Hi all. I'm so grateful to find this forum, I can't even express. Here is the scoop. I'm just plain nuts. Now that we have that well established we can carry on. I know dogs extremely well. We have three dogs and a goat and two daughters. Generally I don't advocate kids having pets. My 12 year old begged and begged for a fish tank. Her dad and I decided when she asked consistently for a year, we'd let her get something small and manageable (because we knew, ultimately parents are responsible for the pets...and we weren't really interested in owning fish...or any other pets). She was 9 when she got her fish tank. We've had to find enclosed ponds for the fish she has raised because they thrive. Now she has a pleco that has a tank to himself (except a few minnows from the nearby creek). He is three years old, getting huge and beautiful. She loves him. She started asking about a second fish tank and birds about a year and a half ago. We decided she'd earned the right for either a tank or a parakeet. She delayed getting her bird until the summer because she knew she'd need to work with them to hand train them. She agonized over the decision to get a single or pair (for almost a month) and decided on a pair. Now she has Casper & Wendy (we think they may both be girls LOL).

Now, my husband's coworker said she had this Quaker and she was mad because her daughter never handled it and yelled at it all the time. She said it became mean and out of control. She offered to give us the bird if we wanted. I did quite a bit of research on Quakers. I have worked in animal rescue and I wouldn't take an animal I didn't think I was capable of caring for. I liked the smaller size, to be honest with you a bird's beak is probably the one and only thing that makes me uncomfortable. Any bird that could take off a finger (I used to work for a hand surgeon) is probably not the bird for me. I realized how bad the neglect was for this bird, because Quakers are so social. It would be like someone neglecting a Golden Retreiver...a breed of dog that just really needs that interaction. At first, the lady couldn't convince her daughter to give up the bird...but she complained about the bird constantly. Finally, she decided to let the bird go.

Now, we have Zoe. Poor Zoe! She is about a year and a half old. The best I can tell, she is malnourished. She only eats pellets and doesn't recognize anything else as a source of food. She looks very *dull* and her feathers don't look like they are in good shape at all. She isn't bald, but she needs a bath and grooming. I don't know how to completely go about this.

We just basically ignored her when she first came into the house to let her adjust. We quarantined her from our birds, she will be that way for at least 10 days. She would hiss and strike even if you walked past the cage. I decided to use a flesh colored leather glove at the recommendation of our vet and a local bird expert. She strikes like a cobra, but she responds to gentle holding of her beak to calm her down (until she submits). I had to get some dangerous items out of her cage. Once I corrected her, (she wasn't happy about me being in her cage), but she stood out of the way and I did my thing. I let her out and she sat with me in my chair. She acted like she basically didn't have any manners, but wanted to be social. I kept her at a safe cuddling distance and whistled and she whistled back at me for probably twenty minutes this afternoon.

Her beak is out of control. It looks like it has never been maintained and they said she 'didn't like the cuttle bone' so they didn't give her one. She had broken toys and wires and only dowel perches in her cage. I have corrected some of this. The unsafe & broken items are gone. I left her bell and got her a new one that was more easily accessible. She seems fixated on her one toy. Cuddles with it, hides behind it...everything. I worry a bit whether this is healthy for the long term.

Her feathers aren't trimmed and she flies well (guess how I found that out!), but she generally heads toward something like the back of a chair or back to her cage. She did land on my Golden Retreiver (who was sleeping on a chair) once, and my Rat Terrier/Whippet...but they are obedience trained and used to our parakeets, so they just sat still while I came and got her; she immediately realized what she'd done and hopped up on my hand. LOL! If you were wondering, I do not and would not leave a bird out of the cage without my supervision. My dogs are well behaved but they are still animals and I don't leave these things to chance. I also don't go diving after birds that go flying off, I feel that can do more harm than good. I watch, wait until they land and retreive if necessary; no panic necessary.

I have learned what an anxiety or upset squawk is when I brought out a cover for her cage. Apparently they left her with a night light all the time. I have always thought it best to cover birds at night to signal bed time (my grandmother had several birds including big ones). I don't want to stress her out, but I do want her to know she is in a loving environment but she can't get away with the poor manners shenanigans (biting). It is about respect.

My biggest concerns are prioritizing. What do I address first?? The hygiene, nutrition, behavior, beak, feathers, nails? Zoe will definitely have a good home here. There are five people who give a lot of attention already to three dogs, a goat and two parakeets (I can't say the fish really gets much from more than one of us...LOL). I think she is in a good place and we are willing to put the work in necessary. I'll tell you everything I do or don't know, but this is my assesment thusfar.

EDIT: not the greatest pics, but this may be helpful...if not let me know what would be better

I think you are right to cover the cage. She will get used to it. It will help to signal bedtime as you said, and you can cover her if she gets too vocal or nervous about something (my birds recognize when strangers are in the room and squawk and get very agitated).
Pellets are a good thing as you have probably researched.Maybe it was the brand/quality that she was fed?? Try clipping different types of veggies on the cage. I think curiosity might get her to try some. Try sprouting dried beans they are cheap but good nutrition. Even my cockateil has started eating them once I started sprouting for my quakers, especially lentils.
If you can swing a vet visit, have her wings clipped and beak & nails trimmed. I have a special edible perch in the cage as well as a cuttlebone and their beak and nails have remained the same since June when I brought them home. I cut my own birds wings and if you can fine, but I would worry about her trusting you after that. Mine dont have any trust issues with me so it didnt affect our relationship. You can mist her with a spray bottle...but she may not like it...again..trust issues. Just try one little spray and see how she reacts. One or two little sprays a day and she will preen herself and possibly start to look better.

I am sure you will get a ton of good advice here from more experience quaker parents than me. I hope your new addtion will bring your family laughter and happiness.

I'm fortunate, the local pet store is owned by a bird person. He apologized profusely for being scheduled to go out of the country untilthe 16th and couldn't help me until then. After that, he can help with some of the grooming, since they are less than a mile away and an avian vet is 35 miles away. I'll try the spray bottle, I've been reading the various threads about diet, and grooming and personalities. Zoe has been purring...I thought it was because her last house had cats; I was wrong!

Her beak is fine and doesn't need trimmed. Quakers don't need beak trims, generally speaking. I can't get a look at her toes in that picture, but you probably should take her to the vet for a well baby check in any case, and they can trim her toenails. As for her feathers, Quakers aren't particularly brilliant colored, anyway. Their tummies are kind of a dull, matte gray and the green feathers aren't very shiny even when the bird's in the best of health. Zoe looks like she may be molting, and she's going to look kind of nappy during that, anyway.

Pellets are complete nutrition, so you don't have to worry about her eating those as her main food, but for variety's sake and for optimum health, she really should have some veggies and things, too. She can eat almost anything you do (no chocolate or avocado, for example, and severely restricted sweets -- we let ours have little bits of homemade oatmeal cookies because they love them so much, but just nibbles). She'll be more willing to try new foods if you eat some in front of her and pretend you're not going to share. Once she's comfortable with you, she will most definitely want to share, so eat something and offer her a bit of it. Eventually, she'll accept. Mine like everything, just about, if WE'RE eating it .

Quakers tend to be cage aggressive, and that may be the source of her lunging when you walk near the cage. Let her come out on her own and when she's comfortable, get her on your hand or arm and take her into a room away from her cage to work with her. They get nippy when they're startled, or mad, or grumpy, so you'll always have some of that to deal with, but a gentle touch (not tap, not a grab) to the top of the beak and an admonishing "no bites," if you're consistent, will reduce the incidents in time.

Hi & welcome!
First, thank you for taking in Zoe & trying to do all that you can to give her a long, happy & healthy life! Second, I'm not sure how long Zoe has been with you but I would not make any changes other than for Zoe's safety until she is settled into her new home with you. It is stressful for a bird to go to a new home and family with all of the environmental changes. I would leave Zoe in the cage & sit beside the cage speaking softly or singing or even reading aloud to Zoe. Zoe will let you know when she is ready for the next step in your relationship.

Pellets are a good foundation for a diet so I would not be too worried about that aspect at this time. Hopefully she is already eating a good quality pellet. Once Zoe is comfortable in her new home, try offering her a little slice of apple or carrot. Eat some of the offered food in front of her (Its good if you can make it sound like it is really yummy!). It will take time for Zoe to learn to try new foods but the more she sees you eating the foods you want her to try the more likely she will eventually try it and after awhile learn to like it! Also, Quakers are prone to fatty liver disease and too much & too fatty seeds may contribute to its development. So you are one step ahead in that most Quakers are given a poor diet of seeds only (with alot of sunflower seeds which are an oily seed) & then must be switched to pellets to hopefully reverse the damage done to their health.

One word of caution, please make sure that the parakeets cannot get to Zoe's cage and vice versa. Quakers are very cage territorial and will attack any perceived invader. Quaker also are aggressive birds and will attack other smaller or more docile birds.

Suggested reading: Mattie Sue Athan's book, Guide to the Quaker Parrot is an excellent resource that I have used for many years and highly recommend it. Cost is around $10.00 & can be purchased at most local bookstores or online at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. Also, our own forum owner has written a brand new book which is available online for download (Sorry, I have been able to get it yet but will be checking it out when I can.)!

Please keep us updated on your progress with Zoe! I know once she has settled in & learns that you love her, she will love you back & become a wonderful companion like you've never known before!

Jess

Ok, I read for several hours last night around the forum. I'm not sure how to tell the difference yet, but it could be problems with pinfeathers or whether she may be moulting (sp?). I didn't expect her to be brilliantly colored, but she looks very ragged. I'm going to see how she tolerates some water and if amenable we'll work on that.

We let her stay out on the top of her cage last night and she finally decided to go inside on her own. When we saw what she was doing we all clapped and said, "Yeah, Zoe!" She was used to only hearing, "shut up, Zoe!" from the girl who had her. She got excited, it was very cool! She does hide behind her favorite toy and I am thinking I'll get her a bed within her cage to try to isolate some of the territorial behavior. I plan to have our local avian expert look at her once he gets back into the country, then I'm going to have the avian vet look at her but that is a much longer and more stressful trip for sure.

She preenes her right foot a lot. I'm looking for some information on that. I'm trying to make sure she doesn't have an injury or anything. I don't see anything overt. I haven't felt comfortable holding her on a bare hand yet to feel her grip, though.

Welcome to the forum! Congratulations on rescueing Zoe. I would take it a little slow....quakers do not like change very much. You have received some very good information so far.

Continue reading up on the various forums threads here....you will find so much useful information....we are all lovers (and spoilers) of our quakers and we are willing to share the information we have learned to make the lives of other quakers better. Once Zoe begins to realize that she is in a loving home that won't yell at her or throw things or whatever was done before, she will probably begin to blossom and you will find a very loving fid (feathered kid) under all those raggedy feathers.

If she is on a pellet diet, that is a great thing....you can try to start giving her a variety of healthy things she can have. At the top of one of the forums is a list of good and bad foods for your baby. NO AVACADO, APPLE SEEDS OR FRUIT PITS. A sip of coffee or bite of chocolate won't kill them, but it's not healthy for them (is it for us???) ... but many of our fids really love the things they aren't supposed to have just like we do.... mine love a sip of my coffee once in awhile and I don't freak out if I find a little feathered bottom in the air over my soda glass I just have to try to keep them off of it.

Misting may be the way to get Zoe to bathe, but you also may try a little pan or bowl of water that she can climb into and bathe in. If she sees you splashing around and 'playing' in it, she may become interested enough to check it out. Don't force her into it, but she may climb in after awhile. It took me quite a few times before Isis finally decided that he wanted to go 'swimming' and now he loves it....on HIS timetable.....he lets me know

Glad to see you doing so much reading here on the forum to learn what is best for your newest family member. Take your time, work with Zoe as much as you can, (usually 10 - 15 minutes a couple times a day) to get her used to doing step ups and used to you, things can be turned around in that little fid's life and attitude with work and love. It will be so worth it.

Good luck with Zoe. Please don't hesitate to ask about anything that seems a little odd (quakers are ALL odd ) I'll bet someone will be able to give you some advice.

Oh, and WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!

The only thing I want to stress/add in addition to the other fantastic posts is please have this bird checked out by an avian vet. While the local pet store owner may be bird savvy, he isn't a vet (and neither are we) and can't check Zoe out for malnutrition and/or disease. Plus it is good to establish a repertoire with an avian vet in case of an emergency situation. As well, getting some basic bloodwork/crop/fecal samples done on her will rule out any of your major health issue concerns.

Her behavior will come along with time and patience on your part. She needs some time to settle in and get used to her new home. As I'm sure you are aware, rehoming can be very difficult on some animals and they exhibit stress in different ways. Zoe's foot fetish may be stress related, or it just could be a normal thing for her (my Quaker is rather particular over one of her feet too ).

With all of your reading, you may have come across discussions of Quakers being 'one person birds'. This isn't really a Quaker thing, it's more of a bonding thing. It sounds to me like you are the one that is doing most of the work with Zoe, and if that is the case, then she is most likely going to bond with you more then any one else in the house. In time, while she'll let you pet her and love her up, she may bite and be aggressive with others in the house. To avoid this, it is so important that she be socialized with every one who wants to handle her, especially your daughter. Make sure your daughter is actively taking part in getting Zoe used to her new home...feeding/watering, bathing, cage cleaning, sitting and talking to her, etc.

It's great to have you on the forum and I look forward to reading more about Zoe's progress. It sounds like she's making a lot so far, and this is a great thing.

All wonderful advice ....I will just say WELCOME to a fantastic group...Post all you questions on the appropriate forums you may get more replys ...What a cute little fid (feathered kid) Congratulations and once again WELCOME to the group from me and the boys downunder...