Hello Everyone -
Two days ago I became an unexpected new daddy of a baby Quaker from a colony 60 yards from my home in Hollywood, FL. It was apparently tossed out of it's coconut palm colony with the wind from an afternoon thunderstorm! Amazingly the half fledged youngster managed to avoid cats and cars for 3+ hours before I discovered him in the street, amazingly COMPLETELY UNINJURED!!! Made sure to hydrate him immediately.... having no idea how long he was out of the colony!


Any idea of it's age with some down and pin feathers on the back and on the body under the wings???


Need lots of advice!
It's been nearly 48hrs.and the little one has been readily drinking RO/DI water and eating applesauce thick slurry of 1 part ZuPreem Avian Maintenance Natural Diet to 2 parts water for small-medium parrots from an eyedropper until the crop seems full. All the plumbing is working!
Just this morning my wife and I gave it a 90F bath in 2" of water to hopefully remove mites and nest dirt! Gently dried with wash cloth and placed in safe spot in the morning sun. Fluffed itself to help the drying process.
Baby is definitely showing it's natural personality as of mid-day!
1. Rapid head bobs. Is that a greeting?
2. Flapping wings. Is that a FEED ME?
3. Occasional squawk. Is that a come here?
4. Becoming more active in the crate but not TOO GOOD at walking!
What else should I watch for as far as behaviour or concerns?

Thanks,
New Dad

Oh my, what a little treasure.
Others here can tell you more about age and the feeding. I have raised Canary babies and a tiel baby, but never a QP baby.
I'm not much help, but I do wany to congratulate you on your "find" and say thanks for caring enough to take this baby to safety.
Best wishes.

Hi New Dad, welcome to the forum!!

It looks like about a four week old baby. I would get some baby parrot formula and someone to show you the best way to feed him. There are some things that can go wrong fast if it's not done properly. Again, you really should find someone (an avian vet or a breeder) to show you the proper way to get the job done. In the meantime, there is some good information at http://www.quakerparrots.com/handfeeding/h...about-the-crop/ .

Weekends are kinda slow around here but I'm sure others will be along soon with more input.

I wish you the best of luck with the little one.

equineRtist - Ooops! Trying to get used to using the Forum and re-posted! Sorry Everyone!
Thank You so much for your best wishes!
I have always enjoyed the 3 colonies of QP's within sight of my home! Many consider them a NUISANCE BIRD and I have discovered that they are illegal or controled in several states! WHAT??? Yes, they are very adaptable and able to live in severe climates, can be a bit noisy, but no more than blackbirds, seagulls or nuisance birds like comon pigeons living in the city! IMHO!
Your so correct in saying that it is a little treasure and MEANT to live!
Thanks,
New Dad

QPdad - Thanks for the link! I had already read that one and warning of crop disorders... Sour Crop???
That link says this: The necessary temperature decreases as the baby gets older - Day One hatchlings should be at about 95 degrees, after 10 days or so 90 is good, then 85 at about 3 weeks, then 80 when baby is about half-feathered, then to room temperature.

this baby is half featered, so 80F temp on the food???? At this age, how often per day????
Thanks,
New Dad

This is a good schedule guideline:

4 weeks --- 7:00 A.M. - 12:30 - 5:30 - 9:00 - 10:30

5 weeks --- 7:00 A.M. - 3:00 - 10:00

6 - 7 weeks --- 7:00 A.M. - 10:00

8 weeks --- 10:00 P.M.

As from 6 weeks, you may start to leave "solid food" in its cage. Progressively, it will start to feed himself without need of help.

It should be completely independent at the age of 10 to 12 weeks. It will then be weaned.

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on the new baby, s/he's so cute! That's lucky that you found him before something happened to him!

To me he looks around 5-ish weeks old. This is a recent thread that has a lot of great information in it, quite helpful. Also you may want to search here for your local avian vet who could provide you with some more insight and advice, it's also good to establish a good relationship with your avian vet early on.

Head bobbing is usually them begging for food. He may also do the baby "quaking" too.

We do have a few breeders and professionals on here that should be able to answer most of your questions! Congrats, he's a cutie!

Need to get some baby bird formula for the little one (instructions for mixing the formula powder is on the package) Yes, make sure the food is warm for him or it can result in sour crop, which is basically food that has soured in the crop.Its also a good idea to have a feeding schedule such as QPdad posted to ensure the crop has emptied before adding new food to it.
The head bobing and flapping sounds like typical baby begging behaviour (some believe its how our quakers got their name by the baby 'quaking' they do Baby could be begging for food, attention...or just being a baby.The squawk is probably the little one just testing his noise making ability lol
My quaker became a family member at about 5 weeks and was on a 4 a day feeding schedule eventually you will find him refusing the formula as he learns to eat a varity of other foods. Using an eye dropper is an easier way to feed then using a syringe..less chance of harmfully pushing the food into the lungs with a syringe.So I say keep with the eye dropper if you can't find an experienced breeder to show you how to use the feeding syringe.

Good luck He is a cutie

I was just looking around on You Tube and I found a video of some hungry Quaker babies that look around the same age as your baby. It shows the head bobbing and wing flapping like you mentioned.

QPdad - Thanks! That's the kind of info I needed... So at this point 3x per day and soon 2x per day.
So by "solid food" you are saying the ZuPreem nuggets and a piece of apple, or other tasties, etc...???
Casey's Mom - Thanks for the link to the U-Tube video.... That's it exactly! Started the "baby squawking" this morning! Three rapid "eeehk-eeehk-eeehk's"! Becoming much more active and interactive as of today! Looks like this one may pull through and I so appreciate your help!
Serendipity.... Thursday evening after the babies rescue, my neighbor brought her two dogs over to play with my beagle Jack in the backyard. Her neighbor, Patricia Sund writes for Bird Talk Magazine and I spent several minutes on the phone with her for some initial advice. She recommended a local Avian Vet that she feels is the BOMB! So how soon would you think I should wait before a first visit???
gypsypal - Thanks for your advice! I believe we are on the same page.... seems to ask for 4 times a day feeding just now after it's separation trauma and will refuse more if it's had enough. Food is applesauce consistency and readily accepted from an eye dropper, head up, beak open and tongue gobbling!

QP baby weighed a whopping 6.4grams this mornig.....

Thanks Everyone,
New QP Dad

Sounds like your doing a great job...he/she sure is a cutie
My quaker eats his pellets and is also offered veggies and pasta/rice a few times throughout the day. There is a list of toxic foods to stay away from such as
APPLE SEEDS
AVOCADO
CHOCOLATE
Most veggies are ok..I just get the bags of frozen stuff and defrost in the microwave mixed with whole grain or wheat pasta.
Browse areound the site its FULL of helpful info on what to feed and what not to feed him as he starts eating on his own

That would be good especially if the nuggets are what he'll be eating after weaning.. I would make sure some of the nuggets are crumbled up small to help him learn how to pick them up at first. Also some millet seeds would be very good.

Just put it place so he can find it and get to it easily while he's learning to climb and perch.

Oh lucky you to have a baby FALL into your lap like that .... how lucky for HIM to have you find him!! He is a sweetie, that's for sure!

The head bobbing and wing flapping does sound like typical baby quaker behavior --- feed me feed me!! Sounds like you are doing everything right so far.

As far as how long to wait for the first vet visit, how about TUESDAY! The sooner the better. The vet can give you further advice on food, feeding schedule, treat the little guy for mites (if he has any), age guesstimate, and answer any other questions you may have.

Feel free to browse around on the forum and ask questions ... we have many many experienced feeders/breeders on here. NCVon is right now feeding (from day ONE) a baby Q and is doing such a good job. She would be one resource to check out with any questions. Andies' Mom would be another one as she also has hand-feeding experience.

Welcome to the forum NewDad. You have found one of the best resources on the Web! We are a friendly bunch and hope you'll stick around and keep us updated on your little one's progress.

Any ideas on a name for the little cutie??

QPdad - I also found this on quakerville.com
"Groups of foods are ranked by nutritional value, not by how much they like it!

Great Stuff!:
Whole wheat breads Oats Corn Brown rice
Cornbread Peas Most Beans Broccoli
Cauliflower Carrots Asparagus Spinach
Whole wheat or Vegetable pasta Turnip Greens Mustard Greens Peppers (Bell, Jalapeno, chile, etc.)
Parsley Egg noodles Bulgur Wheat Cheerios
Wheat Germ Cooked Chicken and Turkey Potatoes Egg, cooked
Apple Yogurt Cottage cheese Banana
Pumpkin Seeds Pine Nuts Life cereal Kashi
Papaya


Good Stuff:
Grapes Oranges Grapefruit Lemon
Lime Cherries Pomegranate Peaches
Nectarine Watermelon Cantaloupe Honeydew
Blackberries Blueberries Pears Pineapple
Romaine Lettuce Red Cabbage Butter Lettuce Greenleaf Lettuce
Turnips Radishes Bread Pasta
Biscuits Millet Cucumber Tomato
Squash Zucchini cooked Rice Almonds
Canary Grass seed Garbanzo Beans Granola cereal (no sugar) Water Chestnuts
Oatmeal Mango

Any thoughts????
Thanks,
New (QP) Dad

Since your little one is soooo little, I would go easy on the sweet fruits for now (watermelon [mine LOVE it], oranges, cherries, grapes, etc.) and keep him on formula for a little bit yet. Offer little bits of the GREAT stuff, and a little bit of the GOOD stuff so you don't end up with a picky eater (just like a kid). He sure is cute!

I think most Quakers love sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, apples and corn... Casey loves those (except the corn, not sure why ) and she also loves broccoli, cauliflower, squash, kale, all kinds of peppers with the seeds, melons, papaya, bulgar, quinoa, brown rice, white rice, rice pasta, egg noodles, whole wheat pasta, eggs, chicken and things like that. Her favourite treats are almonds and pumpkin seeds.

I think when he gets old enough to start trying new foods (I'd imagine that's pretty soon) you can probably try some pasta and veggies. Fruits should be fed in moderation as they are so high in sugar so keep those to a minimum in my opinion, but you'll still want to introduce those to him too. The only thing on that list I really disagree with is the bread, it does weird things to their crop and kind of freaks me out, so Casey doesn't get bread unless it's a small dry piece of crust.

jobi2mi - Thank you so much for the welcome and endorsement of my NEWBIE care of this baby!
Yes... My wife and I feel very fortunate to have this wild neighborhood baby escape peril and fall into our lap!
We gave the youngster a 90F.... 2 inch deep water bath this morning to help remove mites and nest dirt. Lots of floaties in that bath water. Didn't figure that an insectide based mite treatment would be good for a baby just now....????
Appreciate all your suggestions and other baby QP owners to contact!
How can you sex a 5 week old???? Thinking about a NON GENDER SPECIFIC name.... hmmm?
New pictures....
Just hanging out on the a towel!



And yes Casey's Mom and jobi2mi... I realize that this baby is TOO young to be thinking about feeding other foods. Just being optimistic and thinking down the road! I did think that Almonds might be toxic though...?
Thanks Again Everyone,
New (QP) Dad

Oh yeah what a precious little one youve got there. Hes so lucky to have found u as his daddy. So cute!! and welcome to the forum also.

Hello and Welcome New QP Dad! You are so lucky to have found such a cute baby. The pictures are great, he/she is so little. Have you named your baby yet? This forum is wonderful with lots of nice folks who will help you raise that little baby.I have learned so much here on how to care and train Mollie, it is also a fun place and can become addictive as well! Good Luck and Best Wishes for you and your new QP baby. Julie and Mollie

OH almonds are FAVORITE treats for some fids (feathered kids) ... mine .....not so much ... htye like them, but not so much as to DO anything for them !

You can get your little one sexed by a vet or you can do it yourself. You will need to draw a little blood and send it off to AvianBioTech ... you can clip a nail a wee bit too close to get the drop or two of blood you will need ... a vet may be able to do it for you easier ... that way you are not the "big bad daddy that drew bood" ... [they think it is ok to draw blood on US, however ]

A few 'green' names?? Many people use green names for their fids!

Broccoli
Kale
Chard
Romaine
Bok choy
Zucchini
Collard
Brussels
Turnip
Bibb
Spinach
Asparagus
Celery
Basil
Cucumbers
Cabbage
Artichoke
Okra
Mint
Kiwi
Grass
Honeydew
Melon
Lime
Pepper
Endive
Chlorophyll
Pickles

oh my godness
what a cutie!!!!!!

how lucky are you!!??
you are doing a great job, keep it up!

Thanks to Everyone for your Welcome and Best Wishes
I received a LOT OF GREAT ADVICE this evening! Catch up with you all tomorrow! Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!
New(QP)Dad

Here's a sight with bird names
http://www.birdbytes.com/names.html

Don't foget that apple seeds have cyanide in them. Nothing should ever eat the seeds.

You and your new baby have a nice week end too!

xerxeys mama and peppe - Thank you both for the welcome!!! I have been overwhelmed by the response to my post and the help offered! Thanks to Everyone! I will keep all of you posted and I am certain to have more questions
New(QP)Dad

Here are some videos that can help



Another site with video from Kaytee Exact handfeeding formula:

Handfeeding Video from Kaytee
An excellent video!!!



And this article from: Bird Channel

14 Fail-safe Hand-Feeding Tips

Whether a bird breeder or not, all pet bird owners should know something about the do's and don'ts of hand-feeding.

By Susan Chamberlain

Whether you're a bird breeder new to your profession or a pet owner, it's a good idea to know the basics of hand-feeding in case of an emergency situation. If your breeding pair of birds suddenly starts mutilating its chicks or your pet bird becomes ill and requires hand-feeding, you'll want to know these tips.

1. Before hand-feeding on your own, get hands-on training from a breeder or other professional. You should be quite comfortable with the procedure before starting out on your own.

2. Always wash your hands thoroughly before hand-feeding chicks.

3. For convenience and best results, use a commercial hand-feeding formula, and follow package instructions. Most include details on water-to-solid ratio based on the bird's age. Younger birds require more liquid than older chicks.

4. Prepare a fresh batch of hand-feeding formula for each feeding. Bacteria quickly proliferate. Don't be tempted to save leftover formula.

5. Depending on the source, the advised temperature range for formula ranges between 100 and 108 degrees Fahrenheit for most species. Again, consult package directions, your avian veterinarian and an experienced breeder for species-specific advice.

Longtime bird store professional Barbara Landsper of Long Island, New York, has hand-fed everything from budgies to macaws and says the birds she's worked with have done best with food at temperatures between 105 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit. My Senegal babies ate best when their food temperature was 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Heat hand-feeding formula according to package instructions. Microwaving can cause the mixture to develop "hot spots," which result in crop burns. Instead, mix and heat formula in a double-boiler or inside a bowl placed inside a pot of hot water. Keep the feeding dish in a bowl of warm water to maintain temperature during feeding sessions.

7. Stir formula thoroughly prior to measuring the temperature. Keep the thermometer in the food for continual monitoring. Confirm its bird-safe temperature with a drop on the inside of your wrist just as people do with baby bottles.

8. Read articles and talk to other hand-feeders about the best hand-feeding utensil. Different theories abound as to whether to hand-feed with a spoon, syringe, feeding tube, etc.

9. Place the bird on an easy-to-grip surface, such as a towel or dishcloth.

10. Gently grip the bird's head from behind, stretching the neck ever so slightly and steadying the lower beak with a finger or thumb.

11. Touch the lower left side of the beak (the bird's left) with the feeding implement, and angle the tip of the utensil toward the right side of the bird's throat. The esophagus is located on the bird's right side (it will be on your left as the bird faces you) and the windpipe runs down the center of the neck. Touching the feeding implement to the beak will usually elicit the feeding response, which involves the bird eagerly 'pumping' the food down into its crop.

12. Release the food slowly. Do not flood the beak or trachea. Feeding quantity and frequency depends on the age and size of the bird. Consult a breeder and read package directions for specific advice.

13. Smaller species and very young birds require more frequent feedings. The rapid growth phase in the second and third weeks often requires more food, but be careful not to overfeed your bird. The crop should feel full after feeding but should empty within three to four hours. If, after adjusting the feeding schedule, food remains in the crop for long periods, consult an avian veterinarian.

14. Assess your bird's progress by weighing it before and after feedings. If your young parrot or sick bird starts losing weight, consult a veterinarian immediately. Some weight loss is normal, however, during the weaning process. It's nature's way of preparing the chubby baby bird for flight.

Troubleshooting

Is your bird refusing food? Check the temperature. Is it too cool or too hot?
Cold formula can cause "slow crop," meaning the food passes too slowly.

Does your bird's mouth smell sour? Get it to a veterinarian immediately. It may have "sour crop," the result of food not passing through or becoming impacted in the crop. It's likely that you're smelling a bacteria buildup. The vet can remove the crop's contents, flush it and administer an antibiotic and anti-fungal medicine.

If you feed your chick too quickly, your bird could aspirate formula and drown or develop pneumonia.

A healthy chick's droppings should look like normal bird poop with feces and white urates. Runny food could cause extra clear matter in the droppings, because the bird is not receiving enough nutrition from food passing too quickly. Dry feces with clear liquid could indicate that your formula is too thick, which does not allow the bird properly digest it. Crop impaction or sudden death could occur in chicks if solid levels are too high.

Can't believe I missed this. Congratulations on your new little one. What a little cutie! Thank you for rescuing him/her. You have received a lot of great advice, but I definitely would seek an Avian Vet to get a well baby check up.

thats a great video!

Sandi Kiwi's Mom - Thank You so much for your well whishes for the little one....
I know you are in Oregon, but typically what would an Avian Vet visit cost?

Morpheus - What a helpful post! A million thanks!!! The YouTube video from "Flying Colors Bird Sanctuary" was very instructional...
Now my baby QP is almost fully fledged, so I don't believe I need quite as warm a feeding slurry and it is picking it out of a very small plastic spoon as of today instead of using the eyedropper or syringe as was shown. The little one does a small little squawk "eeehk - eeehk - eeehk" when it needs fed! Currently about every 4 hours until 10pm. Really becoming more active!
Thanks Again Everyone,
New QP Dad

hi guys i want to let you know that i met in person at that little green baby and is so small that fit on the palm of my hand, i met his owner too, also left him a bag of baby formula i had and a syringe, his new dad is very excited to watch his baby grow!

we may meet tomorrow again, im lucky to have a neighbor that loves quakers.

pitufina73 - That is so nice of you to post!
If all QP or other bird owners are as nice, helpful and generous with their time as you and your husband were today to help out a NEWBIE parent.... then I will probably keep birds from now on! THANK YOU NEIGHBOR!
It was such a pleasure to meet you both and Jelly Bean!
New QP Dad

Just checking for updates. Sounds like all is going well. What a joy!

equineRtist - How about some new pictures!

petufina73 - Who lives 5 blocks from me came by today to give me some feeding instruction and kindly brought a bag of basic supplies to give me for the baby! Can't thank her enough for her interest, time and help!!! She also brought her 4yr.old girl Jelly Bean!



Well fed baby "Snug as a Bug in a Rug"!



WOW.... Messy bird! Some food fell out of babies beak and now wants to clean up the mess! Hmmm? Maybe close to being able to wean???



Little one was 6.4grams yesterday and 6.6grams today!
New QP Dad

What sweet pics. thanks for sharing them and for the updates. Now i can go to bed a happy gal.

xerxeys mama - Thanks for checking in and your best wishes for this rescued wild baby! It's been more than 72 hours now and MY BET is this baby is going to make it.... even with a VERY inexperienced and learning mom and dad!
Gained .2 grams as of today, from 6.4 to 6.6... and behaving like it owns the place!
I have received SO MUCH GREAT HELP from you all!
Thanks,
New QP Dad

WHAT? He DOES own the place or I miss my guess!
Thanks for the pictures and the update. He's so precious! You just have to love these little guys!

Oh I just love this thread. I love hearing about the progress. Now lets see if we can name him/her...

Hi WELCOME, to our great forum. You've already experienced how helpful everyone is. What a great story! You've got wonderful times ahead. He's got a very cute smile on him. Now, I'm a HUGE (old) Sesame Street fan and, front on, your guy reminds me of a frackle, the Snake Frackle. These fellas started the fraggle sensation but they were kind of bird looking before they were nosey. Anyone remember how scary the monsters used to be? Cookie had teeth!Click to view attachment

Vet visits here in Oregon start at $42, then it goes up depending on what you want to do like blood tests and other stuff. I know when my Quaker had a high liver enzyme count my Vet bill got up to over $300, but it was all worth it.

Joseph - Thanks for the suggestion of "Fraggle" and the picture! Brings back memories from years ago!

Sandi Kiwi's Mom - Didn't want to disappoint you tonight without posting more pictures of the Little Ones busy day!
First stop pitufina73's home this morning where Bruce took some great pictures and baby played with Jelly Bean and had brunch...

Jelly Bean and the babe...


Hello! MOM????


The Kiss.....


Hot Chick!!!


Hungry baby... BRUNCH!


More Next...

What a lucky little Quaker to have and you and your wife. You are going to be spoiling him- Your doing a great job with him. Do you have a name picked out? Welcome to the forum! Great pic's -he's so adorable and sweet.

Yes there is more to this busy babies day!

Afternoon Bath Time!


Enjoying a Warm Shower!


Will Flap for FOOD!


Big Bird Now... Don't need NO force feeding!


Love leftovers from mommies fingers!


Big day for the rescued baby! Weight went from 6.6 grams to 7.4 grams today! The baby was even more interactive and even munched on a small 2" piece of millet spray!
Should be able to wean soon... shouldn't I????
Folks, I couldn't have done this without all of your help!
Thank You All,
New QP Dad

wow, what a big eater! cute pictures and it was nice to have you and your wife at my place, what a great day!
it was so much fun! I hope we get together again soon!

Sooo cute and exciting to have him just fall into your lives. I wish something that exciting would happen to me. course we dont have wild qps here.

Esther - Thanks for checking in and your endorsement for our care of this baby QP!
Hate to say it, but we wanted to make sure we could pull this wild neighborhood orphaned baby through! As of 6pm this evening it's been 5 days; and because of the support and information I have received HERE, feel VERY CONFIDENT that this little one will have a long life! So yesterday I ordered a "feather" sample DNA test kit to sex the baby, should arrive later this week.

We have received a lot of suggestions from friends, family and posts on the thread here....
Kind of feeling like this little bird is Lucky to have avoided injury from the fall out of the colony during the thunderstorm, dogs, cats and cars!
Soooo... thinking that if it's a girl we would call her Chanceux (shawn-SO)... French for lucky!
If it is a boy, Chauncey or Chance for a second chance at life!

pitufina73 - Couldn't have pulled this baby through without your help!
Owe you guys dinner soon!
New QP Dad

OH OH OH!!!!! What sweet pictures. He looks like he is smiling at Jelly Bean! That's so cute.
I agree. This is a great thread and I know from the bottom of my heart that you will be blessed for saving this little cutie!

equineRtist - After this experience and what I have learned.... I would like to seriously rescue more of these babies! I have 3 colonies within a half block of my home alone!!! Unfortunately not all of them will be in as great a condition as this baby apparently was.... Worth an attempt anyway!
Thank You!
New QP Dad

kate - Quaker Parrots/Monk Parakeets range as far north as Chicago! Many states like New Jersey have made them illegal to own because they are considered a nuisance species! http://quakerville.com/QIC/statelaw.asp
They are NOT ILLEGAL in Missouri and I would bet that their are wild colonies in you state! Granted that in South Florida they are more abundant!
New QP Dad

I've been enjoying this thread and I thought I had posted but rechecked and see I haven't....That is the cutiest and the prettiest little green chicken to have just almost dropped in your lap that I've ever seen....What a doll baby....
You certainly are doing a fantastic job with baby....Now give us a name so we can stop saying bird/birdie/baby.... I'm sure whatever you chose will be acceptable with birdie.... I'm enjoying the pictures so much and you really got some good shots...
Meeting Jelly Bean is my favorite.... and the kiss of course....

The name I would choose is Sweetpea-Sweet Pea, or Chirpy...lol

I know that they are legal here. I just havent ever heard of any wild colonies in the state as of yet.