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Post by rickygonzalez on Nov 9, 2015 12:26:12 GMT -5
So, Sonic has started a trend in my family. My nephew who is 12 now has a cockatiel, my niece who is 8, will be getting a budgie in the next day or two. That's okay I guess.... but now, their cousin who is 10, wants a Quaker. My concern is, as we all know Quakers can be a bit temperamental. I don't want him to get bit and lose interest. I have talked with the boy and his parents, they both still want to get it.... the boy and his parents want to meet Sonic, I don't really know the boy well enough to make a call on whether or not the boy is mature enough to handle a qp.... what do you all think?
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Post by sherri on Nov 9, 2015 12:50:52 GMT -5
I don't suggest it. I have a 12 year old grandson that lives with me and he has been bitten more than once. At first he was gung ho to play with Sassy, now he will play for a few minutes and he is done.
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Post by easttex on Nov 9, 2015 13:32:12 GMT -5
I agree. The kid will probably be fine, but after a few bites he will lose interest and the bird will wind up neglected, unless he is a very mature kid who can learn quickly to respond properly and put the needs of the bird first. Kids that young can't be expected to do that. I think it would be terribly irresponsible of the parents, but in the end there isn't much you can do if they won't listen to you.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Nov 9, 2015 14:32:37 GMT -5
If you do meet them so they can see Sonic and the kid seems mature enough then as long as they understand how to properly care for a parrot and that the kid will get bit at times it may be fine. I received my quaker as a birthday gift when I was 13 and while I always have been told by friends and people who meet me that I am mature for my age I did not understand how to properly care for one and he became neglected for far too long and I hate that I did what I did. If the kid is wanting a bird as a pet and understands the responsibility of a pet then maybe it would be best to start off with a more gentle bird like a dove. Doves are naturally tame and friendly and like a parrot will still form a strong bond and become a long time companion. If they are set on the more parrot-like birds than a budgie or a cockatiel would be better than a quaker because like you said, quakers can be temperamental and bite and while any bird can bite, the bigger the beak the bigger the bite.
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Post by siobhan on Nov 9, 2015 15:28:44 GMT -5
It depends entirely on the child. I know a 13-year-old who is mature enough that I would leave her in charge of anyone or anything without a qualm. I know a 21-year-old that I wouldn't leave in charge of a plush toy. No bird is a "starter" bird. They are all thinking, feeling creatures who deserve the best care possible. My budgie can and will bite and is more likely to break skin than my cockatoo, who is actually careful to NOT break skin. So if biting is going to be a problem, any kind of bird is the wrong companion for this boy.
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Post by julianna on Nov 9, 2015 15:42:17 GMT -5
For the amount of time and effort that I put into taking care of my Oscar I do not think any young child can properly care for a QP. If the parents are willing to step in (because they eventually will need to) and help out with the QP then it should work. Most parents end up being the care taker of the QP and the child has it for play times only.... When other young girls come into the boys life... there will be major changes. My vote would be no.
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Post by aaron on Nov 11, 2015 18:21:52 GMT -5
Yeah, while there are certainly some 13 year olds out there that could handle a Quaker, I'd say there are *substantially* less 10 year olds... And Quakers require a lot of attention and devotion to be happy. It would take a remarkably mature 10 year old to understand the breadth of a Quaker's needs to be able to meet them adequately. I would advise against it.
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Post by bruce on Nov 11, 2015 19:39:17 GMT -5
I guess I am on the fence on this one. I think a really mature, emotionally stable 12 or 13 year old could manage a Quaker. The concerns would be if anyone in the household is noise adverse, and if everyone understands Quakers frequently bite the hand that feeds them. After 2+ years with my QP, I am beginning to feel like I have a clue what he is likely to do in a situation, but, sometimes he surprises me with quite aggressive behavior that doesn't seem proportional to the circumstance (i.e. his attacks on me when I change his water sipper). That said, many of the resources I have looked at over the years suggest one of the best parrots for an adolescent to start with is a Quaker. Hopefully everyone will be fully committed if they decided to make one a member of the family.
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Post by biteybird on Nov 12, 2015 2:23:21 GMT -5
I guess whatever is decided upon, it must be remembered that quakers are long-lived, so whoever ends up looking after the bird the majority of the time is in it for "the long haul". Good luck with the decision!
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 9:59:49 GMT -5
I guess whatever is decided upon, it must be remembered that quakers are long-lived, so whoever ends up looking after the bird the majority of the time is in it for "the long haul". Good luck with the decision! And of course, a 10 year old isn't capable of making that decision for themselves, so it is the parents who will have to be okay with the possibility of ending up with a Quaker in their care for the next 30 years... |
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Post by rickygonzalez on Nov 12, 2015 13:14:38 GMT -5
I think I have the kid talked down to a cockatiel, which I think is more age appropriate... We shall see, if he gets a QP at least I'll be there to take him in when/if the kid gets tired of the bird... Life with two quakers doesn't sound appealing to me though.... Let's hope for a cockatiel.... Lol
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Post by siobhan on Nov 12, 2015 13:17:46 GMT -5
I have always been of the opinion, instilled in me by my own parents, that whenever you bring a creature into the family "for a child," it's really the parents who will oversee care (and it SHOULD BE, because they are the adults and should make sure the animal is being properly cared for). The parents are the ones taking the responsibility even if the child is in charge of day-to-day feeding, cleaning up, walking and so on. If the parents aren't willing to take that on, don't bring the animal home. Adults who would leave all the care of any living thing in the hands of a child and not supervise and oversee, are irresponsible. Yes, you want to teach the kid about duty and love and kindness to an animal. But you can't let an animal suffer because a kid has baseball practice and forgot to fill the water dish.
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 14:44:50 GMT -5
Yeah... my parents got me a Cockatiel when I was 10 years old... and they still have him, 24 years later  Nine times out of ten, it's not the child that ends up keeping the bird, I'd wager. I agree, Ricky, life with two Quakers sounds incredibly daunting Totally agree, Siobhan. |
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Post by siobhan on Nov 12, 2015 15:28:05 GMT -5
Two Quakers isn't that much more than one. Of course, at my house the motto seems to be "always room for one more!"
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Post by rickygonzalez on Nov 12, 2015 20:20:14 GMT -5
I had to take care of my nephew's cockatiel for a month recently.... It was not fun. Not to mention Sonic hates her.... Another quaker, don't think Sonic would like that.... The parents know they HAVE to be involved in the daily care of any bird they choose. They say they're willing to do it. So.... Time will tell I guess...
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Nine times out of ten, it's not the child that ends up keeping the bird, I'd wager. I agree, Ricky, life with two Quakers sounds incredibly daunting