5
That is great, Jan and Shah! I'm very happy for both of you!
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Post by easttex on Dec 18, 2015 6:49:57 GMT -5
I would surmise that a bird being sold at a flea market did not get the best of care. Being in a stable, loving home might well be the reason.
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Post by easttex on Dec 18, 2015 6:33:46 GMT -5
Do you know what his situation was before you got him? There could be a reason there. If it has happened gradually and everything looks normal, I wouldn't be overly concerned as long as he doesn't continue to gain. I would mention it to your vet next time Sonic gets a checkup. I can't really use Peppy as a model for the norm, but my grey's weight fluctuates quite a bit over the course of a year.
Another thing you can monitor that can tell you something is the muscle around the keel. Once you know what it's supposed to feel like, if he puts on significant weight and the keel doesn't feel different, there might be excess fluid somewhere, or any number of things.
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