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Post by kcmann on Aug 15, 2014 10:14:16 GMT -5
Hi, I'm new to the forum. I've had my Quaker for 15 years now. When I got her she was already a year old and a bit shy. I was single at the time and spent a lot of time working with her and she eventually came around. As time went on I eventually married and had children and it seems she resented this and over the years she has turned on me and has become quite aggressive. I can barely get my hand into the cage to change out her food dishes before she comes in for an attack. I talk with her everyday and she'll start out ok and then start screeching and beating her wings and trying to get at me. My kids stay away from her. They're terrified of her. But we keep her in the family room to make sure she is still included in our everyday life. Is this just jealousy that she'll never get over?
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Aug 15, 2014 11:02:40 GMT -5
A few questions come to mind right away, without even touching on what might be the jealousy issue
1. What do you feed her?
2. How big is her cage
3. Does she ever get out of cage time or is she too aggressive for that?
4. Do you ever move her cage to a different area or re-arrange her toys/perches inside her cage?
If I have learned anything from having a quaker, it's that they are really complicated and their behavior, either bad or good, depends on a LOT of things!
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Post by msdani1981 on Aug 15, 2014 11:41:14 GMT -5
I'll let you answer Sharyn's questions before I add anything. I just wanted to say welcome to the forum!!  |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Aug 15, 2014 12:28:05 GMT -5
lol sorry, I should've said hi first before I bombarded you with questions!
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Post by benegesserit on Aug 15, 2014 23:24:57 GMT -5
I think I might have some insights here, as our Quaker is possessive of my husband (and we have three children.)Quakers can absolutely be jealous...of time spent, of attention given, and so forth. We have solved this in our household fairly easily, as our children are older (11, 12, and 13.) When the kids aren't in the house (school, camp, outside playing, in their bedrooms,) that's when we let Happy out to interact with myself and my husband, and that seems to alleviate her irritation. Also, my daughters talk, whistle, and play with Happy when she's in her cage (sitting near the cage to interact, giving Happy small parts of receipt papers to play with through the bars.) Encourage your wife to help by changing the water & food while your fid is outside the cage with you; this will slowly make your fid realize that your wife is 'part of the flock' and will do nice things for your fid.
If your family spends enough time doing this, they will establish a similar trust bond that you did with your Quaker, and while none of them will ever be as treasured to your bird as you are...they will be considered acceptable and occasionally sought after. Our fid used to hate all our kids, but now she thinks it's the height of pleasure to sing to one of them and play tag with the other two. It's just a matter of time and work.
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