At what age are quakers typically considered "fully weaned"? I know that they aren't considered fully weaned until they can either crack a seed on their own and/or have been refusing hand feedings for at least a week (or something like that) but at what age does this typically happen? I seem to be having difficulty finding decent breeders as this most recent one is telling me that their approximate hatch date will be 4/21 therefore they should be ready around 5/30 which is 5 weeks and 5 days. Seems kind of young to me...

They did, however, say that they would wean him for me and I checked out their site and they seem to keep everything in tip-top shape see for yourself

Any thoughts? I'm sorry to keep bugging you with all of these breeder questions but I'm just so confused...

It really depends on the bird...and it varies from bird to bird as to when they will wean completely. Some birds might wean themselves at 5 weeks some not till 7 or 8 so it really just depends on the bird itself.

We try to have seed and pellets available from the time they start perching on their own available so that they learn to play with it and try it and that it isn't a scarey thing and usually they start trying to drink water on their own from about 4-5 weeks we also start introducing fresh fruit and veggies, rice and pasta about that time too.

We (Andie) tries to having them eating totally on their own for a week or two before she lets a baby go so that there's less chance of them reverting back to formula. Generally by the time they are 8 weeks old they are well on their way to eating and drinking as they should. But again..it varies from bird to bird.

Hey, isn't one of our members a breeder in Florida??

Quaker Cuties ( http://www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.php?showuser=3786 ) breeds some beautifull quakers and she is one of those that concentrates on breeding quality friends as opposed to money making birds

I'm not a breeder just a QP owner. I agree with Andie's mom. She's right in every aspect. It depends on the bird.

Before I brought Louie home, he was still being weaned. I went to visit him and play with him during that time. He was about 8-9 weeks old before I brought him home. They wanted to make sure that he was eating well on his own and holding his weight for a couple of weeks before they released him to me. There was one other QP from the same clutch that was also already sold, but he was not yet ready when Louie was. I had to bring Louie in for the next 2 weeks to get him weight to be sure he was maintaining his weight.



So your bird may very well be eating on his own at 6 weeks, but I would think that the breeder would want to keep him/her for another week or two to make sure it is eating enough and holding its weight.

i thought 6 weeks was too young also.. but that is the age i picked up my bird.
im a first time bird owner, but little petey is doing wonderful.
his hatch date was january 25 and i picked him up around march 25...
apperantly he was fully weaned, as i didnt have to do any hand feeding. he eats good right from his bowl.

LOL.. i just did the math.. i re read what i had just typed... petey was 8 weeks old.. lol 2 months=8 weeks
youll have to excuse my slowness.... ive had a terrible head cold for about a week, so im a little foggy.

I bought Cricket when he was 4 weeks old but didn't get to bring him home until he was 10 weeks old and not taking any hand feedings for a full week.

I visited him every other day until i got to bring him home and at 6 weeks he was still accepting all his hand feedings.

I really think that is too young to bring a baby home.

Judging from the price on that website ($95.00) I am thinking that you are NOT going to get a weaned bird. I could be wrong but seems awfully cheap. Just my opinion

I brought Kiwi home at 8 weeks and he was completely weaned but REVERTED back and I had to spoon feed him for another couple of weeks.

I was thinking the same thing about the $95. Sure sounds cheap.

I brought my QP home @ 8wks old...the breeder held him an extra week to be sure he was fully weaned, however he reverted in 1 1/2 days. If you've no experience with hand feeding then let him mature with the breeder b4 bringing him home.
I just don't understand the logic in the pricing. I'd get it if it were btwn breeders who were experienced with hand feedings, however this is the general public being offerred the choice. That just seems unethical and irresponsible.