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Post by tastetherainbow on Apr 4, 2021 15:44:43 GMT -5
 So glad I found this amazing space! We are preparing to get a green Quaker. We researched different parrots and I fell in love with these adorable birds. After an exhausting amount of time on YouTube, various parrot websites, and Facebook groups, I am confident that I made the right choice. His/her (already named "Skittles") flight cage is ordered and toys are on their way! All that's left is deciding where to purchase our baby and stock up on food before he/she comes home. Being a first time parrot mamma, I have a few questions I am hoping experienced Quaker parents can help answer: - Would it be better to take a few days off to help Skittles get settled in or would that create problems when I go back to work?
- Suggestions for quality pellets that won't break the bank?? (Yes, I know to supplement with seeds, fruits, veggies, etc.)
- How often should I rotate toys?
- I would like to have Skittles harness trained. How will I know when he/she is comfortable enough with me to start working on that?
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 4, 2021 19:52:33 GMT -5
Welcome to the Forum! Before long you'll learn what the rest of us know-- life is never dull when there's a Quaker parrot in the house.  It isn't really necessary for you to take time off to help Skittles settle in, but if you choose to, a change in schedule won't be harmful. Parrots can adapt to schedule changes. ZuPreem Fruit Blend pellets are popular with Quaker parrots. Some pet stores sell them in bulk, allowing you to buy as many as you want at one time and you might save some money too. My parrots also like Higgins InTune pellets, which are comparably priced and are also naturally fruit flavored. You might need to experiment with toy rotation to find out what works best for you and Skittles. My QP Ralph likes things the same way all the time so I rarely rotate his toys. Some people change out their parrots' toys as often as weekly. I have no experience with harness training so I can't offer any advice about that. For any training, a parrot needs plenty of time to settle in and become fully comortable with his new home and new flock (that means you). Attempting training too soon seldom works well. Good luck-- hope you find Skittles soon. |
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Post by Caseysmom on Apr 5, 2021 7:53:34 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you are very organized and ready for when you find skittles. We have Casey on zupreem pellets too he tends to rotate the colours he wants to eat. I guess that gives him something else to think about lol. This week he has decided the orange ones aren’t fit for consumption He gets a birdie portion of cooked dinner each day , sometimes tiny bits of what we are eating, if it’s plain or if not I have portions frozen in the freezer for him to take out. The batch in there now has sweet potato. Broccoli, egg, quinoa and rice. He loves raw pumpkin seeds for treats. I don’t switch his cage around much now as he is 14 1/2 but the first few years we did it more often. A member on here way back then suggested we do it to train our Quaker not to become cage aggressive . It must have worked as we can easily reach into his cage for anything and he will also happily step up. He just had one very hot day last summer that his hormones kicked in and I couldn’t do that
As for flight training we did buy an aviator harness when he was young but he wasn’t really a fan and I guess we didn’t try hard enough as we only got him in it once for a walk. Now when I the weather is nice I have a nice travel cage I put him in to carry him outside with us.
Feel free to ask anything and research lots on the forum and hopefully it isn’t too long until you bring your Quaker home
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So glad I found this amazing space! We are preparing to get a green Quaker. We researched different parrots and I fell in love with these adorable birds. After an exhausting amount of time on YouTube, various parrot websites, and Facebook groups, I am confident that I made the right choice. His/her (already named "Skittles") flight cage is ordered and toys are on their way! All that's left is deciding where to purchase our baby and stock up on food before he/she comes home.
It isn't really necessary for you to take time off to help Skittles settle in, but if you choose to, a change in schedule won't be harmful. Parrots can adapt to schedule changes. 
