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Post by Holly on Apr 25, 2016 4:12:01 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
Norman has just started bobbing his head sometimes. He only does it occasionally, but today he did it for quite a while. I did some research and apparently it can mean that your baby bird is hungry? Norman is 3 almost 4 months old and had had lots to eat. I fed him some more sooky feed (thats what I call baby bird food haha) and he ate it all up but then had enough so I hand fed him some of his birdy muffin and he ate that but then was still bobbing away. He had fresh veggies and seed on offer as well....
Is this just habit or am I not feeding him enough? Any suggestions would be great!
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Post by zim on Apr 25, 2016 13:57:59 GMT -5
Usually if the head bobbing is because of hunger, or wanting food, it will be accompanied by wing movement. It's something baby Quakers do, and can persist for up to 4-5 months old, I've read. I've also read that this is part of where the name "Quaker" parrot comes from, as they appear to be "Quaking" when they do this behavior.
Here is a video of a baby Quaker Quaking:
Some birds just enjoy bobbing their head, however. My little Yoshi will bob his head with music, or if I tap my fingers on my desk in a rhythm. I've also taught him to "do the Quaker", where he will bob his head up and down and repeat "do the quaker". I got the idea from this video:
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Post by julianna on Apr 25, 2016 17:37:29 GMT -5
There are many different types of bobbing... some are to dance ... some are for food... and some are because he is trying to feed you... or feed something.
A video would be wonderful to determine the exact type.
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 25, 2016 20:45:10 GMT -5
Ralph will bob his head to tell me he likes something, agrees with something I've said, wants me to say or sing something again, or wants something (usually a toy or food). It probably is a throwback to baby Quaker begging behavior, but isn't actual begging for food any more.
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Post by biteybird on Apr 26, 2016 2:35:36 GMT -5
With Bonnie, head bobbing often precedes aggression. When she was a baby the head bobbing was different and was accompanied by wing flapping (as Zim mentioned). I have a video somewhere of when we first got Bonnie; it shows her bobbing and flapping ('quaking') - if I can find it I will post it.
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 28, 2016 2:58:31 GMT -5
Maya bobs her head really quickly when she knows she's been naughty, because she has learned that head bobbing makes me laugh. You can always try offering food and, if Norman attacks it with gusto, you've got your answer! Otherwise, birds learn to offer behaviours for a variety of reasons. Maya, to amuse herself and me, sometimes does this weird thing where she bobs her head to a rhythm and adds this kind of weird little purr as she bobs down. This will make me laugh and then she'll ruffle her feathers like a little madam and do her 'aren't I adorable?' squeak. She's ridiculous.  |
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Post by Holly on Apr 28, 2016 17:55:01 GMT -5
I will have to try and film Norman doing his little bobbing! I think it might still be a baby bird hungry thing and maybe sometimes just a happy little nod but it will be good to get your opinion. His is super hard to film though because the second I pick up my phone he stops what his doing and watches me!! Cheeky Norman!
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Post by zim on Apr 28, 2016 18:01:41 GMT -5
I will have to try and film Norman doing his little bobbing! I think it might still be a baby bird hungry thing and maybe sometimes just a happy little nod but it will be good to get your opinion. His is super hard to film though because the second I pick up my phone he stops what his doing and watches me!! Cheeky Norman! This seems to be true with most all of them! But I must say, enjoy the "just watching you" while it lasts. Yoshi is now to the point he wants to chew on my phone any time he sees it. If I pick it up, he's rushing over to chew on it. It's almost impossible to send text messages while sitting in the chair with him, he wants to be chewing on it the whole time I'm using it. Otterbox cases are not Quaker Parrot proof, in case you were wondering!  |
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 29, 2016 16:49:06 GMT -5
Hahahaha, Zim, I know the feeling! Maya is really funny about my phone. Sometimes she will ignore it, sometimes she will happily sit and play with it, and today, I picked it up and my hand got the assault of its life! I don't think there is such a thing as a QP proof phone case. Mine has definitely seen better days, almost all of them before we got Maya! Wouldn't have it any other way though Maya is actually the opposite with the camera. She's a bit of a show off really. Little prima Donna! |
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Post by aaron on May 3, 2016 13:30:16 GMT -5
But I must say, enjoy the "just watching you" while it lasts. Yoshi is now to the point he wants to chew on my phone any time he sees it. If I pick it up, he's rushing over to chew on it. It's almost impossible to send text messages while sitting in the chair with him, he wants to be chewing on it the whole time I'm using it. Otterbox cases are not Quaker Parrot proof, in case you were wondering! Yeah, Cupcake has gone through many phases when it comes to phones. There was definitely a time when she had a clear and constant vendetta against phones, particularly phones in use... but even when not in use, they were her mortal enemy. I figure she disliked how much attention they get. But these days she seems to be more willing to sit contently while they are in use, sometimes 6 inches away from her. She still has days where she decides this isn't okay, but I'd say more than 50% of the time she's rather indifferent to phones now. So it can get better. In general she seems more willing to just sit and hang out with us rather than get into things as she gets older. Cupcake has definitely destroyed some Otterboxes  |
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Post by Jan and Shah on May 3, 2016 16:46:04 GMT -5
Shah also hates phones and I am not allowed to use them when he is with me. In fact, I am not really allowed to touch anything else when he is around. It gets attacked and I get nipped and screamed at. In exactly 10 weeks, his life is going to be turned upside down. He will be allowed out with me in the day for as long as he wants and will have his own room (with the cockatiels). Still deciding on the flooring though.
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Post by biteybird on May 3, 2016 21:52:55 GMT -5
Oh, only 10 weeks til you move? That will go in a flash. You must be excited at having your own space.
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Post by Jan and Shah on May 3, 2016 21:59:15 GMT -5
Not really too excited as I will be giving up work and it is a long distance from the city (about 2 and a half hours) so will be out of my element. Putting the house together (renovations) is a nightmare but I want everything done before I move in so the birds don't get disturbed by workmen.
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Post by biteybird on May 4, 2016 3:08:56 GMT -5
Yep, that's a good idea to have everything in order prior to moving. I would LOVE to retire. I don't think I'd get bored at all! And apart from needing to go grocery shopping now and then I don't believe I'd miss the city of Melbourne either. Unfortunately I must work for another 17 years or so...:0 Try not to worry about it too much; you'll have a ball! I wonder if your work colleagues will make a fuss of you when you go (?)...my workplace does that sort of thing. |
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Raeza
Hatchling
Posts: 33 
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Post by Raeza on May 14, 2016 0:47:13 GMT -5
So not trying to high jack this thread but when we talk about head bobbing with wings....
This is is my new baby bondi, 4 month old right now. He's got plenty of food available and at this point he had a rather large piece of kiwi and then about 30 mins later I offered him a sunflower seed when he did a step up. I put him back down and this was the result. I suppose he could tell I was entertained by this behaviour because he didn't stop for like an hour. I know he wasn't hungry... So is this just a baby thing? Is he being a huge goof like I suspect? If I was to bring my hand to his head he would put his head in my hand for scratches but just keep bobbing away making it impossible to give him loving without potentially poking out an eye ball... Lol to me it just feels like he's being goofy but if this has some other meaning in the Quaker world I need to know what I should do when bondi starts doing this.
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