Hello everyone! My husband and I are giving thought to getting a bird, and have done a lot of research and are falling in love with Quakers. We know this is a big commitment/decison, and I want to ask a lot of questions, which is why I joined the forum before we adopted one. I'll ask the other questions in the more appropriate topics, but my main quesion right now is....
The local breeder has only 2 quakers available, gender unknown (which isn't an issue to us) and but they are 3 months old. She will not be breeding more until she sells the available ones.
Is three months too old to 'bond' to us? And we only want one. Will we be breaking up a 'lifelong' birdie bond between them? (I broke up a parakeet pair once and the remaining keet was very depressed after that).
She also says that neither of them say any words yet. However, she says its very possible that when we get one he/she will start talking because he won't have another bird to communicate with and will learn to 'speak' to his new human companions with training.
I know every situation/bird is different, but I wanted to hear about your advice and experiences.
Thanks for considering my worries! We really want to do the right thing for our new 'baby'.
Full Version: Considering A Quaker
Welcome to the forum! 
Congrats on choosing to get a Quaker parrot! And it's great that you're doing your research first!
Three months is the correct age to get a baby Quaker. They wean anywhere between 9-12ish weeks so 3 months is the perfect age. It's a total myth that an unweaned baby will bond better if you do the handfeedings, in my opinion it ruins the bond as once they are weaned they want to move on from the people that raised them and start their own life with a new family... like you! Also older birds that are rescued/adopted are still able to bond to their new owners just as well... it just might take a little longer depending on the situation they came from.
Like you said, gender isn't much of an issue for someone with just one Quaker, the only real difference is if you get a female you should be prepared for potential egg laying in the future and you'll know to watch for egg binding.
Since the Quakers are still so young you won't really be breaking up a bond, I'm sure they will be a little sad and confused for the first few days as their whole world will have been turned upside down, but once they get settled into their new life everything should be okay. It'll be like that with all birds from breeders as there is usually more than one in a clutch so they just have to get used to being an 'only bird'.
I think it would be different if they were an older, bonded pair...
As for the talking, not all talk right away. Some do learn to talk while they are still being weaned while others don't start until they are a few months old, or even later than a year old... and some just don't talk, but that is little rare (we do have a few members with non-talkers). Casey did start talking when she was really young (around 15 weeks) but that's not always the case.
Good luck with your decision! Don't hesitate to ask any questions... that's what everyone is here for! Welcome!
Congrats on choosing to get a Quaker parrot! And it's great that you're doing your research first!
Three months is the correct age to get a baby Quaker. They wean anywhere between 9-12ish weeks so 3 months is the perfect age. It's a total myth that an unweaned baby will bond better if you do the handfeedings, in my opinion it ruins the bond as once they are weaned they want to move on from the people that raised them and start their own life with a new family... like you!
Also older birds that are rescued/adopted are still able to bond to their new owners just as well... it just might take a little longer depending on the situation they came from. Like you said, gender isn't much of an issue for someone with just one Quaker, the only real difference is if you get a female you should be prepared for potential egg laying in the future and you'll know to watch for egg binding.
Since the Quakers are still so young you won't really be breaking up a bond, I'm sure they will be a little sad and confused for the first few days as their whole world will have been turned upside down, but once they get settled into their new life everything should be okay. It'll be like that with all birds from breeders as there is usually more than one in a clutch so they just have to get used to being an 'only bird'.
I think it would be different if they were an older, bonded pair...As for the talking, not all talk right away. Some do learn to talk while they are still being weaned while others don't start until they are a few months old, or even later than a year old... and some just don't talk, but that is little rare (we do have a few members with non-talkers). Casey did start talking when she was really young (around 15 weeks) but that's not always the case.
Good luck with your decision! Don't hesitate to ask any questions... that's what everyone is here for!
Welcome!
I agree this is the best time 3 months to get your bird. Do it call the breeder, you will never regret it. 
We got Mollie when she was 7 months old and she just turned 2. Other than she is territorial about her cage she worked out fine. She does not say too many words, she says, hello, thank you, night night and yeah, she also laughs and does a rolling the tongue noise. So I am assuming she will or can learn other words. Who knows she may be a closet talker. LOL. So go for it, QPs are so much fun. Keep us posted and Welcome!
you got excellent answers already so all I am adding is welcome to the flock!
QUOTE (Rebekah @ Jun 23 2008, 05:53 PM) 
Hello everyone! My husband and I are giving thought to getting a bird, and have done a lot of research and are falling in love with Quakers. We know this is a big commitment/decison, and I want to ask a lot of questions, which is why I joined the forum before we adopted one. I'll ask the other questions in the more appropriate topics, but my main quesion right now is....
The local breeder has only 2 quakers available, gender unknown (which isn't an issue to us) and but they are 3 months old. She will not be breeding more until she sells the available ones.
Is three months too old to 'bond' to us? And we only want one. Will we be breaking up a 'lifelong' birdie bond between them? (I broke up a parakeet pair once and the remaining keet was very depressed after that).
She also says that neither of them say any words yet. However, she says its very possible that when we get one he/she will start talking because he won't have another bird to communicate with and will learn to 'speak' to his new human companions with training.
I know every situation/bird is different, but I wanted to hear about your advice and experiences.
Thanks for considering my worries! We really want to do the right thing for our new 'baby'.
The local breeder has only 2 quakers available, gender unknown (which isn't an issue to us) and but they are 3 months old. She will not be breeding more until she sells the available ones.
Is three months too old to 'bond' to us? And we only want one. Will we be breaking up a 'lifelong' birdie bond between them? (I broke up a parakeet pair once and the remaining keet was very depressed after that).
She also says that neither of them say any words yet. However, she says its very possible that when we get one he/she will start talking because he won't have another bird to communicate with and will learn to 'speak' to his new human companions with training.
I know every situation/bird is different, but I wanted to hear about your advice and experiences.
Thanks for considering my worries! We really want to do the right thing for our new 'baby'.
Rebekah -
I became an accidental QP parront! I rescued my wild 4+ week old from the street in front of my house on May 22nd. These good folks have helped me learn all I needed to grow this baby into a big boy QP. I have had him DNA feather sex tested by the good folks http://www.avianbiotech.com/ and HE is a boy now named "Dolce"(=sweet in Italian).
You might find answers to many of your questions by reviewing my thread and my numerous NEWBIE QUESTIONS here:
http://www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.p...t=0&start=0
Casey's Mom was a big help to me and gave you some great advice!
Thought I would show you a first picture from May 22nd and my Big Boy Dolce enjoying the sunshine at 9+ weeks in his QP mansion today!
I truly believe that a QP will capture you and your husband's heart very quickly!!!
New QP Dad
That photo of the baby on the towel is the cutest thing I have ever seen. How lucky you were to save him.
Kent, I believe it is....now that Dolce is really growing and you are doing such a great job with him...Kudos to you man.....
And Rebekah I would like to say Welcome to the Forum....I know you will find your little quaker to be fun and a little terror to raise....
Wishing you the best....They will capture your heart right away....I love my Harley very much and I got him when he was 3 months old; he is 4 1/2 now....
And Rebekah I would like to say Welcome to the Forum....I know you will find your little quaker to be fun and a little terror to raise....
Wishing you the best....They will capture your heart right away....I love my Harley very much and I got him when he was 3 months old; he is 4 1/2 now....
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