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Post by topaxper on Mar 13, 2020 18:09:59 GMT -5
My name is Audri I will soon own seven birds! I’m getting my very first Quaker parrot on the 19th!Super nervous I’m doing as much research as I can. I own and breed doves but this will be my first parrot. I just wanted to know if there is any advice I can have for food and toys. And whatever else I should know thanks
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 13, 2020 20:24:17 GMT -5
Welcome to the Forum! My best advice is "don't be nervous!"  Relax and enjoy yourself. Your experience with doves will often prove useful, even though there are lots of differences between a dove and a Quaker parrot. I recommend that you read a good book about QPs, such as Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Quaker Parrot. Such a book has lots of guidance on the care and feeding of Quaker parrots. Most of us here on the Forum feed a pellet based diet, along with plenty of vegetables, some fruit, cooked grains like quinoa and barley and cooked pasta. You'll have to do some experimenting to find out what your new feathered friend will like. ZuPreem Fruit Blend pellets are popular with Quaker parrots, though there are other brands that some prefer, like Harrison's, Higgins, Roudybush and Kaytee. My QP Ralph's favorite food is fresh green peas, and he also eats broccoli, garbanzo beans, kale and other vegetables. Once your new parrot arrives, you'll need to give him time to settle in and get used to his new surroundings. Take things at his pace. At first, you can sit near the parrot's cage and talk softly to him to help him get used to you, the sound of your voice and your body language. After a while, offer him the opportunity to come out of his cage. Open the cage door and let him decide when he's ready to come out. In the beginning he may not want to venture beyond the cage, so a hanging perch on the outside of the cage, just below the cage door, is helpful. The parrot can perch there and watch what's going on around him. You'll need to experiment with toys too, and may have to show your new parrot how to play with his toys. There's a wide variety of parrot toys available. Some parrots like things they can chew up or tear apart, some like bells to ring, some enjoy preening toys. Some, like my QP Ralph prefer things that aren't meant as parrot toys, like popsicle sticks, plastic drinking straws and the small plastic keys made for human babies. Read through the Forum posts and you'll find lots of good advice and helpful hints. |
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Post by topaxper on Mar 13, 2020 21:32:56 GMT -5
Thank you so much for that info! May I ask a favor? can you perhaps make me a grocery list of what to buy? I’d love that and it would make things so much easier I’m kind of nervous still excited but nervous! I just know I’m going to fall in love and I want to do everything right. I’ve already got a cage and some toys and I’ll be going to get food and water bowls and aBother toy I have pellets coming in too. I bought supreme natural pellets because I get them for my doves and it says on the bag you can give it to quakers too. so hopefully I didn’t mess up I can always get different food if that’s not right.i also bought a fruit and seed mix by supreme for medium sized parrots Do I need things like cuddle bones or anything like that? I haven’t gone grocery shopping yet either and I’m not sure of what fresh foods to buy first 😩 does he need a little nest or something? I’m freaking out...
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Post by Caseysmom on Mar 13, 2020 22:17:27 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum, cnyguy is right you will need to take things slowly as you get used to each other. I would say Casey’s favourite food is the seeds inside a red pepper. They sometimes take a few tries before they decide something is yummy. You can cook rice or quinoa and add different veggies, egg, etc. I have tiny birdie portions stored in the freezer to heat for dinner
As for a nest, in my opinion that would be a bad idea. Parrots can get cage possessive especially if they gave a nest to protect. For this reason Casey has never had a sleepy hut. It’ss good idea to also rotate perches and toys in their cage every week for a while. This is another way to help them not be cage possessive.
You are going to have lots of fun getting used to each other, no rush to do everything at once
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Post by biteybird on Mar 14, 2020 6:09:55 GMT -5
Hi there, and welcome! We're in Australia (Darwin). Cnyguy and Caseysmom are right, just relax & you really don't need to do everything at once. I think the priority for now is for you and your new little friend to get used to each other, with no pressure. As far as food goes, you can offer pretty much any fresh food - except avocado (toxic). Avoid avocado! Our Bonnie likes mushrooms (the dark bit in the middle), corn on the cob, cashew nuts, cucumber, carrot, raw potato, lettuce, white rice (cooked of course), cooked peas, broccoli, cauliflower and bits of cooked meat (chicken, lamb - little cannibal!). Her absolute favourite, though, is pumpkin seeds - have to limit them to 2-3 per day, because they're fatty... Hope you enjoy the Forum - there's a LOT of info on here if you do a search or two. Please feel free to ask any questions you wish, though! |
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 14, 2020 20:34:16 GMT -5
It sounds like you're off to a good start in preparing for your new QP. Try out the pellets and seed mix you've chosen and see how your parrot feels about them. If you know what he's being fed now (if it's different from what you've bought), you may want to have that on hand too, and gradually convert to other brands or types of parrot food. It's hard not to go overboard in buying toys and treats, but start with just a few things and gradually you can add more. Start with a few different vegetables and fruits to try out; the ones already mentioned here can be a good starting point. Anything new or different may not be accepted right away so you'll need to offer the same foods over and over, and be prepared to waste some food that doesn't get eaten. You may have to experiment with how the foods are prepared; most vegetables can be fed raw or cooked (most beans need to be cooked). You can offer larger pieces or finely chopped or mashed. Every parrot has his/her own preferences and they can be fussy. If you can find fresh green peas, put them on your shopping list (Ralph likes sugar snap peas out of the pod). Some leafy green vegetables like kale or cultivated danedlion greens are good choices. Sweet potatoes are a healthy choice for parrots (unfortunately, neither of my parrots will eat them). Both my parrots like garbanzo beans (chick peas) and cooked lima beans. Apple and banana are good fruits to start with. There's some information on this site that you may find helpful about a good diet for parrots. |
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Relax and enjoy yourself. Your experience with doves will often prove useful, even though there are lots of differences between a dove and a Quaker parrot. I recommend that you read a good book about QPs, such as Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Quaker Parrot. Such a book has lots of guidance on the care and feeding of Quaker parrots. Most of us here on the Forum feed a pellet based diet, along with plenty of vegetables, some fruit, cooked grains like quinoa and barley and cooked pasta. You'll have to do some experimenting to find out what your new feathered friend will like. ZuPreem Fruit Blend pellets are popular with Quaker parrots, though there are other brands that some prefer, like Harrison's, Higgins, Roudybush and Kaytee. My QP Ralph's favorite food is fresh green peas, and he also eats broccoli, garbanzo beans, kale and other vegetables. 
