Hi everyone! I just brought home my first Quaker yesterday named Buddha. : )

I have some fears that I hope you can allay:

She had been abandoned and as far as I know this is her third home. I have been reading a lot on birds and Quakers and just spent a tonne of money on accessories and toys. I know she is just getting used to being here as it is only the second day, but I am worried that this won't work! She doesn't like new things in or around her cage and has bitten me this morning (I was handing her a toy and she got my finger instead). I had been told that she doesn't like strangers hands until she gets used to them - I saw the woman she was staying with cuddle Buddha and scratch her, so I do know that she will eventually come around. When I first met Buddha she came to me when she felt like it and climbed up on my shoulder.

The top of her cage is above my eye height - should it be lowered slightly?

I am also worried about her screaming: she doesn't do it continually, but one squawk every several minutes (so maybe 4-5 per hour) and especially when I leave the room (I try to tell her I'll be right back and hum a tune when I'm not right there). I think she might be an attention-hound. She came from a home with several other birds. Is she just getting used to things? Am I right to ignore that behaviour and praise her when she's quiet or chattering? Last night she went to sleep by 9pm and I woke her up quietly at 7am and she whispered for an hour while I gave her food and water but still every so often she makes that squawk. I understand that birds make noise and that the more things to keep them occupied (toys, foraging, etc) the happier they'll be, but how do I get her to take interest in those things?

Maybe I'm trying to do things too fast?

I also tried to give her a mist but she didn't seem to take to it so I let her be.

I totally want to make this work and am prepared to work at it, but I guess I am just feeling a little lost and alone right now.

Thanks for the vent & any info/advice is much appreciated.

Everything is new to her right now, so it's natural to act a little scared and defensive. She has no idea what kind of home she's ended up in this time. Give her some time to get used to her new surroundings. I would save things like misting for later. I would also wait to make unnecessary adjustments to her cage. Her real personality will come out over weeks and months. Flock calling when you leave the room is natural. It's good that you're telling her you'll be right back. She'll probably calm down about that later. As she gets used to her new home and new things, she should spend more time playing and less squawking. I don't think I've ever bothered to tell mine to be quiet. I just got used to it like you get used to planes when you live near an airport. Mine is not a terrible squawker, but she's not a quiet bird, either.

Best of luck! You'll see progress every day.

Susan gave you good advice......Welcome to the forum and Congratulations. Just let your bird get use to everything that is new to him, you, your house all of the new sounds.........just give him time and patience. Birds pick up on your un easiness, so try to be calm. I have had my Mr. Kiwi for almost 10 yrs and I still get bit on ocassion just because I might do something that he is not happy with at the time......but I pretty much know when it is coming and you will in time.

Thanks so much for the advice and support! : )

I didn't sleep a wink last night because I was so worried that she would wake up and get upset (even though I left a wee light on). There was a party going on in the upstairs apartment and there were all of my normal apartment noises too. But we just woke up from a nap and she's doing that weird soft grinding/chatter so things seem brighter!

I will leave her cage as is for now and just let her get used to things. She really is a cool and smart little bird who has already picked up a sound I make to her - I can't wait to play with her.

Another question for you guys: Is letting her sit on my shoulder a no-no until she learns to step up? She can say "step-up" but she won't. I bought Barbara Heidenriech's video about positive reinforcement and she says to train to target your hand that contains treats first before learning stepping up. Numerous websites have advised not to let your Quaker on your shoulder as it promotes possessive behaviours but that might be the only physical contact I can have with Buddha for a while. Any thoughts?

Her wings had been clipped before I brought her home but today she flew to the ground. I quietly sat down and let her come to me and she climbed up onto my shoulder and I took her back to her cage. I thought that was a positive way to do it, but maybe I shouldn't have the cage door open yet?

Thanks so much - I am learning so much from your replies and previous posts.
Cheers!

PS: Do any of you remember the old Bugs Bunny cartoons? The ones with Foghorn Leghorn? My Quaker TOTALLY reminds me of the feisty chickenhawk that tormented Foghorn!

I wrote this to another person who was asking many of the same questions you've asked. I've just C&P it here ... I'll bet it gives you some insight into some of the questions you've asked .... and some that you haven't yet. I hope it helps .... don't histiate to ask if anything else comes up ...


The puffing up CAN be a sign of fear or aggression OR a sign of happiness. Right now, I'm thinking he's scared, everything in his life has changed and he can't understand what to do, what will EAT him, what will hurt him. Give him time. It sounds like you are doing things nice and slow right now, which is a good thing. Sit by his cage, talk to him, let him know he's safe, they understand more than you think! Keep his cage open when you are there so he can come out on his own, dont try to force him out (how would you like it if someone came in and dragged you out of YOUR house?), praise him A LOT if he does come out, move slow, talk softly, praise often.

As for the pellets - give these companies a call ... they will usually send samples so you can find something your new fid (feathered kid) will take to ... some things they just don't like, but there are a variety of different things that may take your fid's fancy ...

Hagen (Tropican pellets and Gourmet mix)
-- 1-800-225-2700
Harrisons (pellets)
-- 1-800-346-0269
Lafeber (Nutriberries and AviCakes)
-- 1-800-842-6445
Pretty Bird International Inc. (pellets)
-- 1-800-356-5020
Roudybush Feed (pellets)
-- 1-800-326-1726
Ziegler Brothers Inc. (pellets)
-- 1-800-841-6800


Don't forget the fresh veggies and a little fresh fruit as well. There is a list of safe foods pinned at the top of the Diet and Health section Healthy Foods Topic Try different things, offered a variety of ways, cooked, raw, chunks, shredded, mashed, cold, warm, and don't think just because he doesnt like something once, he wont try it if its offered in a different form. Just like us, some people like carrots cooked, others like them raw, others like them shredded (in lime green jello), others don't like them at all...

Perches - a variety of textures and sizes is always nice, exercises their little footies by having different sizes/diameters/textures. Just as you standing on a concrete floor all day would hurt your feet, perching on a single style of perch will tire their feet out.

Covering - thats a personal choice. It sounds like you put him in a quiet room when you leave for work, which is fine. As it gets dark outside, his room will darken as well and he'll settle down when it's nite time. As long as when you come home at 3 am he isn't startled awake by a bright light, he'll be fine uncovered in a separate room.

Toys - a lot of quakers CHEW so things he can chew up are good. Little wooden baby blocks, plain (or naturally colored) popsicle sticks, plain wooden clothespins (without the metal spring), many love to shred paper so kleenex tissue or paper towels are good, as is plain black/white newspaper (not the colored or glossy pages). You can also use the plain newspaper as a liner for the bottom on her cage to ease in clean up. Do NOT use 'litter' or cob bedding in the bottom of her cage Bedding Article Newspaper is a natural bacterial barrier and its CHEAP ... a way to recycle! Again, not the glossy pages. A lot of birds like bells, some dont, I wouldn't give him a mirror tho .... sometimes they bond with the 'bird in the mirror' and think that is their friend then they don't 'need' you.

I hope your little green monster warms up to you soon. It sounds like he will, just give him some time. You will have up to 30 years to love him!

Once he starts coming out of his cage and interacting with you without fear, you will want to work on 'Step ups' with him. You can take him away from his cage (out of sight) to work with him 10 to 15 minutes at a time a couple times a day is usually plenty. I used to take my IRN into the bathroom to work with her. Closed the door and toilet and it was a small enclosed space so she didnt have much choice but to work with me .... it STILL took me almost 6 months to tame her down, so don't try to rush it. If you love him, he'll pick up on it and he'll get there with you.

Good luck with your new friend. Keep posting and let us know how it's going with you and your new quaker. We LOVE pictures and stories of others' fids, so post/brag/ask away!!

As for the shoulder.... I've just rescued a little quaker myself and she's been in the house for a whole week and a half already. I had let her onto my shoulder a few times because she just BEGS to be there however she gets rough with my hair, has bit my ear a few times trying to preen it out of my "feathers" and when she gets too into the preening she starts to regurgitate and make these weird sucky baby noises that lead me to believe she's getting WAY too attached. We already have jealousy issues between Kiko and both my boyfriend and my 2 year old daughter... I don't want to encourage her bonding TOO closely with me by letting her get into that frame of mind. I am the feeder, waterer and trainer... not her knight in green armor.

I've worked with several larger birds that could sit safely on the shoulder for hours and be trusted not to do anything. Quakers seem to have a little bit too much dragon in them, if you know what I mean. Because of their territorial nature they tend to bite first and ask questions later when it comes to protecting hearth, home, and family ... which means if you're closer than whatever your bird thinks you need defending from YOU'RE the one who's going to get the nip in an attempt to drive you to safety while they handle it.

Her "honeymoon" period is also coming to a rapid close as I'm noticing that she's definately more comforatable with her new cage, toys, people, pets... Today my boyfriend wasn't paying attention and had his back right up to her cage. She grabbed the hood of his sweatshirt, marched right up his shoulder and bit him on the back of the neck. LOL She doesn't bite to draw blood, thank goodness, but it was a very definate "HEY! MY SPACE! You're IN IT and I didn't say you could be!" Away from the cage she'll grudgingly step up onto him and sit with him while he takes her back to her cage. We're working on it. =)

Hi & welcome!
Now to answer your questions and hopefully add a little helpful advice! My first bit of advice is to obtain one or more of the following books. Mattie Sue Athans has written several books which I highly recommend, "Guide to the Quaker Parrot" & "The Second-hand Parrot." They are around $10 or less at most bookstores or online here in the US. Another brand new resource is our own forum owner, Shelly's new book that you can download from this web site. You may want to sit near Buddha and read the books aloud to him. It is a great way to bond with a new bird.

If Buddha isn't squawking alot & loudly then you are doing well. Birds are flock "animals" and like to be with their flock or at least in contact with their flock by calling/squawking. You are now a part of his flock. The books can teach you more about how to teach your bird to "play" alone when he can't be with you.

Birds on your shoulder is a matter of choice. Myself, I do not allow any of my birds to stay on my shoulder for several reasons. The first reason is that should something frighten them they may bite out of fear. While a bite on the finger, hand or arm isn't fun, a bite anywhere on the face (ear, lip, eye, etc.) can not only be painful but dangerous. The second reason is if I hold the bird on my hand with my thumb over his toes, I have control so if something frightens him I can prevent him from flying off blindly into something and being hurt or worse.

Wing clips, if properly done, are only designed to allow the bird to glide down to the floor and not obtain altitude.

Congratulations to you & Buddha!

Jess

Good info has been passed on already.

Just try and relax...your apprehension is going to feed hers. Animals are very good at reading body language and they pick up on vibes that we don't even know we put out.

When she squawks every so often, she's doing a flock call because she's looking for the other birds she's used to having around her. When they don't answer back she'll try again in a few minutes. Don't run to her cage when she does this...instead just do what you've been doing...Answer her call with one of your own. Things are strange to her right now and she's calling out for something she knows as familiar (which obviously isn't there) Give her a while longer to settle in and get comfortable to the new sights sounds and smells.

Personally, for now, I wouldn't let her on my shoulder. Just move her down on to your arm or hand and if she tries to run up your arm to your shoulder again just block her path with your other hand.

The cage top height if it cage is on wheels, take the wheels off for now...Or you can get a step stool to make yourself taller.

Sometimes it can take weeks to months to win over a bird. It can depend on how trusting she was of the people in her prior homes. Two days isn't a very long time when you stop and think about what's going on in the birds mind. You've taken her away from all things familiar, you've introduced her to a new cage, a new house a new person, and a bunch of new toys etc. that's a lot for a bird to take in and adjust to.

Did the person you got the bird from send you home with anything that she was familiar with...a certain toy...the food she's been used to eating etc? If it were me, if you've stuffed her cage with new toys etc. I'd take all but one or two things out for now you can introduce it back to her as she settles in. Sit and talk to her or read out loud to her so she gets used to your presence and your tones. Offer things that you're eating (none that have been in your mouth) and just let her explore.

When she makes any positive changes praise her and this will encourage her to do more as she feels comfortable.

If Buddha won't step up on your hand, but knows the words, it's possible she has reason to fear hands and you'll have to prove to her that she doesn't have to fear YOURS. When Clyde first came to us, he wouldn't let a hand anywhere near him, and the only way to get him to step up was to offer a shoulder. With a great deal of time, patience and us getting the stuffin' bitten out of us, he got over it, and now he'd rather sit on a hand than a shoulder, because he knows if he's on my hand, I can't do anything else. So you may have to start with your shoulder.

I still get nipped every day because if I pet him on his head when he wants me to pet his face, or his back when he wants me to pet his head, or interrupt him when he's fixing my hair, or any one of a host of other reasons, he must punish me. If he bites hard, I put him back on his cage and tell him he mustn't bite Mommy so hard. So you're going to get nipped, but you can talk to a Quaker and explain things to them; they really do understand a lot of what you say once they've lived with people a while.

But the most important thing is RELAX! You're still getting to know each other. Sounds like you're feeding her well and taking good care of her, so don't get too tense about things. She'll sense that. Just worry about making friends with her now, and proving she can trust you, and love her lots and lots, and it will all work out, really it will!

I think you have about all the great advise you need.

All I will say is welcome, and I don't let Max on my shoulder.

Wow, everyone has been so friendly and helpful! Much thanks! : )

Buddha has been much better today. We have had 2 naps (me on the couch and her on top of her cage) and otherwise just spending a lazy Sunday together hanging out. I've been going up to her every so often and letting her know that she's such a good, pretty girl and that i love her. I think she's finding it much quieter here that her previous house.

Maxsmom - thanks!

Jobo2mi - All that info is good to have. A helpful guy at a bird store gave me some food samples that Buddha tried this morning. Right now she's on the fruity Zupreem but the store guy gave me some Harrison's. I am taking Buddha to the vet next weekend so will ask for advice on food then too. Too funny about Kiko and your boyfriend (although I doubt he thought it was that funny). Buddha feigns attack when I try to adjust her cage but knows when I'm giving her a treat through the bars and will take it gently.

Flying Feathers - Just finished reading the guide this afternoon! : ) Some of it aloud to Buddha too. Her squawking is sooo much better today. She's actually spent most of the time grinding her beak, eating/drinking, and sleeping. When I go up to her cage and talk with her she sometimes dance or say "what what".

Andie's Mom - That made so much sense!! She's totally looking for the people and animals she left behind! Even if she didn't enjoy the other birds' company she would still miss their presence. Your message flipped a light switch on in my head! She has the same cage she lived in before and I bought the same food as she was on - no sense in changing everything for the poor thing. I just looked over all the stuff I bought for her and figure it will last quite some time! My whole counter is cluttered up with birdie foraging things, puzzles, foot and hanging toys and different branches! But it was so much fun to shop for!!

Siobhan - thank you! sounds like Clyde has you trained very well. : )

One thing I have noticed today is that Buddha will watch me from on top of her cage but sometimes when I go up to her she turns her back to me! Does that gesture have the same meaning as when a person does it??? If so, that's harsh. She'll turn around and give a shake and poop. Sigh. I guess I have a ways to go... ; P

I have to take her in to work with me tomorrow - will towelling her make her hate me or impede the process of becoming friends? She has a wee travel case that she can go into but won't unless she's towelled.... or I can dismantle the top half of the cage to create a half-cage (would make the cage 2' square instead of 3' high) but she will attack my hands if I do that. Should I wear gloves?

Okay, so I have lots of comments and questions! Thanks for putting up with me...

I stood on a chair this afternoon by Buddha's cage and she seemed to really like me being a little taller than her - she danced around and chirped and then she climbed onto my shoulder! She knows "gentle" so I kept saying that and "good bird" to her and she made the noise that she picked up from me and danced around on my shoulder! : ) It sounded like she was purring too, but that's weird - do birds purr?? She took a treat from a fold in my shirt and then wanted to go back to her cage so I let her. Now she's got her head under her wing and is snoozing peacefully. This would be her 3rd or 4th nap today - is that normal too?

She has been quite noisy but I think it might be the time of day because yesterday she was noisy at the same time (3-4:30ish) but I took advantage of her energy and played a game of peekaboo and danced.

Sweet!