Hello Everyone!!!
Wow! I am so excited to get to talk with you guys! Already I have learned so much about Quaker Parrots from you guys. I am really excited about getting to be a part of this Forum and getting to know all of you and your fids.
Well, my birthday was about 3 weeks ago and I had decided that I wanted to get a parrot. I live in Mexico right now and they are being sold all over the place in the markets. They are not treated very well though. So about 2 months ago I decided that I was going to get one and now...I bought him and I love him already sooo much! He is so sweet and beautiful!! He is 5 months old now and has a yellow head. He is very "talkative", even though he has not actually said any real words yet. Really, I would not care if he ever said a word. I love him so much! lol. I have never seen a bird talk and find it a little...unbelievable...(I know it is possible, though).
Okay, now for my first question. My baby will only eat these weird corn...peices...or chunks? They sort of look like popcorn kernals, but just smaller pieces. I know this cannot be healthy and I have tried to get him to eat fruit, veggies, anything...cooked in all different ways, but he is so picky! I bought him some pellets, I can't remember the name of them but they are rainbow colored and smell like yummy fruit. He won't touch them. He won't even eat sun flower seeds! I was really surprised. He likes beans though...I forgot, that is one thing that he does enjoy, but nothing else really...I know I just have to be patient. But I do worry that he is not getting all the nutrients that he needs. If he does not start eating healthier is he more susceptible to illness?Is it an emergency, as in does he need to change what he eats like, right now? Other than that, he is just a little darling! Oh, and btw, his name is Dumplin'.
Well, I guess I'll go now. I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself and my baby.

What a beautiful baby! Congratulations on your new little one. Do you know what kind of parrot he is? It takes time to convert them from one food to another. Can you post a photo of the little corn pieces you are referring too? I would try my best to get him converted to some sort of pellets.

Looks like a qp except for the head. What kind of a parrot do ya got there?

Welcome to the forum and Congrats on your new baby! Wow! I have honestly never seen a Quaker that looks like that! I've seen a lot of different pictures of mutations but never one that looked like that!!

They can be picky eaters. Pellets are the healthier choice as they are low in fat (compared to seeds and mixes) and since Quaker are prone to Fatty Liver Disease seeds should be limited. Fresh veggies, fruits, legumes and grains are also good for them... it can take them a while to learn that they are good though! Try eating with Dumplin' (but don't actually share as human saliva is poisonous) since they are flock animals they tend to want to eat with their flock so they are more apt to try new foods. Some favourites are sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, broccoli, squash, apples, papaya, melons, brown rice, pasta, bulgar, etc. You can try mixing some of his beans with some grains and veggies, warm it up and see if he likes it. Sometimes it's all about 'presentation' too, some like their veggies raw, some like them cooked, some like them mashed, some like them cubed, etc. it's all about finding what your QP likes best!

There is a conversion posted at the top of the diet and health section of the forum... that should work as you can convert him from his 'mix' to the pellets. If you've only had him a short time though, hold off on the conversion until he settles in a little more and you don't shock him with too many new changes.

Hope that helps! ... I'm still shocked that there are yellow-headed Quakers!

Wow.. that yellow head sure is different, I have not seen that also, he does look like a quaker though, Dumplin sure is one special boy/girl.

I am guessing one of two things about this parrot. He is indeed a full quaker parrot and is part of a clutch of quakers being bred to yellow as the yellow quakers and the whites sell for over $10,000.

The other guess I have is this guy is a cross between a lovebird and a Quaker but he is def. Part Quaker in my opinion. I say love bird because of the beak.

Anyone else want to pipe in?

I think it's the first quess.

That beak has me muffled. I don't know what he is but I want one!!!! How big is he? Do you know his weight? He definately looks like a quaker but the eyes and the beak look differently. I have never seen a mutation of a quaker like this though.

Looks as though Dumplin is one special fiddo!!! Would love to know what he is.

He looks 100% quaker to me ... just a really unique and beautiful mutation! WOW! Congratulations and glad you love him so much already. Just wait! It only gets better.

Jen

Still waiting to hear more info on this bird.

Dumplin´ is a yellow-face Quaker...Very rare, from what I hear. And about ¨his¨ beak, they clipped it!!! Maybe so it wouldn´t hurt so bad when he bit them? I don´t know...but I couldn´t believe they would do that, but from what I´ve read, the beak is kind of like a finger nail. It will grow back, I guess. But, anyways, yes, he really is a Quaker. Isn´t he BEAUTIFUL? lol. I love him to death.

Yes, he is quite beautiful. I would like one like that.

Hi Bethany!

I was researcing the yellowface (procrastinating a writing assignment) and came across these photos:

http://www.avianweb.com/quakermutations.html

Did you recently post those? Is that Dumplin'? He's practically famous now!

Jen

HMMMMMmmmm Those are the exact photos. Did you post them?

Wow....I have NEVER seen a qp wth a yellow head like that! He or she is beautiful! I can't find another pic of one that looks like that at all! As far as what you said about parrot treatment in Mexico, I just finished reading a book called "Of Parrots and People" and there was a lot about the smuggling of parrots from Mexico, and also about the way pet shop owners treat them many times there....so sad!!!(and it's not just there...all over the world, and some of the worst in the US) Not long ago I was at a place called "Traders Village" here in the DFW area, and was dismayed to find the same conditions exist right here....parrots crammed into cages wing to wing, not even a perch to stand on, or water or food...and out in the hot sun with no shade. Dumplin is a very lucky birdie to have found a home where he will be loved and cared for. Post more pics....Dumplin is awesome!

Ye, that's him! When I bought him I was not really sure what kind of bird he was so I emailed Sibylle Faye, the webmaster and asked her if it was really possible for a Quaker to have a yellow head and she said yes. So, ya, anyways, I guess yellow heads are rare so she asked if I would like to post a picture of him so I sent those in.

Wow what an extraordinary Quaker! You are so lucky to have him.

Dumplin is absolutly stunning, you are a very lucky Quaker owner.

Can you find out for me what mutation the mom and dad are too dumplin? I raise quakers and have many mutations of them. Just curious what 2 they put together to get him. If this is possible I would really appreciate it.

I'm sorry! I can't...I'm in Mexico right now and their treatments of the birds are...horrible...Dumplin' was in a tiny cage with one other bird and the man I bought him from goes from market to market selling the birds. I have no idea where he is now...sorry! (Actually, the guy did not even know what kind of bird he was and I didn't care...just wanted to get him out of that stinkin' cage and spoil him to death...he deserves it!)

Great move on your part. I am just glad that you saved him. He is very lucky you did.

Wow you have one special Quaker, I have never seen one like that!

I know what you mean about Mexico, I was there on a mission trip (back when I was a Christian) and I saw someone had 5 parakeets as pets, all stuffed in a TINY cage (about a foot high, and two feet wide maybe) with beaks so grown out one was flat like a duck so they were slowly starving to death. I can't believe how people can be so cruel...

Awe, he is a special little bunny isn't he. The name Dumplin' fits perfectly.