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Post by Hannah on Apr 2, 2016 20:28:29 GMT -5
Hi I just rescued a Quaker from the animal shelter in my city, he is 6 yrs old and his name is Ollie. I was wondering how to take care of him and how big his cage should be. According to the lady at the shelter society he has stunt growth because his previous cage was too small so Im not sure if my cage is the right size (we got a cockateil cage from petsmart that's 18' 18' 24') I believe.... Also how often should I get his beak and nails trimmed at the vet.
Also how can I make him more comfortable
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Post by Caseysmom on Apr 2, 2016 21:30:01 GMT -5
Congratulations and thank you for rescuing a Quaker. You are going to have lots of fun with Ollie! This is similar to type of cage we have for Casey. parrotdiseperch.com/west/cage-small-medium-playtopGenerally their beaks stay trim on their own, and we have never had to do caseys nails she seems to take care of that. When you are setting up Ollie's cage, it is good to give him a variety of perches. You can see what kind of toys he likes by trial and error. Quakers come in all different sizes, how much does Ollie weigh? Casey varies between 92 and 94 grams. It it might take Ollie some time to get used to you. Does he let you hold him? Just go slowly with him and let him get used to your routine. There is lots of info pinned on the forum for you to read. Feel free to keep asking lots of questions Others will be by soon with more info too. |
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Post by easttex on Apr 3, 2016 18:16:33 GMT -5
Hi Hannah and welcome to you and Ollie!  My Quaker was a rescue also, and he has brought so much joy that I wonder what we did without him. It definitely took a lot of time and patience to get there, though. There is a post on the Quaker Parrot Talk board I recommend - it's the first thread, called Good Read for Rescues. It has some very good information specific to rehomed birds. I think it's a good place to start, and it will be helpful to keep it at the back of your mind as you read through the other posts. I'm doubtful of the stunted growth explanation you got. Baby birds grow rapidly, and they are already full-sized when they leave the nest. For the Quaker, that's around six to seven weeks. A too-small cage is bad for many reasons, but I doubt one kept Ollie small. He may just be one of the naturally smaller Quakers. Peppy, my Quaker, has a regular cage of 20" X 24". He's not much of a climber, and that's really more space than he uses. Once Ollie gets acclimated, maybe he'll be happy to get out of his cage to spend time on a playgym or something similar. Assuming you don't have other animals that could pose a threat. As far as how to make him happy, they are very social birds, so lots of attention is usually welcome (though Ollie may be standoffish at first), and good food, perhaps including a share of your (healthy) meals, and lots of love go a long way with them. There are a number of people here ready to help you through your early, uncertain days with Ollie, so come back often and ask anything at all. Also, I recommend you take a look at the main site. There's a link at the top of the page here, or just use this: www.quakerparrots.com. If you go down the page, there is a section called New to Quakers. I think you'll find some help there. |
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 3, 2016 20:06:23 GMT -5
Welcome to you and Ollie! Along with visiting the companion site Quakerparrots.com, I would recommend reading a good book or two about Quakers. There's one available on the companion site, written by Shelly Lane. Another good one is Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Quaker Parrot. A good variety of perches, with different thicknesses and textures, can help keep a parrot's nails and feet in good shape. My QP Ralph has a cement perch and one made from crushed seashells that keep his nails tamed down and his beak in good shape. Spend some time sitting quietly with Ollie and talking softly to him. Tell him how happy you are that he's joined your flock and how you want him to be happy too. Parrots understand things like that and pick up a lot from a gentle tone of voice. Give Ollie all the time he needs to settle in and get used to his new home and let him set the pace for exploring beyond his cage. |
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Post by Hannah on Aug 23, 2016 0:43:07 GMT -5
Thanks, sorry for the late reply, I actually forgot I signed up for the site or posted since I got no notifications.
Ollies starting to let me pet him, he like to give kisses and talk to the budgies or me. He also likes to listen to guitar. I've seen in the past months his feather health has improved.
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Post by biteybird on Aug 23, 2016 3:45:57 GMT -5
Hi Hannah, I'm very late to this post, but just wanted to say thanks for rescuing your little friend. There are so many of these birds without someone to truly care for them. And welcome to the Forum! |
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Post by Hannah on Sept 6, 2016 18:54:28 GMT -5
Thanks:) Ollie's an amazing bird, he came from an abusive home but he trusts me completely, I can sometimes pet him now and he will eat from my hand as well talk to me and learn new words.
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My Quaker was a rescue also, and he has brought so much joy that I wonder what we did without him. It definitely took a lot of time and patience to get there, though. There is a post on the Quaker Parrot Talk board I recommend - it's the first thread, called Good Read for Rescues. It has some very good information specific to rehomed birds. I think it's a good place to start, and it will be helpful to keep it at the back of your mind as you read through the other posts. 
