Hi, my name is Julie and my Quaker's name is JJ. I am new at this forum thing so forgive me if I haven't done this correctly.
My husband and I have had JJ for about a year and half. He/she? has a nice big cage in a well lit room and lots of toys. I have him on a diet of Rowdy Bush pellets - he doesn't take a lot of extra foods although I keep trying different fruits and veggies. He can step up and doesn't bite. He says "hello", "pretty bird", "whatcha doing" sneezes and whistles and growls like a dog. We have a great pyr in the house so he hears barking and growling of sorts....they get along very well. JJ is absolutely not afraid of our Pyr.
JJ doesn't really like his bath time and I am working on that. Also, JJ tends to have a fluffly breast most of the time - with downy feathers. He does not pluck - no bare spots. He has some downy feathers showing through on top now so I figure he/she is molting. We are considering getting JJ sexed soon so we know for sure the gender.
We purchased JJ from a friend who was raising babies at the time so he is pretty friendly. We are thinking about possibly introducing another bird - perhaps a hand raised sun conure?
We are also thinking about taking JJ on a trip with us soon and are looking for the appropriate travel cage and apparatus to keep him safe and happy.
I am hoping to learn lots of good tips and techniques here for interacting with our JJ.
Oh yeah, we also have an emu :-) We help rehabilitate wildlife in our area - we are state and federally licensed. The emu is a rescue animal. If you haven't guessed already - we do live in the country :-)

Hi and Welcome to the forum! Quakers are wonderful little treasures. It sounds
like you have a lovely little fella! Talking too that sure is the icing!

Mine like mashed potatoes, oatmeal peas etc etc. It sounds like youre doing
a wonderful job as a parront!

Im in Houston that has to be great in the country and with an emu!

Welcome to the forum! That picture is SO cute!

I`m no expert on plucking etc. but it kind of looks like JJ shreds his feathers. I`m not sure if you have an avian vet in the area but it might be a good idea to take him for a visit and get him checked out, but it could just be behavioural. Others should have some more insight...

If you`re thinking about adding another bird just know that after the quarantine period they may not get along, so be prepared for that. There are lots of Sun Conure onwers here so feel free to ask some questions about them if you wish... all I know is they are VERY loud birds!

That`s pretty cool that you have an Emu! We would love to see some pictures of him!

Welcome!

Welcome to the forum. What a cutie youve got there. I know that the doggie and your QP may get along ok together and im sure that you are very vigil about the QUaker and the doggie saftey together but for your fids sake still keep an eye on them cuz you never know when instincts will take over. I hate to read posts on here about the dog getting the parrot. I never never let my parrot or dog get that close . they are separate and stay away fromone other.

Have you thought of a feather protector that way he can still shred or preen the tassles and not end up hurting him self or turing to mutilating ..
http://www.flightquarters.com/bird-diapers...y_Code=FProtect
I am not sure how a baby Conure would be recieved by a Q.P ...my two do fine BUT my Q.P was introduced as a baby and my sun conure was 3 years old ..conures will accept other birds I have been told its harder to get a Q.P to accept a new flock member even another Quaker...Maybe ask in the appropriate forums..I just popped in to say..

Welcome to the forum. JJ is a good name, can go either way for a boy or a girl. Where abouts in Texas do you live? I have some family in and around Houston and I am in San Antonio.

Just wanted to welcome you and JJ to the forum, an Emu ....now thats what I would call a Big Bird.