|
|
Post by hlupton on Feb 7, 2015 15:42:52 GMT -5
Yogi, my 6 month old blue quaker seems to be settling in well most of the time but he acts weird sometimes. For example, he will act like he wants out of the cage so bad (I leave the door open) but when I go over to help him he backs up to the back of the cage. I don't want to force him out so I just leave him be. I have tried everything I know of to coax him to come out and the only thing I have found is to "trick" him. I wait until he's at the front and then I put my hand in behind him to step up on. This seldom works btw. another thing he does is sleep in his food or water bowl and poops in it so I'm changing it out a lot (any advice on how to change this would be helpful). Oh, and he will only talk in front of a mirror away from one he just does this loud call. In the mirror he will say "step up" "hello" "what" and "whatever" One more thing is that he won't or maybe can't grip food with his feet. Is this normal?
ANY advice on my confusing Yogi would be sooooo helpful! Thank you all in advanced!
|
|
|
|
Post by julianna on Feb 7, 2015 15:54:29 GMT -5
Maybe Yogi would like to have one of those hanging cuddle things... geezz I cannot remember what they are called but I know a lot of quakers really like them. They are made out of soft warm material and are shaped like a triangle. The qp can enter through the front or rear. Many qp's use this as their bed as well. When Yogi is ready, he will come out on his own (and then you might be sorry lol). Make sure that it is easy for him to come out a little at a time... perhaps a perch on the door?
My birds food is on top of his cage therefore, I do not have the problem of him pooping in it. Maybe someone else can help with that.
Being only 6 months old.... he will need lots of time to feel totally comfy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Feb 7, 2015 17:55:16 GMT -5
Mr P slept in his food dish for ages. I actually attached a food dish for him to sleep in, in the place where the dish was he did sleep in, then give him different dishes for food and water. He continued to sleep in that food dish, even though there was never any food in it. Eventually, he just quit sleeping in it and now he sleeps in a little happy hut thing which he adores
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Feb 7, 2015 23:15:08 GMT -5
You might try putting a hanging perch on the outside of Yogi's cage, just below the door. That will give him a place to stand when he's ready to venture out of his cage. At first, he may just step out of the cage and sit on that perch, without wanting to go beyond there, but he will likely decide to explore further before long. He may be more willing to step up from there too, rather than from inside his cage.
If Yogi has issues with gripping anything with his feet, that's something I'd want to discuss with an avian vet.
While Ralph enjoys perching on his food dish, he's never slept there or pooped in it, but parrots will sometimes choose odd places to sleep.
|
|
|
|
Post by biteybird on Feb 8, 2015 6:15:19 GMT -5
G'day, Hiupton & Yogi! Our QP, Bonnie, is now 1. We got her at 8 weeks old and it took her a long time (about 5 months) to be able to grip larger items of food (e.g. an almond) in her foot to eat, but she is really good at it now.
In regard to coming out of her cage - when she was a baby she was happy to step onto my finger to come out of the cage. But since the age of about 5 months she always has to come out on her own terms!  So, I open the door to her cage and straight away she goes to the back and does 3 loops through her happy hut (screeching the entire time). If I have walked away from the cage - she won't come out of the happy hut otherwise - she comes to the front and stands on the cage door (which is horizontal from being opened). Then she flies to the window sill (i.e., food tray!).
I think all quakers have "oppositional-defiant" personalities - at least Bonnie does!
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Feb 8, 2015 18:24:32 GMT -5
If Yogi has issues with gripping anything with his feet, that's something I'd want to discuss with an avian vet. While Ralph enjoys perching on his food dish, he's never slept there or pooped in it, but parrots will sometimes choose odd places to sleep. I have read (although I cannot remember where) that it is possible for Quakers under certain developmental circumstances to not learn that they can pick things up with their feet. Honestly I find this concept pretty surprising and would personally still want to go to a vet about it, but I thought I would mention it. I think it's fairly common for parrots to have a strange obsession with their food dishes. Cupcake insists on standing and pooping in hers, for whatever reason... Strange that a bird who is clearly conscious about where she poops would be okay with pooping in her food dish. |
|
|
|
Post by hlupton on Feb 8, 2015 20:25:16 GMT -5
I have read (although I cannot remember where) that it is possible for Quakers under certain developmental circumstances to not learn that they can pick things up with their feet. Well now Yogi has a new place to obsess over. I bought this cuttlebone holder that has a round perch and he only leaves it to eat or drink. At least when he decides to punish me now it doesn't hurt as bad  . When Yogi was sick the vet did a full check up after he was doing better and said that everything was fine. He has a strong grip he just won't pick up food items. After reading your post aaron I'm going to try "training" him to use his feet. Right now he is upset with me because I cleaned his cage AND moved his stuff. I didn't think parrots could throw a fit but he proved me wrong! I swear it looked like he was stomping around  and he was making this grumbling noise. Kind of like he was talking to himself. I've been in trouble for 3 days so far  |
|
|
|
Post by Jan and Shah on Feb 8, 2015 21:03:55 GMT -5
Shah doesnt grip anything with his feet and there is nothing wrong with them. I have bought him foot toys and encouraged him to use his feet - he just doesnt want to so I dont push it anymore. As long as he can grip on his perches and on me, that is fine with me.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Feb 9, 2015 10:54:38 GMT -5
Shah doesnt grip anything with his feet and there is nothing wrong with them. I have bought him foot toys and encouraged him to use his feet - he just doesnt want to so I dont push it anymore. As long as he can grip on his perches and on me, that is fine with me. Well there you go! So this does happen. It was a bit of a shocking concept for me simply because I only have experience with Cupcake as far as Quakers go, and her usage of her feet seems so deeply ingrained... but clearly it isn't always like that! |
|
So, I open the door to her cage and straight away she goes to the back and does 3 loops through her happy hut (screeching the entire time). If I have walked away from the cage - she won't come out of the happy hut otherwise - she comes to the front and stands on the cage door (which is horizontal from being opened). Then she flies to the window sill (i.e., food tray!).
. When Yogi was sick the vet did a full check up after he was doing better and said that everything was fine. He has a strong grip he just won't pick up food items. After reading your post aaron I'm going to try "training" him to use his feet. 
and he was making this grumbling noise. Kind of like he was talking to himself. I've been in trouble for 3 days so far 
