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Post by Mich on May 10, 2018 13:30:28 GMT -5
Hi forum,
I got my quaker when he was 5 months old. Since in the house for 2.5 months now he never seems to be settled. He is continuously squawking (squawk every 3 seconds and very loud). He is only quiet for about 15 mins after having his food, in the morning for an hour and after 7:30 PM. There is plenty of toys that I rotate every week and plenty of fresh food, seeds and pallets at all time so I don't understand what is not right here. I tried to reward him when he is quiet but that is usually after he eats something so reward doesn't work. Having in the house for 2.5 months he is not bonded with us. He is very scared of us when I tried to feed him by hand from outside of the cage. He moves away but if I put that food in the bowl he may eat. I am trying so hard to win his trust but I can not see any progress, with his squawking I get headache. Is squawking normal behavior for quaker parrot or this parrot has got behavior issue?
Can someone please help?
Thanks
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Post by biteybird on May 11, 2018 2:48:01 GMT -5
Hi there, Mich, welcome!  The answer to both of your questions is "yes". It's normal for quaker parrots to squawk to some extent. It's also likely your parrot has behaviour issues - do you know his previous owners or what his life was like before you got him? It sounds like you're dealing with him not trusting you (e.g., moving away from your hand), but he is also voicing his distress at ...whatever it is he's unhappy about! If I were you I would not try to force him to interact with your hand, just keep your distance, move slowly and don't try to hand-feed him. It may take some time for him to settle down - I'm talking weeks to months. Talk to him gently. Don't expect too much. He may have been harshly treated before you got him. Others will answer too, with advice I didn't think of. |
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Post by dinucci on May 11, 2018 4:27:20 GMT -5
When he's trying to get my attention when caged,buddy says "hey buddy what cha doin?" Real fast..then screams at the top of his lungs! So he's bilingual! Yes ignoring him is the best solution at that moment and if i happen to walk out of the room,out of eyesight,I'll often hear him ripping at one of his bell toys. Then when he's happy, I go to let him out. But when I'm sitting at the table near his cage,I look out the corner of my eye and see him doing his head bobs,shakes and what I call salutes..in this,he puts his head below his perched feet,then whips his head upright really fast..just impossible not to laugh..
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Post by Mich on May 12, 2018 11:44:43 GMT -5
@ biteybird,
Hi, thanks for your reply. I bought this parrot from breeder and I was told he was 3-4 months old, but after doing some search I think he was older than that cos 3-4 months parrot was looking smaller than him. I spotted kind of bruise on his beak when I got home so not sure about his past if any incident. But it went away in 2 weeks time. He seems healthy now. I am keeping my distance now and try to ignore his screaming and at the same time I make sure that nothing is wrong i.e. enough food, water toys etc.
@dinucci,
Hi, yes my parrot is also doing exactly what you call salute... but that is after immense amount of screaming. This acts makes me to think if he is trying to tell me possibly that he is not happy with something???
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Post by dinucci on May 13, 2018 9:07:32 GMT -5
Hi mich..he's really just trying to fit in and trust you at this point. Keep trying to win his trust..sitting by the cage and talking to him. I like to play bird videos to buddy on occasion,not necessarily of quaker parrots either. This quiets him down and he dials in. This is also a great time to talk to him a lot,repeating what you'd like him to say. Now for the seemingly unwarranted screeching..like you,I thought ..well this is just the way it's always gonna be..squaking a lot during the day and especially at dusk or just before..he's probably doing this like clockwork right? They like to call em home for the evening..buddy suddenly stopped doing this at 10 months I think. Does it from time to time,but rarely. For the most part,once your little one bonds with you,he will pretty much only call for you
Vs calling for a flock of birds.but since your already there,the noise should abate.
I often wondered why he stopped being so noisy,but this is the only reason I could come up with. It's a time thing,but in the meantime,come up with distraction methods..some like music,tv,radio or even sing to him..for buddy,it's mating season and he's louder than usual. This will always happen as he screams out the window scaring the wild birds..but this too will end.
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Post by dinucci on May 13, 2018 9:17:58 GMT -5
Ohh mich..about the head bobbing and salutes hahah...he's either trying to get attention or vying for attention between you and someone else. It's their way of wanting to get noticed. The head bobbing or whips can also be accompanied with crabby sounds which I have a hard time not laughing about. I catch my bird doing this while ignoring me and looking out the window with no other birds present ! Just being a goof,but in reality,he's saying he's bored. Switching up the toys was a good idea. Give him something to shred like paper towel sheets or the empty roll to chew on. I have a ton of toys in a box he doesn't use,and like most here, found that the cheapest stuff laying around the house is what he uses most..even my old hats and gym shoes!
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Post by Mich on May 15, 2018 5:22:24 GMT -5
Hi Dinucci, you gave me great advice and hope. I played bird video from youtube yesterday and he was so interested watching. I do talk to him a lot but he continues to screech, I guess just because he hasn't learnt any words yet so this is his way of answering back!!! his screech is so lound that I wear earplugs... I did try shreaded paper and tissue role tubes before but he wasn't interested. Any new toys I put in the cage he doesn't touch except bell and mirror. I do turn on radio or tv when i am not in the room but this little fella is in his own world of screeching. I hope after bonding with me he will be quiet.
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Post by julianna on May 15, 2018 15:56:26 GMT -5
It is too bad that we cannot understand what each screech means. Sometimes it is a "thank you" other times it is "where are you"... but to our ears they sound loud and bothersome. It does get better over time... My Oscar understands a lot of my words now ... so when I tell him I am leaving to go wash my face... he knows I will be right back and doesn't screech so much when I leave the room.
Patience and time... they are both blessings.
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