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Hi!
Feb 6, 2015 9:25:02 GMT -5
Post by pavlor on Feb 6, 2015 9:25:02 GMT -5
Hi!
I'm new to quakers and thought I'd come and check out what people do to make sure they have the best life possible. I got Rosie yesterday and the lady said she was about 5. She was in a 2-parrot cage with 4 cockatiels, several budgerigars and a few collared doves, sitting there all hen-pecked. Anyway, she is very friendly, despite what the lady said, and is sitting here on my shoulder. She is *very* gentle and sweet. She was just being fed seeds, so I've introduced her to some greens, a bit of mango, and am getting pellets on Monday, which I'll gradually introduce into her diet. She looks haggered and exhausted from stress, so I'm now wondering what else I can do to give her back her sparkle =)
Pavlor
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Hi!
Feb 6, 2015 10:50:40 GMT -5
Post by beekersmom on Feb 6, 2015 10:50:40 GMT -5
Hi Pavlor, that is very nice of you to try to make Rosie's life better! I just joined this forum myself and everyone seems very friendly and welcoming. I've had my Quaker (Beeker) for almost 22 years now, and he definitely has his favorite foods. If Rosie is anything like Beeker, she will love corn, peas, carrots, potatoes, and apples (but don't give her the seeds as they are poisonous). I buy bags of frozen corn, frozen peas and frozen mixed vegetables and alternate from day to day. I warm them up in the microwave and then let them cool down a bit before handing them over. That is his staple food but he also gets some of whatever I eat during the day as well. I tried pellets when he was younger, and he wanted no part of them. He also gets Cockatiel seed mix, but is very picky about what he eats out of it. Beeker also loves music, so I have a radio on a timer that turns on for him during the day for several hours. It keeps him entertained, as he likes to sing and dance. I hope that helps a bit, and best wishes for you and Rosie!  |
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Hi!
Feb 6, 2015 10:56:17 GMT -5
Post by pavlor on Feb 6, 2015 10:56:17 GMT -5
Thanks!
I'm hopeful that Rosie will eat lots of different things. She is fine with being fed by hand as well. So you cook the veg in the microwave rather than give them raw? I will try the pellets just to see -- if she eats them, tant mieux, if not, then at least she has the seeds and veg! =)
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Feb 6, 2015 11:48:57 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Feb 6, 2015 11:48:57 GMT -5
Hi and welcome! Very good of you to rescue Rosie. She could not have been very happy in her prior situation. A quaker wants to be treated like the very special being she knows herself to be. You're doing the number one thing you can do for her well being by changing her diet. If you can get her to accept pellets, they are the best thing for her. It may take a while, though. She will probably love all the attention she is getting. I would just go slow with her at first, and let her tell you what she is ready for. That should help to lower her stress. It may take a while for her real nature to come through. You may be having a honeymoon period right now . Does she know how to play with toys? |
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Hi!
Feb 6, 2015 11:55:07 GMT -5
Post by beekersmom on Feb 6, 2015 11:55:07 GMT -5
So you cook the veg in the microwave rather than give them raw? I use frozen veggies, so I warm them up in the micro. I suppose you could just let them thaw naturally, but I think Beeker likes them better when they're warm. |
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Hi!
Feb 6, 2015 22:22:28 GMT -5
Post by biteybird on Feb 6, 2015 22:22:28 GMT -5
Welcome, Pavlor and Rosie! What a poor little girl, being in an overcrowded cage like she was. She will be loving the 1:1 attention from you. Have a browse through the Diet & Health section, as there is lots of info on there by many experienced quaker 'parronts'.  |
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Hi!
Feb 6, 2015 23:02:13 GMT -5
Post by cnyguy on Feb 6, 2015 23:02:13 GMT -5
Welcome to you and Rosie! If you can get some fresh green peas, try those. They're a favorite of many parrots, like my QP Ralph. Cooked grains like barley and quinoa are good healthy things to feed a QP too. |
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Hi!
Feb 7, 2015 1:33:30 GMT -5
Post by pavlor on Feb 7, 2015 1:33:30 GMT -5
It's amazing that she has taken to veggies without so much as a flinch! She doesn't seem to play with toys, so I presume she doesn't know how to. She really doesn't like mobile phones or cameras or anything 'new' for that matter, and will move quickly away from them -- perhaps a negative experience?
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Post by easttex on Feb 7, 2015 6:42:18 GMT -5
That is lucky on the veggies. I wish my two (Quaker and CAG) were so adaptable. Fear at of new things is not uncommon. There could have been a bad experience, or most likely she was not exposed to lots of different things when she was young, so she's just behaving with the natural caution she would have if she were in the wild. Try bringing in new things gradually. Put them in the room, but not close, and as she accepts that, move them closer, bit by bit. Showing her how to play with toys would be a good thing. Play with one and show her how much fun you're having, but don't offer it to her right away. Build her interest and hopefully she'll begin to covet it. |
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Hi!
Feb 7, 2015 9:46:52 GMT -5
Post by pavlor on Feb 7, 2015 9:46:52 GMT -5
Yes, I'm trying not to stress her and taking her lead. She's just very good and let's me know if she doesn't want to interact with a quick and decisive squawk. She hasn't bitten me or even tried to even though the lady said she was unpredictable. I don't know if this is because she's new and will become a monster when she feels at home... I've noticed that she's pkay if I have my mobile in my hand but if I go to get it she flies off. When the lady was introduing us, she did say that she was afraid of new things and kept shoving little pots in her face =/
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Feb 7, 2015 12:03:02 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Feb 7, 2015 12:03:02 GMT -5
Welcome! You are doing a really great thing with Rosie. That is wonderful. I'm sure she really appreciates the attention and the new, far less stressful environment... Like easttex said, getting her diet where it needs to be is the most important thing you can do, and it sounds like you are doing that. As far as behavior goes, patience is key with rehomed parrots. It sounds like it is going great so far, but like easttex said, you might be in a honeymoon period-- as Rosie gets more comfortable, she may become more demanding, or she might not. But it is good to be prepared for the possibility and not to get offended if you experience behavioral changes. People here will be happy to help you sort those out if you run into them. Sharyn and Mr P actually just posted a great article on rehomed parrots that I am going to repost here, but she gets the credit for finding it  www.birdchannel.com/parrot-training/6-things-to-keep-in-mind-about-rehomed-parrots.aspx |
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Feb 7, 2015 15:48:35 GMT -5
Post by julianna on Feb 7, 2015 15:48:35 GMT -5
Poor little Rosie. Nice to see she has a new home and a good mom. You are going to have sooooo much fun with her... your efforts will be rewarded.
Welcome to you both.
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