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Mar 20, 2015 17:32:38 GMT -5
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Post by philisity on Mar 20, 2015 17:32:38 GMT -5
Hello All,
Our family just adopted two birds from the MSPCA. One is a Quaker. As it turns out every single thing I was told is so incorrect. The following is going to seem silly I'm sure but......
I was told- 14yo cage bound female bird that hates people.
Reality- bird of unknown sex or age that absolutely loves people and would rather not be in the cage.
So here I am gearing up for some long days of looking, talking, and waiting and today (less than 24 hrs from arrival) I go to change food and water and the bird comes right over and steps up on my wrist. So I brought her out and am just so pleased with her.
She stepped up for every single family member including the kids. Cuddles against us and asks to be pet. She preens us and calls after us and clearly wants to be with any person here. I can not get over how comfortable she is being touched and handled. She is so at ease. Purring and fluffing and tail wagging. Eating from our hands and chattering at us. I'm fairly certain she ate every meal and some snacks with a person today. She was fascinated by the toddler playing playdough and actually walked over to him and got on his arm. She stole the 5 year olds apple slice and watched him do his writing lesson by inching closer step by step.
So what's the issue? Me. Why is this hateful bird so awesome? Why is she so very confident and at ease? What's the catch? Is this a quaker thing?
I come from keets and toos and this is the only bird I have ever brought home that is like this. The lovebird that was in the same home that also hates people is more what I expected. Though not hand tame definitely does not hate people.
Hopefully this situation is normal and the bird is not some alien masquerading as a quaker.
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Intro
Mar 20, 2015 19:48:38 GMT -5
Post by cnyguy on Mar 20, 2015 19:48:38 GMT -5
Welcome! It sounds like things are going very well for you and your QP.  I'm guessing that your Quaker wasn't comfortable or happy where he/she was before, and recognizes that he/she is in a good loving home now. The negative description you received may have been true before, but happily is not any more. |
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Mar 20, 2015 21:05:22 GMT -5
Post by biteybird on Mar 20, 2015 21:05:22 GMT -5
I agree with Gary. So often the things that people say are more reflective of their own personalities (not of the others they are talking about). I'd say you're off to a great start! Welcome, by the way. |
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Mar 20, 2015 21:29:22 GMT -5
Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 20, 2015 21:29:22 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. If you have any questions, please let us know. We are all here to help each other. Sounds like you have got a great QP.
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Mar 20, 2015 22:37:25 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Mar 20, 2015 22:37:25 GMT -5
Welcome!! I agree with the others. Your QP had a situation that it really did not like. They are very headstrong birds... put them in a situation they do not find agreeable and they will make it known in any way possible.
If you are familiar with Cockatoos then you are probably very well suited for being a QP owner. Cockatoos are very emotional, and in my opinion, QPs are similarly emotional birds. Your Quaker can tell that you understand birds and love them and is probably completely enthralled with that. A comfortable and happy Quaker can be extremely loving and cuddly.
Do you know if your QP had an owner prior to the one that told you it hates people? It sounds like this bird, at some point, probably had a loving companion or family of companions.
Anyhow, feel free to ask any questions you might have. We are all happy to help!!
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Post by easttex on Mar 21, 2015 6:44:58 GMT -5
I, also, will agree with what's been said. Sometimes people really don't know what they have. My own senior Quaker was supposedly cage-bound, never handled in 21 years. My experience with him would dispute that, though I don't doubt that he was cage-bound for some considerable time. He was clearly someone's loved companion somewhere back in time. It took some time for that side of him to emerge, but I'm sure it was already there. Just a little note of caution: Quakers have a lot of personality, with strong likes and dislikes, and no compunction about expressing them. They're parrots, after all. You could be seeing a little bit of a honeymoon period, so don't be surprised if a slightly less angelic side of her emerges at some point. |
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Post by julianna on Mar 21, 2015 14:27:30 GMT -5
Oh yes... exactly easttex. Oh... welcome to the forum and I think you have just gotten yourself one of the most amazing birds. They are playful, funny, curious.. can be demanding... can be protective of their cage and food ... but most of all they are loving. You might find that he/she will bond more with one family member than another... but then one day change their mind and bond with someone else.
I have had my qp for 4 years now... and every day he makes me laugh, sing and work like a slave... lol
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Intro
Mar 22, 2015 8:45:16 GMT -5
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aaron likes this
Post by philisity on Mar 22, 2015 8:45:16 GMT -5
Thanks everyone.
She is awesome for sure. It's quickly becoming clear that someone trained her. Step up, wave hi, kisses, and those are just the ones I have figured out.
Either the person lied or wasn't the owner.
I actually look forward to the end of the honeymoon period as it starts the real relationship.
She seems to be happy and comfortable here and I am happy we found her. She is a joy.
I've made a vet appt to find out what else is inaccurate. Also to check why she has lines on her beak.
One question is what pellet do you suggest? It's become clear she was on a seed only diet. Good news is that she is happy to eat our food so she is getting some decent nutrition.
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Mar 22, 2015 12:53:17 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Mar 22, 2015 12:53:17 GMT -5
A vet visit is definitely a good idea. Any lines on the beak should be checked out for sure. It could be a scar, or perhaps the result of poor nutrition. It is good that you will be able to get her on a good diet. Seed only diets aren't good for any parrot, but particularly bad for Quakers because they are quite susceptible to fatty liver disease. So glad things are going so well for you and the little lady. It sounds like you've found a very special new friend. We feed Cupcake Harrisons pellets, primarily because they are organic. But they can be very particular about which brand of pellets they will eat, and any of them will be better than seeds. So as is often said on this board-- the best pellet is the one your bird will eat  |
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Mar 23, 2015 5:47:57 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Mar 23, 2015 5:47:57 GMT -5
I prefer Harrison's, but also give mine some Roudybush California Blend. The Zupreme fruit pellets, which many quakers take to, is so far refused by mine, though my grey likes them.
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Mar 25, 2015 17:03:22 GMT -5
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Post by philisity on Mar 25, 2015 17:03:22 GMT -5
Thanks all. The diet thing is going to be an uphill battle.
It looks like I have a bread junky. Like haul ass to whoever may have some. Quite the addict behavior.
So begins the looooooong journey. She isn't fooled either with my show of eating fresh vegetables even though she will topple herself from my shoulder to get at anything with grain in it.
One very sad thing is that she doesn't know how to fly. At all. It is the saddest thing. She hardly ever even moves her wings. I have yet to see her stretch or straighten them. She has attempted to fly twice and the results were pitiful. I've never had a bird who couldn't fly. Makes me wonder if her steadfast nature is a result of that.
The lines on her beak are from bar rubbing the vet says. They are so perfectly spaced I felt kinda stupid not considering that.
Other than the diet issue and pending bloodwork results she is healthy. So tentative good news.
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Mar 25, 2015 19:01:50 GMT -5
Post by easttex on Mar 25, 2015 19:01:50 GMT -5
We've had posts on other threads about what carb-aholics they seem to be. You might try making up some really healthy bird bread for her. It could help as a bridge to pellets, and you can sneak in some veggies, also. There are many recipes out there, but I am lazy and just use a Harrison's mix. Mine prefer the hot pepper variety. It sounds like she was probably not allowed to fledge properly at the right time. I think every bird, whether it's going to be clipped or not, should be allowed to develop their flight skills when they are very young. All my birds have been adopted, from more or less bad situations, and none that I've ever had has been a strong flyer. I think it gives them confidence. Yours may decide to practice eventually. Peppy does occasionally, and seems very surprised after he lands. Landing seems to be the hard part. What is your girl's name? |
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Mar 25, 2015 19:52:12 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Mar 25, 2015 19:52:12 GMT -5
The diet for these birds is almost always an uphill battle. They love junk food. Cupcake will not eat green vegetables no matter what I do. But we have discovered that she loves to eat the center of a cucumber, so she gets that daily (although I'm fairly certain that the nutritional density in the center of a cucumber is pretty weak), and she voraciously eats lentil sprouts. These two things are the veggie staples in her diet. I haven't tried mixing veggies into birdie bread, but that might help. The next thing I am going to try is buying one of those crazy Vitamix blenders and making smoothie-ish blends that are sweet from orange or pineapple juice but sneak in some greens. She loves juice and soups so I am hoping I can find a healthy blend for her that she will like.
I certainly agree with easttex that all birds should be given the chance to learn how to fly. It's definitely sad when a bird does not get that chance. But she could grow to become more comfortable and give it another shot. Hard to say.
Glad to hear that she seems to be healthy! That is great news!
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Mar 26, 2015 7:33:51 GMT -5
Post by biteybird on Mar 26, 2015 7:33:51 GMT -5
She is very lucky to have you. You sound like you have a great rapport with each other, so that's a fantastic start. You can just 'chip away' at the diet thing whilst maintaining mutual trust. You are right though, it is sad that it seems she's never had the experience of flight. We love watching Bonnie fly around 'stupid' and don't want to clip her wings (although we would if we thought there was a household danger).
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Apr 1, 2015 18:46:52 GMT -5
Post by Yvonne on Apr 1, 2015 18:46:52 GMT -5
Ok! We just purchased a QP, but they forgot to tell us if it is male or female, or how old it is. A cage came with her, the lady who had, I'm just going to say her; made sure her cage and all came with her. My question is, how can you tell how old they are? I had a 60+ Amazon Parrett who passed away about 7 years ago, so I know a little but this little gal is very different then an amazon. It's funny she doesn't want to go into her cage AT ALL:) My daughter who went in with me on purchasing her, has been watching QP video's and (now) "Olive" is chattering and listening to country music, chiming in every now and then. Our biggest question is how to know how old she(?) is? Can anyone help us with that question? LOVE YOUR SITE:)
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