TheTameParrot.com - Say “BYE” To Your Parrot Problems

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One of the more intelligent birds is the Quaker parrot (also called a Monk Parrot). These birds are in the top 10 list of talking birds. They are very playful, mischief makers, and full of personality.

They are also despised by several states in the US, to the point where they are banned. If caught, the authorities will fine you for owning it

WHY THE BAD REPUTATION?

Quakers have been labeled as “agricultural pests”. In the wild, Quakers form huge colonies, and can threaten native species in their local environments. There are documented cases where thousands of Quakers in New Jersey built a huge society of nests on a power pole, causing it to collapse and knocking out power to a huge area.

Quakers are illegal to sell or own in Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Wyoming, Hawaii, Tennessee, Kansas and Pennsylvania. In Connecticut, you can own but not breed them. In Virginia and New York you must register them!

They are a very hardy bird. They can survive in the northern climates and in areas where most birds can not survive in.

While understandable, it’s a sad situation for a bird that is as friendly as the Quaker.

OWNING A QUAKER

They are loaded with personality! I still remember my first Quaker, Corey. He loved to play. He loved to hide under the sofa and attack any feet that made the mistake of coming too close. It was HIS sofa.

About 15 years ago I lived in Florida, and worked as a deputy sheriff. My partner stopped by while on duty, killing some time. He got too close to Corey’s sofa and soon had a green monster attached to his ankle! Out came the gun…..’WHAT THE…!”

Good thing they don’t have birdy prisons…but he wasn’t allowed out of the cage when my partner came over again.

GREAT TALKERS

Quakers are known to be one of the better talking birds. They are very good at mimicking sounds, and will sit for hours practicing every one of them. If it gets out of hand, simply find a way to distract them. Play with them, offer them a bath, or give them a treat to munch on. Covering their cage for a while can also give you some peace and quite. But in our case, the noise never really bothered us. After raising several large parrots, I guess we learned to block out most of the noise.

>>Download my “The Easy Parrot System” ebook to learn how to teach your Quaker to talk: http://www.TheTameParrot.com/cb/

QUAKER DIETS

Quaker diets are a bit different then other parrots. They are prone to fatty liver disease. A diet high in fats and sugars should be avoided. We tried to keep our birds on a 75% diet of pellets, and fed other foods as a snack. But you need to pay attention to what they are getting.

The normal advice about lots of fruits and vegi’s must be handled carefully. Grapes and other fruits contain high amounts of sugar….so don’t overdue them. Fatty seeds like peanuts and almonds are also going to cause problems if they are feed too many. Some of the big no-no’s are fatty meats like sausage, lunchemeat, and canned meats. Oily fried foods like french fries and potato chips are out. High sugar treats like cereal or muffins are also bad. But my hubby will give them an occasional taste once and a while. With our Quakers, we actually tried to give them as much table foods as possible. A little meat, lots of veggies, and their pelleted diet was all they needed.

If your Quaker is on a poor diet, it will quickly become overweight. This is one of the beginning stages of fatty liver disease. Research has shown that the use of two herbals, dandelion and milk thistle, will help fend off the disease. These medications can be found in most good health food stores. Never medicate your pets without first consulting your vet, and consult them for the proper dosage.

>> I have a whole section dedicated in my ebook to bird diet- The Easy Parrot System - Parrot Diet

THEY LOVE TO WEAVE

Quakers are one of the easiest birds to get toys for! You don’t need anything expensive or fancy. Find them anything to weave through their cage.

My husband worked for the phone company and had long cable ties laying around the aviary. We used them occasionally to tie cages together or secure some feed cups. He laid several on top of our Quaker cage and forgot about them. The next day he found them weaved throughout the birds cage! After that we made sure they had some to play with.

Long strands of cloth and rawhide also make great toys. They are also suckers for toys made from rolls of adding machine tape! They will shred them for hours.

GET THEM AS BABIES

If you have decided a Quaker is for you, try to get them as a baby. Quakers have a tendency to bond with one person. They will definitely protect that person! If I’m taking a nap and Corey is with me, NOBODY gets near me! Even my dogs know better then to mess with me when Corey is on my shoulder.

But adopting an older Quaker will be a lot more difficult. They are set in their ways and will be difficult to train. It can be done, but expect to spend a lot of time, and go through a lot of Band-Aids on your fingers.

I’d love to hear your feedback and comments. Please post them below! Thank you!

We recently reported on the death of a very famous bird…Alex the African Grey. This story still saddens me, as I have been following the progress of the research of Dr. Pepperberg and her staff, and new of the death sort of hit me.

This got me thinking about all the birds I have lost in the past, and in some cases how devastated I became. And now I think about how the loss of the few pet birds I have will effect me…..

How do you deal with the loss of a pet? Can you deal with the depression? Can you function enough to think things out and not be totally devastated by the loss? It’s not possible to answer this. But maybe you will find yourself in a position to help counsel someone who is going through this.

Over the years we have been in this position. Pet owners have called me, inquiring on buying a replacement bird, and they end up talking to me for hours about their pet and how much they miss them. I would take the time to listen, give some gentle advice, and try to help them through this period of grief.

YOUR PET HAS DIED. WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?

It may not seem obvious, but if you have more then one bird in your home you need to investigate the cause of the birds death. Failure to immediately identify the cause of death could end up costing you even more birds.

The only good way to find the cause of death is to take your bird to a qualified avian vet and have an avian necropsy (autopsy) done. This will help to identify any disease that may be transmitted to the rest of your birds, poor diet, or other health issues.

If the bird died as the result of an accident, be sure that the problem is corrected so it won’t happen to other birds.

DEALING WITH GRIEF

I am sometimes amazed at the attitude of people. They do not seem to understand how attached people become to their pets. After spending their day with them, caring for them and playing with them, a huge bond develops. The loss of that pet is devastating!

The entire grieving process is no different then losing your parents, children, or best friend. First, there is the shock of their death. Time freezes, nothing is important any more. They become bewildered and depressed.

Then anger sets in. How did this happen? Who do I blame? Was this the cause of something I did (or didn’t) do? Guilt and fear take over your life.

Depression sets in. They feel saddened by the loss, drained of energy and overwhelmed with emotion.

After some time passes, acceptance takes over. They realize that their life will never be the same, but they must move on. But they will certainly never forget. And with the help of friends, they will eventually recover from their loss.

HONOR YOUR PET

A pet owner will never forget their loved one. And there are a number of ways to continue to honor them.

Make a donation to local agencies that help pets. The Humane Society, a rescue agency, or even for research. There are several organizations that do research into various bird diseases that can always use the support.

There are several websites that have set up memorial sites for your pet. At http://www.rainbowbridge.com has a virtual pet cemetery where you can post pictures and other information about your pet. They also have a grief support center if you just want to talk.

Plant a tree, shrub or flowers to honor your pet. Keep pictures of your pet around your home.

But never, ever forget your pet.

SHOULD YOU GET ANOTHER PET?

That has to be done when you area ready. Don’t rush out and get one the day the pet dies. You must first honor your deceased pet before moving on. You will know when you are ready.

Understand that when you get your new pet, it will not be the same bird you had. The personalities will be different, and you will have to go through a new learning phase. Be patient, things will work out.

DOES THE BIRD’S MATE SEEM DEPRESSED?

Some birds won’t handle the death of a cage mate. Other birds will get along fine. There are many tales about birds mating for life, such as the Lovebird or Doves. This is not the case. They will take on new mates. But they are also capable of feeling the loss. This is also true if they lose their owner. We have taken in a number of rescue cases where the owner died and nobody wanted the bird. The bird was in obvious depression and showing signs of health problems. After a few weeks of giving the bird love and attention, they have fully recovered. They were later sent to a new home.

So keep in mind that the pets may need some grief counseling just as much as the owners.