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Mybbusername
Member
08-22-2002
| Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 12:21 pm
After years of talking myself out of it, I have decided to buy a quaker parrot. Anyone out there have pet birds? Wanna share your stories and wisdom with me?
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Ruiner
Member
08-31-2003
| Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 6:51 pm
Hey! Thx for starting this thread! I was a bit shy about it and been pondering it for a while. We need a bird thread here. I know there are other people with birds. Quaker parrots are great little birds! One thing I have to caution you about, other than their very loud voices, it that they are NOT LEGAL in many states. I have a suspicion where you live they might not be. I remember reading an article about them being considered a nuisance in your state and measures that are taken to rescue their nest from power line/transformer sites. Let me do ya a little research and see what I can find...I'll try to post some links in a bit...
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 7:04 pm
Parrots are great if you don't mind being saddled with a '2 year old' for possibly the rest of your life.
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Ruiner
Member
08-31-2003
| Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 7:18 pm
Okay, so I was wrong about your state...theres's also a bit of info about the little guys... http://www.quakerville.com/qic/statelaw.asp Ftr...I have 5 '2 year olds'. Ophiliasgrandma - you always are to the point!
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 7:44 pm
We had Oliver a citron-crested cockatoo for all of his life, 14 years. He had a congenital birth defect which shortened his life. He was a wonderful little boy, but I can't say I was all that heart broken to be relieved of all the hard work it took to properly look after him, plus the monthly expense of about $35 for the vet to address his problem
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Mybbusername
Member
08-22-2002
| Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 9:57 am
I have always been kind of fond of 2 year olds, so I cant wait. I am officially the proud Mommy of an egg. Within a few months I should be able to bring my baby home. I am not even going to attempt hand-feeding (although the breeder is just minutes from my office so I'll be able to join my baby for lunch). I welcome any advise about bringing him home and making his transition as easy for him as possible. Also, I have two dogs...and am a little worried...about their safety (ha ha) they are both large dogs, but have helped with countless orphan babies rehab/release including wild birds,an injured pelican, squirrels and even 3 baby racoons)so they are seasoned to strange critters. But how will my baby bird feel about them? Any ideas as to how to acclimate them to one another? Thanks so much for sharing with me.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 11:57 am
Oliver kept Trinket (dog) and Ophelia (cat)in their place with no problem. My son has an African Grey who he got acquainted with from the egg until he took her home. It was a nice, easy transition. She is now his pride and joy...spoiled, but nevertheless his baby. Her name is Percy as they didn't know the sex at first. When he learned it was a girl the name was too well established to change.
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Midlifer
Member
04-16-2003
| Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 1:49 pm
I have a Quaker Parrot named Bobby, and he keeps me laughing. QP's have an amazing vocabulary, and Bobby usually waits until I'm trying to nap when he goes through his assortment of phrases: "Hi, Bobby! "Bobby want a cracker" "Bobby! Huh? Bobby! Huh?" "Stop!" (he says that when I speak to him a stern tone) An amazing assortment of laughs and guffaws that, strangely enough, mimic mine! He snores when you snore. And my personal favorite phrase of his: "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!" They're such fun!
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Mybbusername
Member
08-22-2002
| Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 10:47 am
"Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!" Too funny. My former neighbor had a macaw that could mimic my then 4 year old sons voice perfectly and really kept me on my toes with piercing cries/screams of "Mooommmmmmmyyyy!!!!! (That same son turns 16 today...if you drive in Florida consider yourselves warned). I thought then that the parrot was teasing me, having a laugh at my expense, but I convinced myself that I was giving him way too much credit...after talking to so many people and reading so many books it seems I was more right than paranoid, afterall. He may have been toying with me. It seems that parrots have a "sense of humor" not completely unlike our own and that teasing is one of their favorite games. Anyone have any experience or knowledge of hairspray/cleaners/cigarette smoke/air fresheners with birds? Every source seems to have a different list of what is harmful and what is not? And finally, I live in Florida where quakers are common in the wild, and today at lunch, on VERY busy US19, I saw 6 wild parrots flying in squadron style, almost like they were showing off. They were so in sync (sp?) with each other it was really gorgeous and made me almost sad that my baby will not be able to enjoy what surely must be the elation and liberation of free flight. Alas, he will have to settle for only enough wings to keep him from crashing. Until seeing the parrots today I don't think I really considered what my baby will have to sacrifice in order to be mine.
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Midlifer
Member
04-16-2003
| Friday, April 16, 2004 - 9:05 am
But the life you give that bird will be so vaulable to him/her. Bobby LOVES to be around us humans (he really doesn't think he's a bird), and he gets lonely when we're not there. As soon as I get home from work, I walk through the door into the Family Room (where Bobby "lives"), he perks his head up and practially shouts, "HI, BOBBY!" (and I always answer him with the same phrase and enthusiasm). He brings me so much joy (and, yes, aggravation, too when he starts to "squawk" during a critical moment in a TV show...the problem is, when I yell at him to shut up,he gets LOUDER!...Don't tell me those birds aren't smart!) But I love him, and I know that he feels like he's a special part of our family.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Friday, April 16, 2004 - 9:28 am
I used to squirt Oliver with a spritz of water when he'd scream. Cockatoos are the kings of screaming and can just about rupture your eardrums. Anyway, he got the idea and eventually all I needed to do was just shake the bottle and he'd go back to a nice conversational tone. Why a lot of birds wind up in pet shops for resell is because the owners let them develop unsocial behavoriors...screeming and whistling. My heartfelt advice is never to let your bird learn to wolf whistle and to scream and screech. You won't be able to stand him. If you absolutely must let him whistle, then teach him a nice little tune such as Row Row Your Boat or Happy Birthday...but do it is a quiet way.
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Midlifer
Member
04-16-2003
| Friday, April 16, 2004 - 10:09 am
Mybb, I didn't answer your question about harmful things to birds. I know that they're susceptible to drafts, so I keep Bobby away from heat registers and windows, and it only makes sense that cigarette smoke would be harmful (but that's not an issue in my house since we don't smoke nor will we allow anybody to smoke in our house), but I have heard that chocolate is a deadly thing for a bird to eat. I only feed Bobby crackers, bits of raw vegetables, and he LOVES hard boiled egg and apples. Basically, healthy food. He also lives off of pellets, not birdseed. Birdseed has a high fat content, so avoid that if you can. I get the "Exact" brand of pellets (pet stores, like Petsmart, carry that brand).
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 6:36 pm
Well, I have a nest with 5 eggs on my patio in a hanging plant. I am expecting babies any day now and wonder about taking a picture. I don't want to upset the babies, so I am guessing I should try to get a pic during the day, otherwise the flash will startle everyone. This is of course, if Mom will let me get near the nest. I have to water the plant the nest is in every 2-3 days so that the plants keep the nest hidden, so they are somewhat accustomed to me coming out on the patio. It is driving my kitties nuts, these birds invading "their" backyard, LOL. Once the babies are born I will have to restrict their access to the patio.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 10:52 pm
OMG, when Mom went off, I checked the nest and there is only one egg not hatched. The babies are smaller then my little finger tip and have a bunch of fuzz. I am so happy, it really seems like a gift from my Mom, the eggs were layed right when I left for the memorial and there are 5 kids in the family. How marvelous is that. Should I leave the porch light on to get them used to it, or just leave it dark? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
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Mybbusername
Member
08-22-2002
| Friday, April 23, 2004 - 7:11 am
Dipo-So sorry about your Mom. How cool is it that you have babies? Do you know what kind of babies? I have no idea about the light, I would imagine whatever you have been doing was okay or the Momma would not have built her nest there. New babies, of all species, are great for the spirit. I hope these babies help with the lose of your mother.
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Ruiner
Member
08-31-2003
| Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 7:53 pm
I keep meaning to pop in here....but you know rl! Bad for birds; heated teflon coatings - if you have a self clean oven, forget it; avacados; cooked food/veggies over 4 hours old - can develop crop infections from bacterial overgrowth. If you plan on any remodeling - board the baby. Most anything that gives off a fume is extremely toxic to the flappy guys. Carpets. Paints. You get the picture. Hairspray, spray air cleaners, shake on carpet cleaners, simmering potpourris, I wouldn't even consider any of these. Just wouldn't take the risk - birds lungs are different than ours. Makes 'em much more sensitive to things. I want to say anything caffinated, BUT, the avian vet I go to told me a story of a macaw that has to have a sip of his persons morning coffee or the day just doesn't start right! His motto, 'moderation'. Btw, I'm fortunate to live in Colorado with one of the absolute best avian vets in the country. He's been at this for 20+ years and knows his stuff! Any info I impart has usually been given the once over by him.... I'll sometimes let my Sagey-baby, patagonian conure, have a sip of my coffee. Then I get this look from her like, 'what was I thinking?' LOL! My birds enjoy, broccoli, grapes with no seeds, zucchini, yellow squash, snap peas, carrots, a bit of spinich, apples... Kaytee makes a 'Kitchen Creations' which is a pasta/veggie/fruit mix, comes in different flavors. 3 minutes in the microwave and they have a hot meal! There are other brands of similar products, 'Crazy Corn' is one. These are made specifically for birds = bird safe. Not to be contrary to Midlifer, but check with your vet as to pelleted vs seed diets. My guy told me Sage shouldn't be on an exclusive pellet diet, danged if I can remember why 6 years later. I feed Kaytee Fiesta, a mix of seed, dried fruits/veggies and pellets. Granted Puffy picks out all the pellets buts at least he eats the cooked/fresh stuff. Another highly recommended thing is 'Missing Link'. It's a powder that has all sorts of essential fatty acids, fiber, phytonutrients, etc...I put it on their dry food and the flappies really go for it! www.designinghealth.com Hope this helps - probably adds to the confusion. Also, I could use a little prayer for my Smokey, she's a 6 yo white-faced cockatiel. A couple of weeks ago, she just didn't seem right. Very vague. My gut knew she was off, even though she was still doing all her usual Smokey things. Took her to the doc. Physical exam was unremarkable. CBC showed a slight elevation in one of the wbc. Not sure why. 2 weeks later for a recheck cbc - now the monocytes are even higher and her eosinophils are elevated. Still not sure why! Put her on flagyl, she's had giardia before. Will be going in for a recheck again Tuesday. One more cbc before more extensive blood testing. More poor little baby, I'm so at a loss. She's still eating well, flying well with no signs of stress....
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 8:05 pm
We have a cockatiel named Patti LaBelle (because of how her crest is always up like a Patti do) and she just recently laid 5 eggs. She seems to be okay. She is very protective of the eggs even though they are not fertilized but she is being the little mommy. I just hope that she will be okay once they are out of the cage. She has had one egg before and we didn't have a problem but this seems a little different.
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Ruiner
Member
08-31-2003
| Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 8:09 pm
Hate to be a 'know-it-all'...if you have any questions about this egg laying....just ask. Smokey went through/goes through this on occasion. There are certain protocols that should be followed... Just ask...I have a folder. Also will check in here.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, April 26, 2004 - 10:56 am
Ruiner, I welcome the information. How long should we keep the eggs in the cage? And how do we get them out without totally traumatizing Patti? Patti is our second cockatiel. Our first was a boy named Henry who was the most wonderful, loving bird. He had quite a repetoire of songs. Patti, on the other hand, gets miffed quite easily and isn't has much a people bird. I just don't want to send her in shock by taking her eggs away too quickly or keeping them in the nest too long.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Monday, April 26, 2004 - 2:22 pm
Well I went out to water the plants, where the babies are, all 5 have hatched and parents are feeding them. But the sparrows have been acting weird around my other hanging plant, so I checked it and I have a nest with 3 eggs in it. It is going to get noisy out there soon!!!!
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Ruiner
Member
08-31-2003
| Monday, April 26, 2004 - 6:46 pm
Dipo - how cool is that! I love wild babies! Mamie - the eggs should remain in the cage 10 - 14 days. I always felt the longer the better. Remove any that get broken as you go along. If you remove them too soon, she may continue laying to replace the gone ones. As to removing them when it's time - do it when she's out of her cage. After all that time she shouldn't really miss them. One thing my vet told me was that after the 3rd egg is laid, I should crush a tropical fruit flavor Tums and sprinkle it over her food. There is a large calcium depletion with egg laying and this will help compensate. I usually continue this until I remove the eggs. Should Patti laying a second clutch this season, start the Tums with the first egg. The second clutch is harder on them. This will give her the boost she needs. Cockatiels are prolific layers given the chance. Try to keep her photo period as close to natural daylight as possible. Offer her no dark corners to lay etc... If she continues to lay clutch after clutch then it is time to see an avian vet. Chronic egg laying can kill a hen or least cause a serious calcium deficiency. An avian vet can best advise you at that point. Good luck. It's cute watching her 'play house' even though nothing is going to come of it! When ever Smokey lays and I let them out for the evening, little Puffy our male cockatiel, will go into her cage and set on 'em. It's so cute! She doesn't seem to mind so I just let it happen. He'll also serenade her from his cage when she's in the laying mood. Too funny! He's just a little romantic at heart!
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, April 26, 2004 - 7:30 pm
Thanks so much Ruiner. I had no idea about the Tums and that is really good to know.
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Colossus
Member
10-04-2003
| Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 5:25 am
From experience; Get a pet bird a young as possible. Teach them early to be handled. Absolutly do not let them develop a scream! (Spray bottles work well) They will mimic your every personality. (It's scary the first time you see yourself in a bird) But what a laugh that can be. Ive had several types. They would sit on my shoulder for hours and watch what i do. Laugh just like me. Crawl down my arm and try to involve themselves with what I was doing. Perenial two year old is the best description. As for clean air; that is VERY important. All the things that make humans sick, make bird sick 50 times faster. And don't give them table scrapes. All that being said; Quakers are the best all around bird. Smart, funny & loving. I miss all of the ones Ive had fromthe little parrotlet (Sprout) to the big guy. (Sunny)
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Mybbusername
Member
08-22-2002
| Monday, May 03, 2004 - 5:50 am
You guys are all so great. I won't be bringing my baby home until he is weaned, but I will be visiting almost everyday to get aquainted and to try and pick the breeders brain! We are pretty careful about chemicals and irritants in the house as my youngest son had pretty rotten asthma as a small child. He hasn't had an attack in many years, but old habits die hard. I will do my very best to not let bad habits develop, and appreciate all the wonderful advise. Colossus, as the former owner of quakers can you tell me about how they are with large families? Half of what I read and hear is that they are very "one owner" birds, and the other half, of course, says the opposite. I know that every bird is a little different, but as a rule what would you say? I only have two sons (teenagers) but it seems that they are never without one or two of their friends, so our house is always full.
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Colossus
Member
10-04-2003
| Monday, May 03, 2004 - 6:06 am
Birds will adopt one or two favorite people they like to be with. Move slowly around them and smile. This is the personality they will take from you. Be patient as they decide if they trust you to handle them. They wont trust everyone all at once. So one person should gain the friendship & trust of the bird, then help the rest of the family. Teenagers (as a rule) do not move slowly or quietly. This will upset them. If they tease the bird once, they will not be received well after that. They are perceptive and will detect all the emotions in whoever is nearby.
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