Hello! Yesterday I adopted a beautiful Quaker. Someone just turned him over to a farm. I was told that he bites hard but can probably be a good pet one day. Well, this little sweetie just needed some love! He turned out to be a wonderful little guy right from the start. I've had him out and he's been giving me kisses (I haven't even had him 24 hours). I couldn't be happier with him! He didn't come with a name so my kids and I voted on DUNCAN. This site is great for info because I've never had a quaker before. I do have a cockatiel (Luci-Loo) and an Aussie Shep (Riley).

So, thanks for letting me join in here...and Duncan thanks you because I'm learning what's best for him.

Teresa

Hi Teresa, Welcome to the forum!!!

...and congratulations on your new baby!

There is tons of information here so don't be afraid to jump right in and ask questions and share stories.

Welcome Teresa and Duncan, we're glad you found us as well.

Just a little bit of info you might file in the back of your mind...Most birds have a period of time when they go to a new home or the like where they are just as sweet as can be and then as they become more comfortable with the new surroundings they start pushing the boundries to see what they can get away with. We call this the "honey moon period" the length of time varies from bird to bird some may last as long as a month or so or as little as just a couple days.

While Duncan may be sweet from now on, its a very real possiblity that he isn't for a period of time. Take it in stride and start deciding what behaviors you will allow and what you won't, And while he's still in the extra sweet stage he'll learn what you'll allow and what you won't.

If he happens to start getting nippy, especially with your kids, instruct them to show as little reaction as they can. Don't yell, scream, or cry or jerk back because that just acts as encouragement for him to try again to get the same reaction. Quakers are drama queens and will do what ever they can to get any reaction to the things they do be it negative or a positive reaction. Try to not show any emotion and he'll learn that its no fun to do what ever it is and will get tired of doing it.

There are several techniques you can use to help eliminate the unwanted behaviors but the most useful thing we can tell you is to be consistant. Don't allow him to get away with an unwanted behavior once and then correct him for the same thing the next time and then allow him to get away with it again...

Again...We'd like to welcome you and your family!

Hi Teresa, Duncan and family! Sounds like you have an awesome crew!!!

Welcome to the forum Can't wait to hear more, and maybe even see some pictures of the little guy. Talk about one lucky birdy, bless your heart. You seem to be the perfect parront he would only have dreamed about hehehehe Match made in heaven much? How nice that he's already giving you kisses!

Hi Welcome to the forum. Duncan sounds like a little cutie. You will learn lots here.Can't wait to see a picture of him if you can.

Hello and welcome to the forum! Congrats on the Duncan too.

You will find some of the best people around on this forum and for sure, the most experienced about Quakers.

Welcome to a great grouip..
Read older posts on all the different forums and join in ask any questions you like in relevent forums and someone is sure to answer ..
Once again welcome ..

Hi, glad your here, this is a great forum!!

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I've read so much on here and have been using most of your advice. It has helped me so much....I knew nothing about Quakers and appreciate the knowledge I've gotten here. He seems to be becoming quite comfortable with each of us here and we all still love each other. He's been talking a bit more too. And it seems that his past family maybe had a litter of puppies...because he makes sounds like newborn puppies. It's funny.

Excuse the photo quality. Believe it, or not, I'm a professional photographer...but these were just taken with my camera phone. He'll have his own photo-shoot in a few weeks. (sorry they're large photos...I tried to shrink them)

Here's my Duncan:


Duncan tells Riley a secret:


Duncan loves my daughter's hair

Mine both love hair, too. Clyde gets downright grumpy if he wants to be a hairdresser and I interfere with him.

One thing I've discovered with Jade, who is VERY nippy, is that not reacting doesn't work as well as acting as if it's a game. I've learned to watch for the nip body language and often I can get out of the way in time, but not always. When she gets me, I laugh and say something like, "Ooh, Jade pinched Mommy good! One point for Jade!" This puzzles her (because she expects me to yell OW, like Hubby does ) and since I've been doing that, she doesn't chomp down hard at all. It HAS become a game and is no longer aggressive. She just nips to see if she can. That might not work for all Quakers, but it works on her.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaa he is adorable...

Welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum!

Very adorble. How old again?