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With the increasing popularity of the Quaker (monk) parrot, now might be a good time to cover a few issues related to them. It’s strange how many pet stores know so little about these guys, yet it’s my opinion they are a great starter bird for people just getting into parrots.

Quakers are unique. They are the only bird in their species of parrot. They are the only type of parrot that builds nests in colonies, using whatever materials they can find to construct their nest. All other parrots seek out hollow trees.

They are a fairly quiet bird, but are known to have an occasional “chatter” type of scream. This makes them a good bird for people living in apartments. They have a lot of other similarities to Conures. They are very friendly, easy to train, and are great talkers.

But Quakers have a few health problems that need to be addressed. While these problems can also strike other birds, Quakers are more prone to them. But they can easily be resolved once you recognize the symptoms, and begin early prevention.

FATTY LIVER DISEASE

Quakers are prone to being overweight. This will usually lead to health issues, especially to Fatty Liver Disease. It is also triggered by poor diets, especially those lacking Vitamin B Choline. Choline is necessary for nerve function and fat metabolism… leading to an overweight Quaker! Vitamin B is easily supplied by feeding your bird egg yolks, legumes, and whole grain cereals with their regular diets.

Another vital item missing from their diet is Methionine. This amino acid also helps eliminate fat from accumulating in the liver, bladder and kidneys, and reduces cholesterol in the blood. Methionine is very common in high protein foods like fish, meat, eggs and milk.

Quaker’s are prone to Fatty Liver Disease. So the best prevention is to know and understand their unique nutritional requirements. Avoid high fat diets! The main cause for this is in seed diets. And since seed is a very poor source for Vitamin B Choline and Methionine, you must supplement their seed with other foods.

Some additional methods to prevent FLD is feeding dandelion greens. This herb has been used as a liver aid in many birds, and some tests suggest that it works well with Quakers, and stimulates certain liver functions such as increasing bile production.

One other cause for FLD is the introduction of toxins into the bird’s diet. This “toxic injury” is often caused from eating improperly prepared foods. Diseases caused by E-Coli and Salmonella quickly damage their livers and trigger FLD. Quakers are also very sensitive to household chemicals and other airborne pollutants. Cleaning products, deodorizers, insecticides and other cleaning products must be used with caution around their cage and living area.

Prevention is fairly easy if you understand all of these factors, and watch out for early signs of problems.

Do not let your bird become overweight. Learn how to examine their chest and abdomen. You can “feel” how fat the bird is this way. You could also monitor the bird’s weight by purchasing a digital scale.

Fatty Liver disease will trigger an unusual growth or abnormalities in the beak. This requires constant trimming and shaping of the beak to prevent eating problems.

Look for black spots on the toenails and beak. These are signs of hemorrhaging, similar to a bruise.

If you are uncertain, a quick trip to the vet for a blood test will reveal any problems with the bird. Your vet will prescribe additional vitamins and other meds. DO NOT medicate your bird without first consulting a vet, and never give your bird more vitamins then recommended. This can do more harm to your bird then it helps to prevent.

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