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Post by leeann62 on Jul 15, 2015 9:27:29 GMT -5
Hello I work delivering news papers on the weekend and I just got my new quaker parrot (Echo). He was hand fed so is very tame. I got him/her on Monday and had to go to work on Friday. This did give me a little time to bond with Echo. I am usually gone on Friday for about 12 to 13 hours and on Saturday for about 10 to 11 hours. I also have a cockatiel, a dog and a cat ( who usually is outside). I am worried about leaving my new parrot for so long. I guess I have several questions. First off with being gone so long on these days will it affect my bonding with Echo? Also with me being gone is it possible for my parrot to bond with my cockatiel more than me? What can I do to keep my parrot at ease while I am gone? I have only had Echo for a little over a week and because it is not a everyday thing will he get use to me being gone on those days? Also when do female quakers start to lay eggs? ( since I do not know the sex of my bird). I guess that is all for now. Please someone help me with this. Thank you
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 15, 2015 19:46:41 GMT -5
Parrots can adapt to even strange schedules their human companions have. There are some Forum members who are experts on that. On those days when you'll be gone for longer periods of time, try to work in at least some quality one-on-one time with Echo. Even just a short time will help. Leaving a radio or TV on while you're out will help Echo feel less alone, and having some favorite toys to play with will help too. Fresh water and non-perisahable food should be provided before you must leave the house. I know of several people who were surprised when what they thought was a male parrot suddenly laid an egg after being with them for a long time.  Based on that, it can be hard to predict when an egg might show up. I'll let those who are experienced with egg-laying parrots weigh in on the age when their parrots first laid an egg. |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 15, 2015 20:32:12 GMT -5
I am out of the house for 11 hours, 5 days a week. Shah has adapted. He knows when it is a work day as I move his cage away from the cockatiels' cage and put a board across the doorway - this means I will be out all day. I leave a radio on for him plus I give him "instructions" for the day - usually "look after the cockatiels, leave your neck alone and I love you". We then have cuddles and, as I am leaving, he calls out "Monkey Breath". He takes his job of looking after the cockatiels very seriously and spends part of the day calling out "Pippin, Pippin" and screaming at them if they are fighting. I notice he also naps during the day. Your quaker will be fine.
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Post by aaron on Jul 15, 2015 21:31:54 GMT -5
Our QP, Cupcake, is home alone a lot, and the schedule is very erratic. We may come and go three or four times or more in a day, and she really has no idea how long we'll be home or how much she'll see us, and while she does clearly get fussy when she picks up on the clues that imply that we'll be heading out soon, she is very tolerant of it in general. If I had one suggestion, I would say enthusiastically and extensively greet your Quaker *immediately* upon arrival, and enthusiastically say goodbye whenever you leave. Make them feel like your top priority when you are coming and going. Cupcake really appreciates it. She is often equally enthusiastic in her responses to our greetings, and if there was any frustration with us being gone, it's almost like she forgets it in the excitement of the greeting. I also always give her a treat when I put her in the cage before we leave. Sometimes I leave an extra one in there "for later". She basically never puts up a fight or a fuss when it's time for us to leave because she knows it means she gets a treat. The one thing she doesn't like is if we think we are about to leave, we put her in the cage, and then something changes and we don't leave for 5 minutes... then she gets grumpy because we're home but she's still caged.  |
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Based on that, it can be hard to predict when an egg might show up. I'll let those who are experienced with egg-laying parrots weigh in on the age when their parrots first laid an egg. 
