The Best Quaker Parrot Diet
|
by Kyra Brown Because diet affects the length and quality of life of pet birds, it's important to feed the best diet possible to our Quaker Parrots. And while it's true that even the experts still argue over what is the best diet, here is one Quaker owner's opinion on the subject. A list of toxic foods is included at the bottom of the article. |
"What you put in is what you'll get out", is an old expression that still rings true today, especially as it pertains to the diet of Quaker Parrots. Perhaps you have already owned a bird, or two, or three, or more in your life and already know all there is to know about diet as it relates to health in the companion parrot, and if so, Congratulations! You have outdone avian medicine, breeder study, and science all together.
What I am trying to say is that no one has proven a 100% guaranteed, healthy, risk-free way to feed a captive parrot as of yet. Our responsibility as birdie parents is simply to provide the most well balanced, planned, variety of healthy foods possible to our Quakers, and then hope for the best.
Feeding a Variety of Foods
General consensus among bird enthusiasts, avian medicine, and professional breeders is that a pellet based diet is superior to a seed based diet and any possible drawbacks to the pellet based diet are far surpassed by the potential benefit.
What do I mean by "pellet based"? Just like it sounds, the diet is centered on a constant offering of high quality companion parrot pellet food, with a generous offering of fresh unseasoned vegetables, fruits, dairy, carbohydrates, and protein. Sound familiar? It should!
Simply put, our Quakers should eat as we should. Not as we do, however. Quakers are somewhat prone to fatty liver disease and hypertension, and therefore it is extremely important to offer them only foods that are low in saturated fats and sodium (salt). There is some debate over the ratio in which our birds should eat, but it is somewhere between 60%/40% pellets-fresh food and 80%/20% pellets/fresh food. Your Quaker will probably set its own pace somewhere within that acceptable range.
To Feed Seeds or Not
Does this mean that Quaker Parrots never eat bird seed? NO! Anyone who denies their Quaker both the pleasure of cracking seed and the dietary benefit of variety, is, in my opinion, doing their bird a terrible injustice. Cracking seed is a natural bird behavior, an excellent behavioral enhancer, and, well, just the right bestowed by wearing feathers. It is essential to feed only a superior quality, well stored, low fat seed, however. This would preferably be a parakeet (Budgie) mixture that does not contain sunflower seeds.
Sunflower and pumpkin seeds in bird seed are very high in fat and should be reserved for the occasional "special treat" food only. Wild bird and human prepared seeds are loaded in salt and should never be offered your Quaker. Premium seed mixtures for parakeets should be available at the dealer where you purchase your pellets and should be offered as approximately a 10% dietary supplement, preferably mixed in with the pellets. My Quaker, Tango, loves to pick through his food dish, and I have never had a problem with him only wanting the seed. Remember though, Oats are a grain, or carbohydrate, and not a seed. Quakers love them, but they should be fed in moderation as well.
As with any bird, your Quaker will crack open the seed, eat the contents, and leave the hull behind. Quite often this gives the visual impression that the bird has not eaten any or all of the seed, although there may be nothing left behind but the "suitcase". Check this thoroughly when deciding whether or not your Quakers food needs replacing.
The Importance of Clean Water
All birds must be offered a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water. It is simply a bird trait to soil the water dish, and you will just have to get used to changing it many times every day. If at all possible, it is probably healthiest to provide your parrot with bottled non-carbonated mineral water. If you must use tap water for your bird you should bring it to a rapid boil first and allow it to cool before placing it in the container. This will help destroy potentially toxic bacteria that grow in the water as it sits in the house pipes and also boils out many of the chemicals added at the water treatment plant. Although we humans are able to tolerate many of these substances, our body mass is substantially larger and our significantly smaller avian friends are not as adept.
Further, another option is to offer your Quaker a birdie bottle, which is a plastic, gravity fed water bottle with an incorporated stopper to prevent food from being inserted through the tip, blocking the gravity feed. Many Quakers adjust well to these bottles, and if you work all day, this a great option. Do not remove your Quakers water dish when not at home until you know for sure your bird has adjusted to the bottle, and be sure to change the water inside the bottle frequently as well, even if there is a lot left.
It is not alright to let your bird drink contaminated, soiled, foul water no matter how many pet stores you see that allow it. If you wouldn't drink it, don't allow your baby to. Also, it is not necessary, nor is it healthy, to add vitamins to your birds drinking water. Most vitamins oxidize in the water after a very short period of time and are actually contaminating it!
Eating is a Flock Activity
Eating is not only a means to achieve nutrition and energy, eating is a very social activity for birds as it is for us human kind. Most Quaker Parrots truly enjoy eating with their families, and I think this is preferable whenever possible. There is an excellent bird behavior specialist/author who claims that certain birds have suffered from anorexia for being denied the right to participate in meal time with their human flock-mates. Participating in mealtime is also desirable because most Quakers eat fairly small portions several times a day and breakfast and lunch with the family will provide your Quaker the opportunity to enjoy freshly prepared human food at least twice a day.
Things to Avoid
There are several things already mentioned that are bad for your birds, fatty foods, salty foods, moldy or otherwise unfit foods should all be avoided. There are certain things that present an even more immediate danger to your Quakers health and should NEVER be allowed. These include caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine. These things are bad for you, and deadly for your bird. Although some people do allow their Quakers to taste their beer and other (mind altering) things, there is truly no need for this, and I do not understand why you would take the risk. You have the ability to make an educated decision about what you consume, your Quaker does not.
Harmful Foods for Parrots
The following foods are toxic to your Quaker: Avocadoes, chocolate, apple seeds, and the pits of most fruits, i.e. cherry, peach, etc. Do not allow your bird to consume these three things under any circumstances. Some Quakers have ingested chocolate without harm, but others have died within hours. Please avoid that possibility.
35 Comments on The Best Quaker Parrot Diet »
September 27, 2007
dean geary @ 11:28 am:
I give my quacker a combination of pellets and bird seed which have in them shelled peanuts unsalted sunflower seeds corn pumpkin seeds, this was given to him when i bought him at the pet store and i have kept the same diet for him, and he seems to do quite well on it. Sometimes i will give him what i am eating at the time just to let him taste it.
October 22, 2007
Caitlyn @ 1:59 pm:
That is very bad for him. Slowly mix in more pellets and seed that doesn't have sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts. It may seem fine now, but later it will make him sick. The life span of your quaker has already been shorterned quite a bit.
Ginger @ 9:46 pm:
A friend is giving me a Quaker because of her allergies and asthma. I have a Red factor canary already. Are the two birds compatible in the same room. Will it stress my canary to have another bird around or will he welcome the noisy company. He seems to be lonely because I amm gone most of the day. He speaks to me when I get home. He sings as I work in the house. Will he stop singing or will the parrot take up singing? What do you guys think?
December 9, 2007
Brittany @ 2:19 pm:
I have a quaker and a regular yellow male canary at home and although their cages are not in the same room Kiwi (my quaker) spends a lot of time in the same room and the canary LOVES having another bird to watch and talk to. You should quarantine the new bird at first just so you can be sure your not bringing in any illnesses. So I would say afterwards slowly introduce the two.
December 13, 2007
Joe @ 6:14 pm:
What veggies and fruit do people recommend to feed the Quaker. Our's is 7 months old.
December 19, 2007
Connie @ 12:20 pm:
Mine loves raw zuchini, spinach leaves, celery, tomatillo, radish,snow pea, red pepper, and in smaller quantities - grape, strawberry, apple, and banana. Especially loves these veg's cooked, and although will not eat carrot or onion raw, likes it cooked.
Has been moulting since July - ugh! Are his daylight hours too long, at 6am - 8pm? I'm gone all day, and only get to visit from 6-8am, then 4-8pm.
December 28, 2007
Amanda @ 1:10 pm:
I just got a quaker for christams and I don't know how to tell how old it is or what sex it is. Can anyone help me?
I would also apperciate any helpful tips I might need to know.
Thanks, Amanda
January 23, 2008
Este Dessels @ 2:26 pm:
I have a Quakerparrot green almost 14 years old how old do the quakerparrot gets
February 18, 2008
Rory Hodgen @ 12:16 am:
Hi, I was wondering if it was alright to feed lima beans soup to my quaker Jack?
thanks Rory
Rory Hodgen @ 12:17 am:
I have a book on quakers, and it said about 45yrs.
Rory Hodgen @ 12:21 am:
my jack loves almost all kinds, he realy loves warm cooked brocoli also love plums, potatoes, any kind of veggies and peanutbutter
Marti Anderson @ 1:53 pm:
Hi everyone. I'm new to the site. I just had to rehome my 2cockatiels because of my husband's allergies. We didn't know he had any. I want to get another bird and everyone I've talked with says quakers are not hyper allergic birds. Anybody have a similar situation.
February 19, 2008
Carla Thomas @ 8:19 pm:
Hi,Connie, try having your birds with you in the morning and putting them to bed around 6:00 P.M. On weekends just like kids, let them stay up an hour longer. Although they enjoy time with us just like children they appreciate a regular schedule. They like to return to the roost before dark to reconnect with their home and flock . It gives them a sense of normalcy like they would have in the wild and regular sleep hours are very important to their health and well being.
Carla Thomas @ 8:37 pm:
Hi, Ginger, Aside from the quarentine, just like introducing any new animal into the home, the birds will have time getting acquainted with each other through vocaliztion . In time they will form their own relationship , whatever that will be and they will enjoy each other from their own cages.
Carla Thomas @ 8:53 pm:
Hi Amanda, A male Quaker in time will tend to display strutting and vocal displays, and perhaps raise itself up some what as a rooster would strut to show its prowess or interest in you as a mate, if it is young that may not happen for some time. If it is a female, during breeding season it may arch its back and slightly, slowly with eyes a glaze kind of chirp in an affectinate tone, to let you know it is interested in you as a mate. Males will often want to masterbate on a favorate toy or perch, or you as a sign of interest. Totally normal, and don't think just because of this normal display, you need to get them a mate. Not necessary, and this will pass, although they may bond to you as their mate even more. Take it as a compliment, and remember certain times of year as the days become longer and food in the wild would be more plentiful , this is normal. Please also note because of the hormones they may or may not become more aggressive, be patient this too shall pass and they will be their sweet selves again. all normal.
Carla Thomas @ 8:59 pm:
Hi Este, On average 20 years.
Carla Thomas @ 8:59 pm:
Hi Este, Or 30 years.
Carla Thomas @ 9:08 pm:
Hi Marti, Try frequent baths for the birds, daily mistings, air purifier, cage in a room not frequented by Hubby, with play gym in family or frequented room. Clean, Clean cages. If fed any kind of seed, keep cleaned up, that can also trigger allergies, not just the bird. Dander and dust are the culprits. If worst comes to worst try an aquarium, fish can come to recognise their owners and with a wide variety of aquatic life, can be very entertaining and a fun hobby.
March 1, 2008
Saundra Thomsen @ 3:03 am:
Hi! I was considering getting a Quaker as an addition to my home. Is there any advise you can give me about taking care of them? My husband tends to go to be early and doesn't want to be kept up by a ton of screeching and hollaring. Is there anyway to help with these problems?
Saundra
darlene rees @ 1:40 pm:
Hey..I have a quaker named sweetie(though some will disagree!!). I have had her for a year and she was about 4 months old when I got her. I wanted to know if there is any red pepper i can buy for her from the store or order online. She loves the ones in the seeds, but there is not many in there. If i put one in her food bowl she goes for it like a dog to a bone! I'm not sure if she is male or female. Sometimes I think she is male because she tends to favor me and my daughter and attacks almost all males in the house and sometimes ones that drop by. Could this be a sign that she is male? Also, I have her on a seed diet. I tried to convert her to pellets when we first got her but she would have nothing to do with it. She also gets to eat dinner with the family and loves every minute of it! She sits on the edge of my plate and samples my food. Is this harmful to her other than spoiling her rotten as my boyfriend says I am doing? Thanks and sorry I was longwinded..but i have SO many questions!!
March 2, 2008
shannon molloy @ 3:14 pm:
hi shannon here. have a quaker who is plucking her feathers and biting the flesh of her leg. she is spoiled rotten with toys and has company most of the day. out of cage for hours so not happening due to boredom. anyone else have this problem. vet putting it down to a number of "might be's" any comments. At present being treated with antibiotic and cream.
March 3, 2008
Jenny @ 4:42 pm:
I just heard
that you can tell the sex of the bird on the way that their forhead looks like and also on their beak
March 24, 2008
Rachel @ 8:15 pm:
My mom taught me this. Take a needle and thread and hold the needle above anything you wish to sex. If the needle goes in a circle it is a girl and back and forth it is a boy. IT REALLY WORKS! It has something to do with the magnetic forces we all have in our bodies. Try it on yourself if you don't believe me. She sexed all six of her children in the womb. I also raise white doves and quail, cats and chickens. I can go to an animal auction and sex each one to get only what I am need of. Good luck!
March 26, 2008
Becky @ 1:38 pm:
This is an answer to the woman who has the quaker on the seed diet. In my opinion a seed diet is the worse diet for a bird. I have 12 birds (8 Quakers, 2 Senegals, 2 Parrotlets) and they have all been converted to a pellet diet. You have to start slowly by introducing some pellets into the cage. Slowly take more and more seeds away that way they have no choice but to eat the pellets. They will eventually be converted to a pellet diet. Good Luck! It is the healthiest thing you can do for your precious bird. :o)
March 28, 2008
theresa @ 5:53 am:
I have a Quaker now. I wasn't expecting it, we were working on a job at the beach at a condo, one of the up stair units has a Quaker, I guess in this location there are wild Quakers or someone has let some a few go free or maybe one of the huricanes they got out, anyway they have been chewing through the screens at the condo to get to this bird up stairs, not only chewing through the sceens in that unit but the other as well. I was returning a key and as they opened the door this bird was on the patio, she was slaping it as it was attacking her bird. I asked to come in and I covered the holes on the patio so I could place a towel over the bird to remove it. She let me barrow her extra cage for transfering the bird it's very small. I stoped by the pet store for food and a dish for food and water. He is the sweetest bird he just plays and I can reach my hand in the cage for food and water and he just watches. She does bit, he just doesn't know any better although we can pet his back a little. I feel sorry for him he has been flying around with the other Quakers that are on the beach. I don't want to let him go on the Island so far from his kind and I am afaid to let him go back fear of them hurting him for coming on the patios. I really can't afford a big cage right now for him. The guy at the pet shop said I could leave him, but I didn't, I didn't want him to be traped in a small cage there and maybe go to someone who can't take care of him. Believe this he hasn't made noises like the sqauking like the bird at the condo, just makes a aligator sound. What shoud I do? Theresa
April 2, 2008
kASSIE @ 3:09 pm:
i AM TRYING TO CONVERT MY QUAKER TO PELLETS AND IT IS NOT WORKING I BOUGHT THE KAYTEE PELLETS THAT SMELL LIKE FRUIT LOOPS IN A WAY!! AND HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM I TRIED JUST PUTTING THOSE PELLETS IN THERE AND HE DID NOT EAT ANY OF THEM BUT WHEN I PUT HIS SEEDS BACK HE ATE THE SEEDS.. I HAVE ALSO TRIED PUTTING THE PELLETS IN WITH HIS SEEDS AND HE DOES NOT EVEN TOUCH THEM… HE LOVES PASTA SO IS IT OK TO GET RID OF PELLETS AND JUST GIVE HUMAN FOOD AND SEEDS…. THANKS PEEPS FOR READING AND THANX TO THE ONES THAT RESPOND TO ME.. PEACE OUT..
April 8, 2008
Amalia @ 3:53 pm:
Would someone please help me we have a quaker that is 1 year old but we dont know if it is a male or female.
thank you
April 13, 2008
lisa @ 5:47 pm:
I just got a quaker, I have never had a bird before. I am feeding it millet spray, pellets, seeds. I gave it some apple, zuccini, grapes, does not seem to interested in that. My cat parks itself next to the cage and reaches in,the bird goes right to the cat and nips its toes. I think they like each other. Is this entertaining for the bird? Do they really need outside of the cage time? It is very sweet and nibbles on me when in the cage, but when I let it out it went eagle on me,. Any advice would be appreciated…
April 17, 2008
Rosa Weathers @ 3:49 pm:
My vet said that a quaker can eat anything except avocados and rubarb they are both very toxic to them..my quaker eats regular small parrot seed and anyhting we give him, so it may just be finicky, i have an amazon that will only take pizza crust and puff cheetos from me but eats seed and peanuts very well..so just experiment..my birds cages are open all the time , they go up on the top of their cages whenever they want, come nite time they go down in their cages and go to sleep no covers just dark room, they have a room to themselves with a tv and dvd they love to watch(spoiled) i have a cat who was very interested in them at first but now he has accepted them as family members, my cat actually runs when they scream, so he respectes them but some cats are bird lovers so be careful..oh and my birs wings are clipped so they dont fly crazy like when we first got them,they get clipped about every 3 to 4 months.hope that helps..
April 22, 2008
jenn dillow @ 11:52 pm:
ginger, i have had quakers for 22 yrs and they can be very aggressive. i would be very careful not to put your canary to close to the quaker.in the same room would be ok but not in the same cage.
April 23, 2008
jenn dillow @ 12:21 am:
every time i try to feed my quakers pellets they poo in it. they want nothing to do with it. they like seed,pasta,grapes,uncooked sweet potatoes.sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A which is very important in their diet.just feed them what you eat except the toxic stuff and the bad stuff like sugar,salt etc.they will let you know what they like.like i said i have had my quakers for 22 yrs. the only problem i have now is that my one quaker has started to mutilate himself.why i don't know,but he has chewed part of one of his toes off.i have him seperated from the other quaker now. until it heels,i know the other quaker chews on him sometimes so i can't take any chances.
April 25, 2008
Marla @ 12:13 am:
I am a brand new Quaker Parrot human as of this afternoon! My husband presented "her" to me for our anniversary. I am not new to feathered friends, we have an Umbrella Cockatoo and a Mullocan Cockatoo, but am to her breed of parrot. I've basically been reading up on everything I can (which is what I do BEFORE I usually rescue an animal) about Quakers and their personalities, diet, housing, etc. I am keeping her quarantine from the "Big Boys" until I can get her to the vet and until he recommends introducing them. What I am seeking is advice from anyone owned by a Quaker, cats and other animals. As expected, our 4 cats are extremely curious about the new addition. I'm really hoping that they'll lose interest in time-anyone have any advice!?!?!? THANK YOU in advance-all of these comments have been extremely helpful! Any further I'm sure will be even more so!
April 27, 2008
Patti @ 9:54 pm:
Hi Marla
I have 3 good-natured cats and a Quaker and they all seem to get along pretty well with each other for about three months now. The cats are curious but surprisingly gentle - they prefer to sniff and watch his antics. He gets noisy when he wants social time out of the cage and though you'd expect that he would choose to fly to his chosen location, he prefers to skitter across the floor to herd the furballs around the kitchen and living room. Popeye has learned how to mimic the noise I make to call the trio for dinner and has a habit of sending them all running into the room for his own amusement, then taunts them from behind bars. I think as long as you supervise any fur and feather meetings and be ready to step in quickly, you shouldn't have much trouble. These little guys are feisty and I often have to save the cats from some overzealous nipping once he's gotten them cornered.
I'm trying to actually switch off an all-seed diet and I'm worried as the little guy's been around since I was 6 (now 21) and the place my family got him assured us that all-seed was the way to go. When I started caring for him, I learned how wrong that advice was and now I'm trying to steer him in a healthier direction. He seems to want to eat whatever he sees me eating so it looks like both of us will be snacking on fruit and veggies from now on.
Is it a bad idea to let him have the occasional bit of pizza crust or chip? He has a strange fascination with lapping up the remains of a bowl of ice cream as well and it seems as if this article recommends dairy, but is it wise to allow in this situation? Thank you in advance and I hope I helped a bit about the cat issue.
May 12, 2008
vanessa @ 5:40 am:
I have a 8 month old Grey and recently acquired two Quakers. Their cages are quite close together and the one quaker seems to make a heck of a noise (shouting) could she be scared of my grey?
How do i teach them to "step up", so i can take them out for a cuddle? They eat Harrisons pellets and dont seem to want any of the fresh food my grey eats, is this ok?
diane @ 8:23 am:
my baby quaker is just now 5 weeks he is hand fed and recently (a few days)he trys to eat seecd and drink water from a shallow bowl my question is ?do i continue feeding hin the same amt of food ?and now he flaps his wings and we just bought him a cage i put a card bord on the bottom of the cage so he doesnt get urt he seens to enjoy he cageand he loves lots of attn the cardbord on botton ok for him?