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Post by missmonte86 on Jun 24, 2015 11:33:40 GMT -5
my mom bought a 4 year old what she thought was female at the time turned out to be a male his name is Freddy, well I was visiting and loved spending my time their with Freddy, he started become bonded to me because she wasn't doing enough with him, he was located in her bedroom so he didn't get much time of humans around, my sister and her boyfriend moved in with their cat and got another kitten so two cats, they started tormenting the bird trying to stick their paws in the cage and swip at him, my mom seemed to think it was funny watching the bird pick at their paws, so I spoke up and told her I'd take him and she actually agreed and sent the bird home with me asap. I didn't have the room for him at the time but couldn't stand to see him deal with that so I took him, now we've bonded like crazy he's definitely my bird now, we have so much fun but in the old place I didn't have much windows . so now I've finally moved to a better spot and made sure I had lots of windows for him to look out and even got him a new cage (the one he came in was to small and had a crappy stand that wasn't stable at all) now he's all moved into his new cage and happy happy, accept when I leave the room to use the bathroom, then he starts quacking like crazy! I wonder if it has anything to do with being re homed twice or what the reason is but it does drive me crazy sometimes lol, he even learned how to talk back and say "your bad!" when I try to tell him he's being a bad bird when he does it, he's such a smart little guy I am so grateful she gave him to me but long story short this is my first Quaker and I couldn't be happier! I have plans to get another one so he has a friend I just didn't want him to become angry or change his behaviour in anyway, cuz he's my perfect little guy! I'm so glad I got him!
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Post by easttex on Jun 24, 2015 14:03:57 GMT -5
Good for you for recognizing that allowing a predator to torment a prey animal was very stressful for a Freddy, and is definitely not fun. I would call it abusive, and what a relief for Freddy to find a companion like you. Quakers are very social birds and like to be in nearly constant contact. When you leave the room, you can try responding to his quacks with something like a whistle, or some other pleasant sound. He might pick that up from you after a while, if you're very consistent. If you like the relationship you have now with Freddy, think hard before you add another bird to the mix. They could dislike each other and not want to share any space. If they do like each other and wind up bonding, you'll be less of an object of affection to Freddy. Or, they might be companionable but not bonded, which would probably be ideal, but can't be predicted. Welcome to the forum, by the way!  |
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Post by missmonte86 on Jun 24, 2015 15:15:48 GMT -5
thank you so much! I really did think so to my animals are my world I was born and raised on a farm with lots of animals, I just love love the birds! I've definitely tried the whistle thing but so far it hasn't worked yet but I'm not giving up! Quakers are definitely amazing birds I wouldn't give up my Freddy for anything lol! I just got him in his new cage and he just loves it! he does have a bed that his first owner said he loves but every time I bring it near him he starts freaking out so I'm not sure if that's true lol, I was making mashed potatoes one day and he got a hold of a peace of raw potato and just loves them! he will goose raw potato over a peace of Apple! I never thought he'd like it over Apple but he is really picky about what he likes. I'm trying to find a new shred toy for him but can't seem to find anything yet, I want to make his new cage as best as possible so whatever I can do I'll definitely do! everything I teach him he picks right up on most of it something's are a bit more difficult I guess but it's just like anything els I'm sure! I was so so excited to find this page and get to talk to fellow Quaker owners! thank you so much for chatting with me! I was wanting to post a picture of him and his cage but not sure how yet lol , would you happen to have any tips on getting a nail file close to his nails so I can file them down a little ? that's one thing I haven't figured out yet lol
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Post by easttex on Jun 24, 2015 18:27:43 GMT -5
Well, you've come to the right place. We're all pretty fond of our Quakers. The easiest way I know of to deal with nails is to give them a variety of perches, including one or more with rough surfaces. I wouldn't get the sandpaper type, but do use a kind of pebbly concrete. They're not so great at filing down already long nails, but they do help to maintain them. Second easiest way is to let a groomer or vet whip out the Dremel and take care of it in seconds while your bird is wrapped in a towel. You can train them to tolerate a file, though. I think the secret is to break it down into tiny little steps and reward lavishly. Don't start out trying to file, but work up to it slowly. You could just show him the file, and if he responds calmly, give him a treat. Do that a few times, and then start to bring it closer, rewarding each time he is calm. Eventually, touch his foot, etc. There is a "how to" board here that includes instructions on posting photos. It's the second board down on the main page, and starts with "Forum Guidelines." We'd love to see Freddie! |
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Post by aaron on Jun 24, 2015 20:49:25 GMT -5
Welcome! I will reiterrate what Easttex said-- if you value your relationship with Freddy, you should seriously consider not getting a second bird, as it stands a really good chance of interfering with or completely changing your relationship with your bird. Sometimes they will bond with each other and they won't even care about you much any more, or they will hate each other and you will spend your time dealing with them separately and keeping them separate. If you've got a good thing going with one little guy, it's often best to keep it that way. They don't need friends, they need you. So glad things are going so well with you and Freddy. It's very good that you rescued him from that situation. It sounds like it was not good for him at all. Thank you for getting him out of there! People here are more than happy to answer any questions you might have so please let us know! And keep us posted on how things go! |
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Post by biteybird on Jun 25, 2015 3:48:53 GMT -5
Welcome to you and Freddy. It seems as though your mum was maybe not ready for the demands of owning a quaker parrot (in that they do require a lot of human interaction if they are the only bird pet)? I'm glad you took him in. I agree with what the others have said - don't rush into getting another quaker as a companion. |
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Post by missmonte86 on Jun 25, 2015 15:11:05 GMT -5
thank you so so much! I appreciate the advice so much this site is really teaching me a lot I'm so happy I found it! everyone is so welcoming its amazing! I'm definitely not gonna rush into another bird I got a few health issues right now I am about to have surgery twice so now just wouldn't work anyway, and after reading up on this site and reading the advice from everyone I think it's best anyway as I'm really enjoying being so close to Freddy. he's definitely got a great personality and is so funny, I'm still working hard on trying to train him out of going crazy when I leave the living room, and he just isn't liking the little tent he was suppose to already be used to. so just keep working on it I guess right? lol , he's still amazed his new cage is so big, but he has definitely been moody to since the move, I just hope I'm not doing anything to stress him in anyway I'm always making sure to spend lots of time and check him a lot more until we've been here a little while, I love it when he baths I got him this glass dish that's more then big enough to bath in and he just took right to it the second I put the water in the dish he was right in it bathing lol, and he even let me help him, we both bond more and more everyday , I kinda think that we both were the best thing to happen to one another right now and I'm not ever getting rid of him so he has finally found his forever home! thank you all again so much for the advice I really do appreciate it! I'm always open to learning more and I'm so so glad to be chatting to fellow Quaker owners and lovers I don't have anyone up here to talk to about them so thank you so much for listening to me and replying!
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Post by aaron on Jun 26, 2015 0:06:01 GMT -5
It's always a process with these little ones. They will always keep you on your toes, especially when it comes to hormones. It sounds like things are really going great for you. It is great that you will give him a forever home. This is a very important and often challenging thing to find for a parrot in a human world. We love to talk Quakers, so you've come to the right place! I love this forum |
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Post by missmonte86 on Jun 26, 2015 20:49:25 GMT -5
I have been on this site none stop reading and reading , I'm learning so much I never new and as much as it feels great to learn and all I've come to realize that the few issues I was having with Freddy are all really due to my lack of knowledge with this specific breed, I'm just so glad I found this site! (I no I keep saying it but I feel so much better after reading so many other threads) and getting advice, now that I no theirs a few more things I can be doing I'm definitely starting right away so hopefully with no time the little things will be no more! Lol! I thought that when I got him he was only a year old so when I found out that in fact he's actually 4 years old I thought that it would be very hard to teach him new things, but I've found very fast that's not the case at all he's learning new things everyday and picking up more and more he's learning more tunes to whistle to, he's even saying a few more words. I've had him a bit now and still to this day when he starts whistling tunes I think it's the cutest thing and makes me giggle everytime! sometimes his little voice squeaks in a high or low pitch when he whistles I just love that! everytime he baths I go right over and help him get his back and now he's just learned its routine for us, recently after the move I even got him to bath in the sink! (I put his bath dish in the middle and filled the rest of the sink with just a tiny bit of water so he could use both the sink if he wanted for shallower water or use the dish that is just a tiny bit deeper) it was to cool! everytime he does new things with me I just give him extra paise and make sure he gets a treat so he knows that I'm happy about it we seem to get closer and closer! I was watching a YouTube video about a lady letting her bird nap with her on the couch, what is everyone's thoughts on this? does anybody else do it? is it common? (sorry for all the questions just trying to learn as much as possible ) |
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Post by aaron on Jun 27, 2015 0:34:46 GMT -5
Good stuff! Glad the site is proving to be helpful!! These Quakers are definitely a unique breed of bird. From what I can tell these little ones really never stop learning, although I would wager it slows down a bit with age, but probably more because they get set in their ways rather than lose their ability to learn... they just don't care to as much. At any rate, 4 is still quite young. Cupcake has been known to sit on my chest while I half doze off every once in a long while, but in general the idea of really falling asleep with the bird nearby makes me nervous. She does not realize how easily she can get crushed and is liable to go rooting around in pillows or in the couch cushions and if I shifted in my sleep and crushed her, that would obviously be awful. I have heard stories of people accidentally killing their birds this way, for sure. When we have a really rough night for whatever reason, if we find the need to take a nap, we will put Cupcake in her small cage on the table very close to where we are sleeping. She has not once woken us up. She will quietly grumble sometimes, but she seems to be willing to let us sleep. |
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Post by easttex on Jun 27, 2015 8:02:42 GMT -5
I would not nap with my birds on me, either. Too hazardous for them. When I take a nap, I bring both of my birds back to the bird room, and we all nap together. Peppy in his open cage, which he prefers, and Allie on her play stand. Birds are endlessly fascinating. I've had them for many years, and it never gets old. Just little things, like watching Peppy dunk a piece of fruit in his water will make me fall in love all over again. Don't feel bad about asking any questions that come up. It can help others who might have the same questions, as well as you, but I think it also helps people who try to answer the questions. I know it does that for me, to stop and really think about things I may have been taking for granted for a long time. And it's always interesting to read about other people's perspective. |
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Post by missmonte86 on Jun 27, 2015 20:23:53 GMT -5
I was so thinking the same thing! they are just to tiny and I would be way way to worried about that, I don't ever want to lose my bird especially to something like that! so I started the 12/12 last night and he fought me on it pretty good and it is definitely hard for me to do it but I no he needs it so on with it we go! the one thing I'm having a heck of a time with is getting him used to his tent he used to use it with his first owner but hasn't had it since , every time I get him close to it he starts the head butting so I don't like pushing him and just pull it back away, is their any tips to how to make this easier on him? is their something I could be doing to help him feel better about using it again?
I had him on my shoulder when I started homemade burger prep and he was literally trying to shimmy down my arm to get to the RAW burger meat! I couldn't believe it! I also put him away while I fried up the bacon for them and he was going crazy at his cage wanting the bacon , do any of your birds do this to? why is he wanting raw meat so bad ? lol I never thought for a second that he'd want that stuff so bad, is this common?
oh I love those little things to the way he baths and listening to his little beek eating I just can't get enough! with my health being so bad right now this has cheered me up so much having my little Freddy with me, everytime we make a break threw (getting him to do something new or when he lets me have a moment with him) it gets me so excited the first time he ever let me hold him I cried lol! I'm a cancer so i can be a cry baby sometimes , just can't ever get enough of my animals!
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Post by easttex on Jun 28, 2015 7:32:24 GMT -5
If Freddy no longer wants to use his tent, there isn't any reason to force him. Some birds like them and some don't, and apparently he changed his mind about it. If you're concerned about drafts at night, a cage cover will protect him. If you're not covering him already, I would. Both of my birds go into total silence mode when they are covered, and it makes the 12/12 routine a lot easier. A parrot craving raw meat seems a bit unusual, but I'm vegetarian and my birds don't see much meat. What is Freddy's diet? I wonder if he might be wanting some protein. Some people will give a little baked unseasoned chicken to them as an occasional treat, but I'd stay away from anything fatty. |
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Post by missmonte86 on Jun 28, 2015 11:37:29 GMT -5
yep he is covered I always keep a sheet over the one side of his cage so that theirs no draft going in , we have lots of fans going when he's in his cage and especially at night so he's always been covered the back and side at night but after finding out he needs 12/12 I'm covering him totally for the 12 hours, first night he fought me on it and the next night he was fine so I'm sure it's just getting him used to it, I just thought he'd want his tent back because I was told he did love it at one point, so I'm not so sure on that one lol, currently right now he gets the Perrot mix (with the pumpkin seeds and sun flower sees and just a mix in general, and he gets pellets mixed in with them (witch he only eats sometimes) I give him lots of fruit and sometime a small peace of raw potato or pinch of unseasoned potato he just loves that, he gets lettus and stuff to, anything he will eat for fruit I try to give him, I wasn't sure what I should do about the meat thing I never thought for a second he would want it so bad! lol it was definitely a shocker to me, it got so bad I had to put him back he just wouldn't stop shimmying down my arm for it lol, I think I will try that if it will help I just don't want to hurt him by giving him these things.
also I've noticed he's not talking as much as he used to I wonder if theirs anything I can do to help him along to talk and whistle more (he whistles a lot but more so not talking) he can say hello (witch I can't seem to get him to say lately )
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Post by aaron on Jun 28, 2015 13:37:39 GMT -5
As I'm sure you realize, you certainly don't want him to come into contact with any form of raw meat. There's all kinds of bacteria on there that could be potentially harmful. Not sure why he wants it so bad, but our bird does this with other foods, like cheese, and any sort of bread. As Easttex noted, an occasional bit of baked chicken as a treat could help satisfy a protein craving.
Some sources also say that potatoes must be cooked before being given to birds. I don't personally know why this is the case, but I would probably refrain from giving him potatoes unless they have been cooked.
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