Hello, I have a question that might be pretty basic.

I just got a quaker parrot4 days ago. He was being had fed. He is 3 months old. I am feeding him a diet of seeds mix with peanuts and such, he has plenty of cool water, I have offered veggies and fruit-doesn't want any and his stool is a bit watery. I have other birds- 2 finches- 2 parakeets- 2 masked parrots and coci. The other birds have a more solid white and green stool, coci has more of the white and hardly and green with a bit of water, very small amount. Cute he just be stressed? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

It could be that he is stress with just having changed homes and everything is new and scary. But might I suggest that you get him converted to a pelleted diet for several reasons...

The major reason is that Quakers especially are prone to Fatty Liver Disease a strictly seed diet is very high in fat and can lead to fatty liver disease. That's not to say they shouldn't have some seeds and nuts but only in small quantities and mainly as a treat. If you aren't feeding what the breeder who hand raised him is feeding that could be part of the problem with his droppings.


There is a thread in the Health and Diet section called Andies conversion method. It explains how to go about converting a seed eater to a pellet eater and it works very well. Sometimes it might take a couple tries to get them converted but they will be healthier, in my opinion in the long run once you do. Just keep introducing new fruits and veggies to him as they learn from example and if they see you eating things they'll want it too.

You might want to invest in a gram scale to keep track of your quakers weight at least for a while...you don't want him losing too much weight and if he should ever lose more than 10 % of his body weight quickly that's a sign that medical attention is needed.

Hope this helps answer some of your questions

Thank you- I had the same thoughts on asking what food he was on before,but about the pellet food- that is new to me and I will do it- that is new information to me and I greatly appreciated. Thanks.

If I can just add to what Connie said...

Since your bird is just new to you, I really wouldn't attempt the pellet conversion just yet. By all means, go ahead and add some pellets into his cage so he gets used to them being there. He might surprise you and eat them all on his own!! But, don't try to convert him just yet. Give him a good month to settle into his new home. Birds go through a lot of stress when switching homes and you don't want to add to that stress by using the conversion process. Just give him some time to settle in first

In the meantime, add pellets to his cage (in a separate dish, next to his regular food dish) and try him on fresh foods (veggies/pasta/rice) to see if he'll eat them.

Thanks Carrie, I was thinking that very thing but forgot to add it to the post!

Well,I called and they said it was eating millet as well- which I had some but since I was nervous I forgot and went and got some- his was inside the cage - I guess he did not see it since he is free to roam the room- that is if I am here,so I got him some more and he is feasting- hehe.I feel better and I was thinking of letting him get used to me and the family before switching him. My daughter loves him - she is a bit hyper so I am sure she gives Coci the jitters. Thanks again so much.

Update, Coci is eating really well now, I think he missed his millet- if I am spelling it right? Thanks for the advice.