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Post by azcarole on Jul 20, 2017 19:23:54 GMT -5
Hello, I am Carole and we live in Northern Arizona. I adopted Bambi about 2 months ago, don't know if Bambi is a he or she-the original owners were not sure but thought he may be a boy. He is 22 years old-his mom and dad moved to a place where they are illegal  which is why I am his new mom. I have never owned a bird of any kind. I was told that I need to trim the beak when it gets long, and she did show me how-but I have been reading that most people don't. They said she will not use the white thing for sanding the bill. I put one in but Bambi does not use it. I can handle her, I give her a shower in the sink about once a month-is that enough? Should I keep feeding her the same mix or change it up? She stopped talking after I brought her home (the entire way home she kept saying "In a pickle, In a pickle") but she is finally starting again-she whistles, laughs and says pretty bird mostly-even though she has a larger vocabulary. the other day when I got home from work she said "good morning" (I didn't have the heart to tell her it was afternoon). So general advice would be very helpful. I put her in a smaller cage sometimes and take her outside, is that ok? Just want to give her/him a change of pace. Thanks in advance for the tips and pointers-I am such a novice and want our new family member to be happy and content. BTW-when I get home and Bambi hears me talking he does make a racket until I go in and sit with him-I was just reading some other posts that led me to believe I shouldn't respond to his call for attention??? |
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Post by biteybird on Jul 20, 2017 22:28:22 GMT -5
Welcome Carole, wow, you have sure been thrown in the deep end!  I don't even know where to begin! If you've never had a bird before it will be a very steep learning curve for you, but don't be discouraged and you will learn a lot from little Bambi. Is Bambi a green quaker or a blue one? 22 years old is pretty impressive. His/her previous owner must be devastated at having to leave him behind. I am in Australia. We have a 3-yo blue quaker called Bonnie. We've never trimmed Bonnie's beak or nails, as they don't seem to overgrow. I would not regard beak trimming as being the top priority for now (although it may become more of an issue because of his age, I guess). I think the most important thing right now is to establish a trusting relationship with Bambi and make sure he/she has dietary and social needs met. OK, I'm just going to call Bambi 'he' to make it easier....What mix is he eating? Is he on pellets? And does he get fresh veggies and/or fruit & some nuts? Regarding bathing, we offer Bonnie a bath (about 1 inch of water in a baking tray) every 2-3 days, but she usually chooses to bathe only once per week. Many quakers do enjoy a bath every day. I would offer it anyway, just to be on the safe side. It is good to talk quietly to Bambi and sit with him, but yes, responding to his 'flock call' racket may reinforce noisy behaviour. Some of the forum members here answer their call with a whistle or a word from another room (without going into the room the bird is in) and that seems to reassure the bird a lot of the time. There is lots of info on here - get reading!  I would not class myself as an expert by any means, so I'm sure other forum members will give you advice I haven't thought of. Let us know how you go. And enjoy the wild ride of having a quaker! |
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Post by easttex on Jul 21, 2017 7:35:08 GMT -5
Hi Carole and welcome to the forum! Regarding the beak, Bambi shouldn't normally need beak trimming. A lot of birds ignore the cuttlebone, but if you give him a variety of perches, including one with a rough-ish texture, you'll probably see him wiping and scratching his beak on them. Pellets also help them keep their beaks in shape. They don't need trims in the wild, and the goal should be to try to approximate, or provide substitutions for, natural conditions as much as you can.
A little sunshine is very good for his health and feather condition. Just make sure he can get to a shady spot in the cage if he wants one. I know north AZ is not like Phoenix, but watch for signs of overheating - panting or holding his wings away from his body.
Here's how I would handle the racket, if possible. As soon as I came in, I would head straight for the cage to greet him, before he starts in. Hopefully, that way everyone gets what they want.🙂 You want to strike a balance between ignoring "bad" behavior and assuring him that he is an important member of the flock, especially when he is still figuring out the routine.
Start repeating to him the things you know he said in the past.
Just continue being very patient with Bambi, and give lots of rewards for good behavior.
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 21, 2017 20:14:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the Forum! You've received some good suggestions. Bambi can have baths more often than once a month, if he's willing. My QP Ralph expects one at least weekly. Without knowing exactly what mix Bambi is eating now, it's hard to suggest whether or not to change it. Offer Bambi good quality pellets, fresh vegetables (most can be fed both raw and cooked), some fruits, cooked grains like barley and quinoa and cooked pasta. Bambi will probably reject any unfamiliar foods at first, so you'll have to be persistent and keep offering them-- and even eat some while Bambi looks on and show him how good they are. Unless there's a problem with the beak, beak trims usually aren't needed. Enjoy each other's company and keep working on building a strong bond with each other. |
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Post by azcarole on Jul 22, 2017 2:50:15 GMT -5
Thanks for all the tips! Bambi is a green quaker. I will increase bath time, continue to greet him when I get home and he wants attention (no different then my fur babies getting excited when I get home).
He eats a seed mix and likes watermelon. I will offer more fruit and veggies. His beak is extremely long and curved, after looking at pictures of what is "normal" I am thinking we need a trip to the vet, because it looks like close to an inch of overgrowth. I always stay with him when I take him outside, too many variables to leave him out there alone.
I saw a sandpaper perch at the store, maybe I should add something like this to his cage. It is plexiglass and does not have any place to add things from the sides, only has holes in the top, so will have to get creative
As for his other mom, she cried buckets the day I took him, it was heartbreaking, for both of them I'm sure. But we will love him and keep him happy.
Thanks again for the tips-I'm sure I will have more questions as time progresses-he does bite when I put my hand in the cage, he also bit his previous owner-I thought it was typical until I started reading here-so that is something we will address down the road when he is happy and secure in his surroundings.
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Post by azcarole on Jul 22, 2017 2:58:11 GMT -5
I added Bambi's photo as my avatar
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Post by biteybird on Jul 22, 2017 4:14:32 GMT -5
Hi again, Carole & Bambi. Just don't give Bambi avocado or chocolate, as they are toxic for birds. Most other foods should be fine - check the Diet section of the forum for more details. From what you've said it seems Bambi is an exception as far as beak trimming goes, so yes, I think a visit to the vet may be in order. Some forum members have found that it's best not to be in the room when the vet treats the bird (you know, the vet is 'bad cop', then you are viewed as 'good cop' afterwards), but it's up to you. If the vet is not an avian specialist the bird might find it less stressful if you stay in the room. Regarding his cage perches - it's good if you can provide natural sticks rather than the pre-cut wood perches that come with the cage (as their foot muscles need differing sizes/widths to develop well). I only mention this because I can see your avatar photo has a machined wood perch in it (I realise Bambi may have other perches in his cage). About food: a pellet diet would be preferable, but maybe you should wait until you have developed a proper relationship with Bambi first. Converting quakers from seed to pellets, especially after so long on a seed-only diet can be difficult, so don't put any extra pressure on yourself yet! One step at a time...hope you enjoy reading all the posts from the wonderful people on this Forum. I've found their advice to be invaluable. Don't hesitate to ask more questions - we all need help! |
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Post by julianna on Jul 23, 2017 13:08:19 GMT -5
Hi Carole and Bambi. You have been given great advice above so I will just say hello and let you know that we are all here to help you in any way we can. Bambi looks adorable. Good Luck.
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Post by beccilouise on Jul 23, 2017 16:16:44 GMT -5
Hello Carole, and welcome! I would advise you not to trim the beak at all by yourself. Provide Bambi with plenty of natural wood (either bought, or you can source wood, but make sure you get stuff that is safe for birds! Apple wood is safe) and he will chew on it. This is the best way of keeping his beak down. You should never trim the beak yourself as it is full of nerves. He will be a little unsettled having moved, and will take time to settle in. I would leave him on his current diet, whatever it is, for at least two weeks or so while he settles in. After, you will need to assess based on what he is currently eating. A bird should have a wide and varied diet, based mainly on pellets (such as KAYTEEs, Zupreem, Harrisons, Haagen or Pretty Bird), but should also have fruit and fresh vegetables every day. DON'T FORGET that avocado is poisonous to birds, so never feed him that! You should also avoid chocolate, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and do not give your bird anything to which extra salt has been added. I feed Maya fresh apple, blueberry, red pepper, broccoli, spinach and corn, and boiled fresh peas, green beans and sweet potato. You should give your new friend plenty of toys to play with, but make sure they are bird safe. If using rope, only use sisal, and only use toys that have been dyed with vegetable dye. I often make Maya toys out of kitchen roll tubes, cotton craft string (NOT thread!) and paper. Make sure you read as many books as you can. Mattie Sue Allen's book about Quaker parrots is really good, and any general parrot book you can get will be helpful as well. Read through a few of the threads on this forum as well, as everyone here is super helpful. Best of luck with your new buddy!
QUICK EDIT: If Bambi's beak does become too long, take him to a certified avian vet to ask for advice or get the beak trimmed. A vet will be able to do it without damaging the keratin or the nerves.
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Post by azcarole on Jul 25, 2017 20:32:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice! We have alot of fruit trees so easy for me to get some apple branches. He has 3 long perches but they are all the same size. so will work on that also. I really do enjoy him, the last few days he is talking up a storm, it sounds like words but I have no idea what he is saying, it is the same thing over and over.
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Post by easttex on Jul 26, 2017 9:37:30 GMT -5
A Quaker's beak should never get that long. I assume Bambi didn't have access to the kind of textures he needed, to have that kind of growth. I sounds like he will need a trim at least initially, but will hopefully be able to maintain it after that. I would definitely schedule a vet visit soon. If he's never been health-checked before, you may want to be sure that his beak growth doesn't indicate a problem.
Make sure any tree branches you give him have not been treated with pesticides. They can persist in the tree for years, so if you're not sure, it's best not to try them.
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which is why I am his new mom. I have never owned a bird of any kind. I was told that I need to trim the beak when it gets long, and she did show me how-but I have been reading that most people don't. They said she will not use the white thing for sanding the bill. I put one in but Bambi does not use it. I can handle her, I give her a shower in the sink about once a month-is that enough? Should I keep feeding her the same mix or change it up? She stopped talking after I brought her home (the entire way home she kept saying "In a pickle, In a pickle") but she is finally starting again-she whistles, laughs and says pretty bird mostly-even though she has a larger vocabulary. the other day when I got home from work she said "good morning" (I didn't have the heart to tell her it was afternoon). So general advice would be very helpful. I put her in a smaller cage sometimes and take her outside, is that ok? Just want to give her/him a change of pace.
