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Post by earthquakethequaker on Jul 7, 2015 22:53:51 GMT -5
Okay, so I've done a lot of research in two days, but I have few specific questions for y'all, please.  1. What can I do to get my roommate more involved with little Quakers and will my bird be anxious if my roomie is just a casual participant? 2. I'd very much like to have her in the living room (especially since I'm out here a lot) but is my room an okay place for a birdie home if that's an issue? 3. And I've gathered that Quakers have their own unique quirks; light heightening hormones, laying eggs and being careful to keep a "companionship" relationship, are there certain things I can do to make sure my Quaker is happy and feeling at home that you can only learn from experience? Thank you!!! |
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Post by biteybird on Jul 8, 2015 4:11:23 GMT -5
Whoa, the questions you've asked just about encompass everything...obviously you HAVE read up (well done)!
1. Does your roommate like birds? This could make a big difference, as if he/she doesn't tolerate noise well or doesn't like the bird it could create some tension. If the roommate is a willing participant, involve him/her in each part of your little quaker's life. Quakers are very adaptable; whilst they may have favourite people they can be equally affectionate to more than one person.
2. My husband and I have our Quaker in the living room during the day and in another room to sleep (but we don't have other people in our house). I know of several members of this forum who have their Quakers in their own bedrooms without it being an issue.
3. As long as you are attentive to your quaker (that is, you spend daily quality time with him/her) he/she will be fairly happy. Observe his/her personality carefully and try different toys/things. If something doesn't work, try something else. Be attentive to diet and avoid the 'bad' foods. Notice behavioural/physical changes and if they worry you, get an avian vet to do a checkup.
If you've never had a Quaker before, you need to be aware of the following:
* if you are young, your life may change radically over the next decade or two. Quakers live for about 35 years, so you need to be prepared and have a contingency plan for if/when an unexpected life change occurs that may involve not being able to keep your Quaker
* some Quakers can be very noisy or have challenging behaviours, so you need to be prepared to spend significant time to sort out these issues (much as you would with training a dog) * it's best not to let teasing children or bad-tempered humans near your Quaker (particularly those who are likely to yell at or scare your bird)
* don't let dogs near your Quaker if it's flying about loose
* if you plan to let your Quaker out of the cage regularly, then hazard-proof your house/room. Remove toxic materials he/she may chew on, think about small spaces he/she could get stuck in, etc.
I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but the others will chime in with more advice. Good luck! |
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Post by easttex on Jul 8, 2015 6:08:48 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! The things you list as unique to the Quaker are actually common in parrots. The light cycles and hormonal issues are very natural. You can minimize their effects by putting her on a 12/12 routine, year-round. If her brain does not get the sense of lengthening days in spring, she'll be less likely to get her hormones revved up. In my experience, you won't eliminate the problem, but this will help. Roommates can be an issue. I hope yours is not outright hostile to the idea of sharing quarters with a parrot. Parrots can pick up on tension in the household and can develop some behavioral issues when they do. This can make for a really negative circle. Your bird misbehaves, reinforcing a person's dislike, which reinforces the bird's bad behavior, and on and on. Everyone in the household does not have to have the same level of interaction with the bird for the bird to feel everyone is part of the flock, but expect problems if your roommate is not at least neutral to the idea of a parrot. Quakers do like to be where everyone else is, so if you do move your bird into the bedroom, you should expect to spend a lot more time there yourself. I'd recommend an avian vet visit early on. It's good to establish a baseline while your bird is healthy, and it's especially good to have an established relationship with a good vet before you desperately need one. |
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Post by aaron on Jul 8, 2015 9:31:23 GMT -5
Greetings! The others have given you some great advice here. As far as the roommate goes-- in a household with a bird, pretty much all members of the home need to be adequately trained on how to treat the bird. Employing a cheerful demeanor and a light tone of voice at all times if at all possible is very helpful. I'm sure you know, but make sure the roommate knows-- Don't yell at the bird, don't tease the bird, always approach in a gentle manner. Things will definitely go better if your roommate can generate some genuine interest and care for the bird, as the bird will most definitely pick up on this, and will also pick up on an absence of caring, or worse any disdain. These birds are very sensitive to our moods and demeanor-- they are prey animals, after all. It is definitely possible that as your bond with the bird intensifies, it will decide that your roommate is a threat and that it needs to defend you. So, truly, the more you can keep your roommate involved in the early stages, the better. If you can facilitate some periodic one-on-one time between the bird and your roommate, that will probably help too. You will both get bitten periodically, so be ready for that, and try not to react when it happens. If you do find yourself in a situation where the bird is aggressive toward your roommate-- this can be resolved, but it takes time and cooperation from all involved. Quakers (and parrots in general) are extremely social animals, and they want to be part of what's going on all the time. Your bird can be happy in your room, but it cannot feel like it is being constantly excluded from what's going on in the main room, or it will almost certainly lead to behavioral problems. So as easttex said, plan to spend more time in your room if you end up housing the bird there. Our QP Cupcake can be a real challenge to keep entertained, particularly on days where it just one of us at home with her. If I am working from home, I will have a planned set of activities for her and I to do together... doesn't have to be complicated-- mostly she just sits on my shoulder while doing the dishes, folding laundry, cleaning up her cage area, maintenance on our fishtanks, some time sitting in front of the window-- all of these are 15 minute detours from work, because if I spend more than 2 hours working at a time she will start to give me a piece of her mind. Sometimes less. Lately I've been using classical music to keep her happy, and that's been working pretty well. It is an ongoing challenge, so best to embrace it. Other things that are good to know-- get in the habit of reinforcing good behavior with enthusiastic praise, and ignoring bad behavior as best as you can. Sometimes good behavior is simply being peaceful, and not getting into things. It can be helpful to reinforce the simple absence of bad behavior  You and roommie should also both be in the habit of immediately greeting the bird upon arrival home and saying goodbye before leaving. The bird will greatly appreciate this, and in general will get angry if it feels ignored. Also, these birds need consistent eye contact, and this can prove to be a very valuable tool, because they can tell the difference between a friendly gaze and a stern look, and it can actually be more effective than words, when it comes to expressing disapproval. Our QP gets very fussy when she does not get enough solid eye contact. It does sound like you've already done a bunch of research so you're on the right track. Feel free to ask any questions you have, and keep us posted on how things progress! |
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Post by earthquakethequaker on Jul 8, 2015 10:18:41 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the replies!  I've already been handling my Quaker about two days (at the home where he's being raised) and she loves to cuddle and quake. |
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 8, 2015 20:13:42 GMT -5
Welcome, and congratulations on becoming a Quaker parront! There isn't much I can add to the information and advice you've already received. You may want to continue your research on QPs by reading a good book or two about QPs, such as Mattie Sue Athan's Guide to the Quaker Parrot or Pamela Leis Higdon's The Quaker Parrot: An Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet. Reading through posts here on the Forum is informative too. |
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Post by earthquakethequaker on Jul 9, 2015 9:33:22 GMT -5
Yeah, library didn't have much in the way of books.  But I'll keep looking at a secondhand store or something. |
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Post by julianna on Jul 9, 2015 9:40:36 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. There is nothing I can add that has not already been said. As time goes on and you have more questions please do not hesitate to ask.
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You and roommie should also both be in the habit of immediately greeting the bird upon arrival home and saying goodbye before leaving. The bird will greatly appreciate this, and in general will get angry if it feels ignored.
I've already been handling my Quaker about two days (at the home where he's being raised) and she loves to cuddle and quake. 
But I'll keep looking at a secondhand store or something. 