[Jill of Beans]

Hi, I am Jill, I'm a long time bird ownder - cockatiels and parakeets - currently we have keets who have a nest with 3 new hatchlings. Last Thursaday , we got 2 quakers - 6 month old clutch mates, hatched to a pair of quakers in rescue (and has since rehomed) - from a woman who does rescue; she has close to 30 large birds...the drive took longer than expected - but we made it - then we visited for a while - she's awesome, and I got to introduce my fiance' to birds (he is such a city boy and birds really do intimidate him somewhat). He fell in love when he held her TAG, and then her B&G 7 month old Mac, and finally T-Bird a Moluccan 2.....lol when he heard them talking I think it somewhat freaked him out!!

Anyway - we picked up the Quakers, 6 month old clutch mates born to a pair of quaker's in her rescue - and handled mostly by the woman's 8 yr old daughter - who "forgot about them" after a Senegal was dropped off. The one "favorite" is named Pistachio (who is a sweetie and a snuggle bug). The other didn't have a name - we've already decided on Peanut. Peanut is nippy - but that's due to receiving less attention - my mother has already fallen in love with him.

Pistachio is somewhat of a concern for me...the 8yr old would sit and hold him - so he is a bit of a "lap dog" for a bird - he would sit on her chest and snuggle - so he's never learned to "step up" and doesn't sit on a perch, he'll cling to the cage bars, or sit on the bottom of the cage.....I'm told if I work with him that he'll learn to perch....we'll see.

Of course I HAVE to show photos - forgive me - these were taken spur of them moment in their temp cages.


Pistachio:



Peanut:


They are in seperate cages, as suggested by the rescue lady - and we've been letting them "settle in." Well over the weekend - they've been talking amongst themselves (squawks and chirps, etc.) and Pistachio has turned on me - biting quite a bit - totally unlike the bird she was a few days ago....I am in major need of suggestions - do I keep them in seperate cages - do I put them in seperate rooms?? HELP!

[Jill of Beans]

I'm bumping this up - I am sad to say that NO ONE responded to my first post. <sigh>

I have 2 Quakers, Peanut and Pistachio and they have become VERY nasty. Is there anyone out there on the forum that has 2 QP? What advice can you offer? They are in seperate cages, and the "nicer" (Pistachio) of the 2 has become nasty. Peanut has taken really well to my fiance *(who is new to owning birds) and won't allow me to hold him....

I need suggestions, I have them in seperate rooms now, but things are bad - I am considering rehoming 1, just to have the other "calm down" - I hate to do this but am at wits end.

PLEASE HELP!

[QPdad]

Hi Jill,
I'm sorry that your post somehow got lost in the shuffle. That's very unusual for this forum.

I would suggest you try the "rescue" method with Peanut. Have your fiancé take him to an unfamiliar part of the house and "abandon" him for five minutes - then you go and rescue him and spend a little time with no-one else around for awhile.

Hopefully, more people will come along soon with more advice.

[Andie's Mom]

I'm sorry your post seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle...Welcome to the forum.

I agree with QPdad...the rescue technique seems to work quite well. It may take a couple of times to get them to realize you are their buddy.

A week and a half or so isn't very long and sometimes it takes quakers quite a while to show that they are friends and to make new friends. Give it some time...They aren't above bribery you know Pick a treat that you know they'll love and only give it to them when you want them to interact with you or your fiance'
That way they'll learn to associate something good with you two.

I'd definitely keep them in seperate cages and for now since they are clutch mates I'd keep their cages fairly close together, and move them a little farther and farther apart a little at a time. Think of how you would be if you'd been raised in the same room as a sibling and then all at once you were seperated. You'd call and scream to your sibling as well. Make sure they have plenty of toys and that they learn how to play with them. They'll need to be shown and taught to play just like any other baby.

It may take a little while but they will get used to being seperated. They will still enjoy play time together though I'm sure. Something else I would try is when you guys are having one on one time you take the one you are playing with totally out of eye sight of the other, so he remains focused on you. That's a good time for the special treat. You can work on stepping up and you can also work on teaching them to perch.

Good luck. You're going to love these quakers.

[Julies Jungle]

I have 5 clutch mates. I bought 3 of them then a friend gave me 2 and they are the clutch mates of mine. Well she had 2 caged together for about a year and they were mean with a capital M. Well I seperated them but they are all in the same room together. After several bites and some blood shed they are calming down and stepping up and enjoying their time with me now but let me tell you it was nerve wracking. I almost gave up several times but I am glad I didn't. They are also starting to enjoy their toys in the cage now and chattering about all day long.
Be patient and keep working with them but keep them apart. The minute these are together on the playstand they turn mean again so I do not even let them play together right now. PM me if ya need some help.
PS what part of MD are you in as I am in WV?