Hello, I am new to this forum. Yesterday, I got a qp dropped into my lap. (If you want more info on this I have a post in Quaker Talk called Help.) I think she has been mistreated. I don't know how old she is or much history. She squaks at me when I leave the room, but if you approach her cage, she lunges with her mouth open. She bites if you try to get her to step up. She shakes too. I know someone has worked w/ her at some time b/c she whistles the Andy Griffith Song. Can someone tell how to get her to trust me.

You have to go slow. Start by sitting beside her cage and talking softly to her and offering her treats, like millet or nutriberries. Give her a few days and open her cage door to see if she will come out on her own and climb around her cage. Sometimes they will do step ups once outside the cage. To do step ups simply put one finger out like a perch and press it against her chest right above her legs while saying step up. If she bites push your finger into the bite and she will more likely let go. Once you get her on your finger trying going to another room away from her cage,and just talking to her while praising her for being so good. Lots of praise and patience is the best thing you can do.

Usually when you get a new bird you put it in the cage and sit beside the cage for a few days or even a week or more and talk to your bird very calmly and tell him everything is ok. Feed him little tidbits thru the bars, such as apples, grapes, etc.
The bird needs to learn to trust you and he is very unfamiliar with his new surroundings. Sounds like this little one hasn't been treated very well in the past or the only safe place he has right now (he thinks) is his cage. Be sure he has some kind of pellets for his food and make sure he is eating, also give him clean water everyday or if he poops in it, change it often so that it is clean. Offer him fresh veggies. Please be sure to read the link (in the other thread) about the kind of foods to give him that are safe.

Leeann, welcome and hello!!! I just read your original "Help" post. I also took in a rescue quaker almost a year ago, she is a plucker/mutilator so she had lots of issues.

You've been given some really great advice, I just wanted to say that quakers do tend to bite more around their cages, they are very territorial about them. I do think its a good idea to let them first come out of the cage on their own, but I was concerned, is your bird flighted? If so a trip to the vet, which you'll need a good avian well check anyway, will be in order to clip her wings, if she is already frightened I'd hate to hear that she flew into a wall out of fear.

If you are not familiar with birds, then I want to add that you'll need to find a certified avian veterinarian. She needs a good checkup and you'll need to start a relationship with one in the case of an emergency.

My quakers LOVES bananas!! She also loves a bell pepper core-with all the seeds on it!!! Also sugar snap peas and broccoli.

(I bought a wild-acting petstore conure a month ago, her behavior sounds alot like your quakers. She is so frightened because of people poking at her for over 2 years, she bites and shakes alot. So I am also going through alot of the issues with her that you are going through with your quaker. I hope we both get to where we can handle our birds soon.)

The quaker I took in last year settled in quickly, she in so much in love with me now that she considers us mates and she is laying eggs. Good luck and please keep us updates. Brenda

If I may add one more thing? There is no such thing as a 'problem' bird. Birds learn behaviors that are taught to them. They aren't born biting, or screaming, or lunging at people. They have been taught to do that, and most of the time it was taught without realizing it was being taught.

So, as said, go sloooooowly. Be patient!!! It could take months and months before you see any signs of change in behavior. But it will happen if you try hard enough.

For the time being, just let him adjust to his new home.

With time, patience and the guidance you will get from the members of this forum, you will have a Quaker friend in no time. I wish you lots of luck and please remember to use the resources you will find on this site whenever you encounter a challenging day with your new QP. One thing I can promise, it will all be worth it the first time he responds to you correctly.
And I am jealous over his humming Andy Griffith's theme song. I am 20 minutes from Mt Airy and man, would that bird ever be a big hit in this part of N.C.!:)