I hope I'm not over reacting but Sioma seems a little off his pegs today. My son has been home all day with him and nothing has happened to him, (no accidents). When I returned from work he seemed one minute unsteady, the next fine. I got a great reception from him when I walked in...we cuddled...but now all he wants to do is sleep. I've put him down and can get him to walk around..he just doesn't seem interested.
He "power napped" alot yesterday. Do you think he's just worn out from leaving the nest and coming here?
My son said he has been calling for attention...and is vocal now. It's like he has mono, lol
Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,

yea usually but this may help : http://www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=23587

Hmmm. Ordinarily a new bird will start out cautious and shy and over a period of days or weeks should become more inquisitive, vocal and active. If he has been going the other way it would be unusual.

Is he sitting on the bottom of his cage or perching? Is he fluffed up all the time? No discharges from the nares? Has he been eating and drinking well?

If all those things check out as okay, and he doesn't perk up in a day or two, you might want to get the advice of an avian vet.

He's now on the bottom of his cage, just ate real well; is puffed up and "fanning" his wings constantly. His head shakes seem more uncontrolled, like a bobblehead

I may be wrong but that sounds to me like a baby begging for formula. The head bobbing is where they got the name, quaker (as in: he's quaking.) .

I would soak some oatmeal in warm water and try feeding it to him from a spoon.

I hope others will be along soon with their input.

He's eating pellets, but he seems like he has Parkinson's. He's flapping his wings, close to his body as if he's trying to keep his balance. He's alert, eating, sometimes vocal...VERY cuddly. I've called the breeder-no response yet- I've called the emerg-on-call avian vet & he offered that they'd monitor him every hour on the hour, however their lab is closed, can't take xrays either (he didn't think Sioma needed an xray anyway). So, not much they would do other than monitor. They said IF he makes it through the night, call again in the morn to them or a local avian vet to get him checked. Then he said "and at that point you need to let us know if you want him to die here or at home" WHAT????
Even the vet said....it doesn't make sense that he still seems hungry...somewhat alert, albeit tired???
I don't know what to do!!!!

There are others on this site who are extremely knowledgeable and they may be able to offer some insight into what is happening to your baby but, if it was me, I would get him to an avian vet as soon as possible. Please keep us advised as to how he goes. Good luck. I am keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed that all is okay.

I am sending good thoughts your way. Please keep monitoring the forum for replys from some of the more knowledgable members. I believe they will have some good advice for you.Good luck and please let us know how your baby is doing.

Unfortunately the avian on call vet will only monitor symptoms this evening....not provide diagnosis or treatment. My 1st action is to call a vet (during reg. clinic hours) who can actually provide assistance. Right now...I cross my fingers, monitor him myself, and pray.
I've made some oatmeal...am going to try that now......any other suggestions would be so gratefully appreciated!!!!
Thanks for being there!

Well what the **** kind of professionals would use that kind of talk!!!!!

"IF he makes it through the night" ........... "want him to die here or at home" - - - No, idiot I don't want him to die anywhere. That's why I called you for help!! - I'm sorry but that really burns me.

I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this worry. I wish I could help. Just don't give up. It may be something very treatable.

[quote name='QPdad' date='Apr 2 2007, 09:57 PM' post='278097']
Well what the **** kind of professionals would use that kind of talk!!!!!

"IF he makes it through the night" ........... "want him to die here or at home" - - - No, idiot I don't want him to die anywhere. That's why I called you for help!! - I'm sorry but that really burns me.

I can't tell you how grateful I am to hear you say that!!! No, I don't want to bring my bird to this jerk....monitor or otherwise.....I couldn't believe what he said either!!!!!
Sioma just pigged madly on more pellets...is making happy snuggling noises....no more puffed up body and flapping and is happily snuggled on my son's shoulder. We're gonna try "step up" again to see how off balance he is...and try the oatmeal. I'll keep you posted

This sounds like he's doing the baby Quake. How old is he and how long have you had him?? Sometimes a new baby will regress when they move to their new house and want to be hand fed again for a bit, even though they were weaned before leaving the breeders.

You said that he's alert, how do his eyes look? Are they bright and open or are they sleepy looking. If you pick him up, does he stop quaking?

Try the oatmeal or mashed potato or cooked rice, just a tiny bit warm so as not to burn the crop

Eyes are bright, at this point....he's tired and when I pet him the poor bugger's sleepy.
He's happily making his snuggle noises.....refused the oatmeal...I'll try rice next...although he has just pigged on pellets (and only when I hand fed him)
He does stop the quaking (it really does look off balance & Parkinson's-ish)when he's held, but at times he does continue. He did the normal head shake ("no"), when presented with the oatmeal.
IE: 5min ago he was on my son's shoulder sitting absolutely still (so much so that I felt like a total over reactive moron)....now he's moved to under his chin, quaking madly, and peeping.

Sorry, you did ask how old.
I got Sioma from the breeder on Sat Mar 31. He was born Feb. 2/07. He's the oldest of the clutch and weaned 1st and has apparently been ready for a week prior to me picking him up, however she held the entire clutch back to be certain of maturity.

Poor little fella. Hope he's ok.

I can't believe what that jerk-faced-creep of a vet said to you. Sounds to me like he was just wanting you to bring the bird in just to charge you for monitoring. This way he gets something out of it.

People like this guy just burns my bacon.

Anyways.....if you just got the little guy, he might be doing what others have said.

We'll keep you in our thoughts.

K, I've given him some of the rice and bean mixture that I give all my birds...he's pigging out!
Quaking madly....flapping only a little
Is this normal?
ARRRRRGH!!!!

This might seem like a silly question.., But is your house warm enough for him??
They tend to sleep more often when they are cold.
We had a problem with Oliver when we first brought him home.. finally cranked up the heat , just like when you bring a new baby home and he became noisey and alert..
Just make sure his eyes are round and he is eating and pooping ok

good luck

I was thinking, I notice when Georgie is quaking around us, she's extremely excited. I wonder if that's what this is? He's excited that you're fussing over him maybe?

I think he sounds OK, just a goofy baby who wants to be spoiled. I hope that I'm right. He could also be tired too, where do you live? It might be bedtime, after his hand feeding of course

We're all finding it warm tonight...but good point!!!
His eyes are round, no abnormal droppings to date.....
Is he just being spoiled rotten? Was he released too soon?
I feel like one of those mothers who's lost a child: goes out of her mind with worry only to find the child playing a trick on her and her reaction is conflicted:
"thank god I've found you, now come here so I can kill you!" lol
He's just finished eating a total of about 1T of rice and beans...and about the same of pellets earlier. He's been drinking as well.
He's just independently transferred to me from my son (I get the rice goo in my hair now...and I'll gladly take it just to know he's ok). Sitting calmy, no quaking, not off balance....

??????????

I agree... sounds like a baby thing begging for food... but I don't want to be wrong! Keep us posted.

I live in Caledonia, Ontario....it's way past Sioma's bedtime of 8:30 pm (10:46 now)
This seemingly started when I got home from work (7ish). My son's been home all day....no probs....I show up and have a quaking, unsteady, sleepy, quieter than normal, hungry, baby.
He excitely vocalized and leapt about the cage for me when I came home..it was great to see him so excited. I took him out and within minutes all this transpired.
Do you think he just waited all day to be fed?????
Cripes, I feel terrible now!

Here's an excerpt from my blog. Posted Oct 4 2006, 07:54 PM

......"Their heads were bobbing and their entire bodies were "quaking" as if they were all afflicted with some dreadful palsy."

He might have waited for you but at the same time, I'm sure he'll get used to you not being there through the day and figure out that he needs to eat on his own. I'd give him a few days and tolerate this, he'll likely get over it once he's nicely settled into your home

should I ride it out or take him to a vet?

Palsy is a great description of what he's doing.
No offence, I've got two sons that are sick right now...one I took to emerg on Sat. night........they're needy, moody, whiny, and totally helpless @ times. Sioma is just one more boy in the hypochondriac lineup???? Is that what this is?
roflmao ->-
OMG, I'm an idiot! (I hope)

Call your vet definitely and see if you can speak to him/her about what's going on. Also, if your breeder calls you back, I'm sure that she'll be able to help you out.

I can't tell you how grateful I am for all your input and advice.
I'm going to put Sioma to bed now and check on him frequently. Should I be feeding him again throughout the night?

You can leave a small dish of pellets and water in his cage, that way if he's hungry, hopefully he'll feed himself. I don't think it's necessary to wake him to feed him, he'll be very spoiled then

well my dear,
maybe he's lonely? If he's eating pellets is he also drinking water maybe try something smaller.. millet is also a good thing. Maybe he misses his family. have you been ccuddling and stuff with him, do you interact with him alot? hope he's okay.

I didn't even brush my teeth without the bird this weekend...if anything....too much interaction. Which could explain today if this is just a spoiled baby wanting more weaning. My son has been home all day, and attentive to Sioma as well (his conure is right ticked with him) so I don't think lonely for people applies. Possibly lonely for his sisters?
He's sitting (not quaking) on my shoulder right now, however, if my son comes close to him, he quakes again.....if I try to get him to step up (to go to bed) he quakes.

Sounds like a baby who is absolutely loving the attention

K, we're hittin' the sac
I'll let you know how he's doing tomorrow!!!
Thanks guys!


gonna be a looooooong night!!!

ummmm by my calculations that makes Sioma 8 weeks old right now and the breeder said he was weaned for a week prior to this? That would mean he was weaned at 7 weeks old, which is awfully young, not impossible, but young.

Here is a clip of a Quaker 'quaking' click~here (you do need Quicktime to view it and it may take several minutes to load)which is normal behavior.....BUT, I would really watch him carefully. It isn't unusual for a baby to regress, especially if he was weaned so early. It is really hard to determine the reason behind the quaking too. Sometimes they do it for food, other times for attention.

Did the breeder keep track of the bird's weight? If she did, get how much he weighed before he left her house and get this guy into the vet for a weigh-in. If he's losing weight then he is most likely regressing which means he'll have to go back to the breeder for a while (unless you want to handfeed him, which can be tricky).

I don't want to add anymore then anyone else, but just want to say" Welcome to the Forum, you will absolutely love it here. You will learn so very much with all of the information on this site..........

He did eat for her though, rice n' beans
Weighing is an excellent idea! I didn't think of that.

OMG!!
It sure looks familiar, only Sioma's doing it tenfold!!!
I've not heard from the breeder this evening. I'll try again in the morning and I'll ask about the weight and anything else she may be able to offer as a possible explanation.
Thanks again for the clip....it really does look similar.

Yep, then he's quaking. Cute, ain't it? When I took that video Max was 11 weeks, and out growing the quaking. It was much stronger when she was younger.

Wishing you all the luck...keep us posted please

k thnx, just put Sioma to bed. He's perched beautifully. when I peeked in on him he wasn't quaking at all!
Thnx everyone I'll keep you posted!
PS. we moved the cage to a very warm bedroom
night all!

As I was goingback through this thread and seeing the new information, I was thinking the same thing as Carrie, 8 weeks is a litle young to befully weaned. If he is pigging out on pellets, then you shouldn't have a problem. Just make sure he is eating them. Get that scale so you can be sure. At that age there is a small risk of regression, begging for hand feeding, so it's best to monitor weight to be sure he's getting food in him.

get him a snuggle buddy which he can cuddle with it's like a safty blanky for quakers- paulie has one..lol

Usually babies arent fully weaned till bout 10 weeks.. but just keep a close ye on him i suggest keep a journal handy, write down his inital weight and if he's been eathing- his daily activities and anything else.. believe you will see a pattern emerge..

coincidentally, I did buy him a snuggle buddy before I came home and I put it in last night. he snuggled with it and slept beautifully (me checking every hour of course *yawn*)
only minimal quaking and pigging out like you wouldn't believe. gonna get his weight checked and try the breeder again today.

I'm so happy that he's OK!!

I feel 99.99% sure the little guy just found himself getting a lot of attention and decided that was a pretty good deal. The only way he has ever known to get what he wanted was to quake for it.

If anyone ever completely gets over their parront paranoia, that's probably a good time to think seriously about finding another home for their baby.

It's just like bringing a baby home from the hospital. I think sometimes we watch our babies so close that we tend to freak ourselves out. Like watching your baby while they sleep..and thinking omg..are they breathing??? Sounds like he's just a little darling and loving his attention. Yea I agree he may of been weaned alittle too early. When I got brady he was being weaned and I actually did 2wks of feeding myself. Gradually doing it less and less. There's no such thing as being silly or over protective. These guys can go from good to bad so quickly..it's good that your paying very close attention to his behavior. Oh and never go to that vet...how rude! I would of let him have it big time. How dare he say that to you. How can someone like that work with animals..beyond me. I'd see if he had a supervisor and definately make a complaint.

i've called the vet, who has recommended i return Sioma to the breeder as he believes that he has not been properly weaned. Sioma ate well this morning (1tbls rice, beans, and pellets mixed) my son was gracious enough to stay home with him and he's continued to eat well, has slept well, and is exhibiting normal active behaviour. i haven't heard from the breeder yet. please tell me your opinion. if he's eating well for me and the quaking is normal for this age and surcumstance, what would be in Sioma's best interest? take him back to the breeder or get through this on our own?
thanks!

Hmmm... if Sioma is only eight weeks old, he should probably go back to the breeder and get the handfeedings etc. but considering the breeder sold him at such a young age and considered him already weaned then I am not sure how much more the breeder would do for him? If the breeder realizes he is not properly weaned yet, they should take him back and finish up the handfeedings and the weaning, unless you experienced in handfeedings?

Just my opinion, the breeders on here should give you better advice!

I remember when I brought Kiwi home, he was only 8 weeks old. He wasn't eating a lot of food......so I started feeding him watery cream of wheat from a spoon. I gave him this 3 times a day. I did this just to make sure he was getting some moisture and food in him and 7 years later he is fine....

I agree Sandi, he would probably do fine on really soft foods... but I guess it depends on the bird.
...but just remember that Cream of Wheat is really high in iron, which isn't good for birds JMO.

Good Luck!

If you knew how much cream of wheat he was getting.....LOL, the iron wasn't an issue and it was very watery. My avian vet gave Kiwi a very clean bill of health with blood tests and all.....

You could very easily go to a pet store and get some baby formula and finish hand feeding yourself. Since he is mosly eating on his own you won't have to worry about feeding with a syringe. Just mix some up lukewarm, and feed him off a spoon a couple of times a day. Leave the pellets available 24/7 and eventualy cut back to one formula feeding to once a day and after a couple of weeks he should be done. After that you can still offer the occasional comfort feeding if he is still reluctant to eat more on his own.

But if he is eating well and refuses any warm soft foods..babies like those ... couldn't he be just begging for attention and perhaps out of being nervous in the new enviroment.I would get a digital scale and moniter his weight.
Quakers quake for more reasons then hunger..babies do it for attention and just because their babies.I brought Dodger home at 6 weeks(although not weaned) and he did the baby quake for at least a month or two after weaning him.8 weeks is VERY young for a quaker to be weaned, but some breeders force wean them at certain ages.Try warm mashed sweet potatoe or baby rice cereal.I would think if he really likes it maybe he wasn't properly weaned?

Considering your breeder isn't returning your calls, there might be a subtle message there in that she knows **** well that she weaned him too fast but now doesn't want the hassle of having to take him back. Keep trying though. A lot of breeders will push the babies to wean too fast so that they can sell the quickly. More profit for them I guess if they don't have to hand feed for 2 or 3 more weeks.

You say that he is eating for you? That's a good sign, try getting some hand feeding formula, either from a vet or from a good pet supply store, I know that Roudybush makes good handfeeding formulas and I'm sure others will pipe up with other brands