Quaker Parrots: Terrific Talkers for a Tiny Price
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by Mattie Sue Athan Quaker Parrots consistently rank high on every list of best talking parrots. Learn more about the Quaker's talking ability and ways to improve the chances that your bird will talk. This article first appeared in Bird Talk magazine and is re-printed here with Mattie Sue Athan's permission. |
When naming the best talking parrots, African greys and yellow naped Amazons often head the lists. But these are pricey, long-lived species involving a large initial investment and a couple of generations of planning and commitment. For a sturdy bird with a more reasonable price and life expectancy, many who fancy a talking bird are now turning to the quaker parrot.
At first glance, the quaker or monk parrot (Myiopsytta monachus) does not appear to be particularly compelling, but it's plain colors and unimpressive size mask a truly exciting personality. Among other things, it's not unusual for this intelligent little bundle of energy to use human words with understanding before it's six months old. In a recent survey of 64 quaker parrot owners, three reported that their birds spoke their first human word at six weeks. Little wonder that in the states where it's available, the quaker parrot is rapidly overtaking the cockatiel as most frequently acquired hand-fed baby parrot.
A "GUARANTEED" TALKING BIRD
No baby parrot, including the quaker parrot, can be guaranteed to talk merely because it is of a particular species. In order to study the extent and frequency of talking and non-talking in quaker parrots, I conducted an informal survey of the birds' owners who subscribed to two e-mail discussion groups: the Quaker Parakeet Mailing List and the Pet Bird Report List. While this survey represents a very narrow segment of the community that cannot be considered a true scientific sample, it can provide a clearer picture of the companion quaker's potential in the hands of literate and, presumably, good-talking humans. Of 54 birds over one year old in this study, all but three were talking. Among the ten baby birds, only three were not yet talking.
While all but one of the birds in this group talked by ten months, it's not unusual for a quaker parrot to learn to say its first human word after it is one year old.
PROLIFIC VOCABULARY
One of the most exciting aspects of the talking capabilities of the quaker parrot is the sheer number of words these birds can acquire.
In this group, quaker parrots over one year old averaged between 50 and 60 words. Many of these birds have learned both to use words with understanding and to sing word songs. The latter use of language probably more accurately resembles bird song, and for the purpose of this study, the number of words in songs was not included in the total number of spoken words.
MODEST UNDERSTANDABILITY
On the other hand, quaker parrots are not known for being especially easy to understand. On a scale of one to ten, with "one" being "absolutely not understandable to anyone" and "ten" being "absolutely understandable to most people", humans responding to this survey said that their birds averaged somewhere between seven and eight.
Experience tells me that both the birds and the humans in this group may be especially articulate. Remember, these birds live with humans who use computers for something other than games.
USING WORDS IN CONTEXT
Of the older talking quakers in this study, all but one could use at least one word with an apparent understanding of it's meaning. While many quaker parrot owners reported that their birds used an average of 15-16 words in ways consistent with their meanings, seven of the 58 owners of talking quaker parrots reported that their birds spoke ONLY with apparent understanding. That is, these seven birds do not merely repeat any old word at any old time, they use all words only with the apparent intent of conveying appropriate meaning at the appropriate moment. Most of the birds in this group spoke an average of about 8 words. Two birds in this group averaged a reported 150 words.
SELECTING A TALKING BIRD
While no baby parrot can be guaranteed to talk merely because it's a baby quaker, an experienced handfeeder can usually guarantee that a particular individual baby quaker will talk. This is because baby quakers usually begin trying to mimic, often actually making understandable sounds, by the time they are fully weaned. But even if a baby quaker has not talked by the time it weans, a bright eyed, interested bird that vocalizes and seeks interaction at ten weeks will probably have at least a few words by the time it's a year old. In this group, the average age at which a quaker parrot spoke it's first human word was four months.
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Most Commonly-Reported First Words of 55* Talking Quaker Parrots
These words also appear to be most commonly repeated in a manner consistent with their meaning. *Other responses were unique or unknown. |
IMPROVING CHANCES THAT THE BIRD WILL TALK
Even among the more expensive "talking" parrots there are occasional individuals that do not talk. Motivation to speak can often be improved if the bird's confidence can be improved. Especially if the bird feels unsafe, it will not wish to attract attention. Sometimes merely raising the bird's cage and play perches and moving them to more protected locations can stimulate talking in an individual that has previously remained silent.
Allowing the bird to choose to hide might improve both the feeling of safety and the desire to communicate. Most parrots do not choose to talk when humans are looking watching. However, many birds are motivated to talk for attention when humans are out of sight. Sometimes this is only a matter of placing the cage or play pen around a corner from view of humans. Sometimes this involves putting a towel over about a third or half the cage or situating the cage behind a plant Show the bird what is expected by copying what the bird says.
This might be difficult when the bird is doing that little hiccup noise that some people call "quaker cussing", but all baby birds make at least a few noises that humans can readily copy. It's not that different from the bird's point of view. There are probably only a few human sounds that a baby parrot can easily copy, the rest is practice, practice, practice.
Don't forget that quaker parrots appear to prefer to use words appropriately. Like humans, a bird is more likely to learn to use words in context than simply by rote memorization.
Dr. Irene Pepperberg has demonstrated in her studies involving Alex, the African grey, that the process of learning words can be improved by providing a rival for the attentions of the favorite human. Indeed, most African greys, which are known as exceptionally adept mimics, are said to speak in the voice of the rival (African greys usually also learn words in the favorite person's voice). Although quakers are seldom understandable enough to verify who's voice they are speaking in, the presence of a human rival often stimulates the quaker parrot to learn human words.
GENERAL CARE
General care requirements for quakers are similar to those of other parrots. These birds need a nutritious diet; a clean, safe environment; exciting toys; opportunities for independence; and opportunities for interaction. Quakers need access to clean, fresh water for drinking and bathing. Like human children, a quaker parrot might be so interested in anything and everything that it will refuse sleep if it is not provided with a cover or a roost cage in a quiet area away from human activity.
Quaker parrots are especially prone to accidents in the home, including flying away. Wing feathers must be trimmed at least a couple of times yearly to prevent drowning in the toilet, burning up in the skillet, or crashing into the ceiling fan. Tame quakers that fly away in urban areas are usually easily recovered.
SPECIAL BEHAVIORAL NEEDS
Because they are famously territorial, quakers have special behavioral needs. Like humans, if quakers do not learn cooperative habits and limits of acceptable behavior by they time they reach sexual maturity, they may be completely out of control. It's best for quaker parrots to learn cooperative behavior just after weaning in order to prevent the development of early aggressive behaviors during the developmental period called the "Terrible Twos" (which usually appears sometime between 9 and 18 months in quakers).
Most behavior is comprised of a series of habits that are routinely reenacted. A bird that learns to habitually cooperate will be less likely to try to dominate humans in the environment. In order to create good habits and to establish a pattern of cooperation in the bird's behavior, we practice a couple of interactive exercises — step-ups and the towel game — most days in neutral territory.
STEP UPS: In order to expect the bird to respond dependably from the cage or other established territory, the bird must first be patterned with regular and diverse step-up practice to cooperate in neutral territory. A bird that will not cooperate in neutral territory will probably usually refuse to cooperate in its own territory.
From the bird's first days in the home, daily step up practice should include:
- Stepping the bird up from an unfamiliar stationary perch to a hand.
- Stepping the bird up from hand to hand.
- Stepping the bird onto and off of hand-held perches.
Later when the bird is expressing it's normal quaker tendency to protect the cage or when it's feeling feisty for any other reason, the habit of cooperation can be maintained, without fear of nipping, by handling the bird with hand held perches. Hand held perches may be occasionally necessary or necessary for some people in the bird's established territory, as a typical quaker parrot may behave like a total brat toward most people at the cage and a little green angel away from it.
THE TOWEL GAME: A new baby quaker parrot can easily be carried around in a towel like a human baby. Continuing and maintaining this behavior in a playful way will help to ensure the bird's disposition for a lifetime. A bird that routinely plays peek-a-boo in the towel and is unafraid of the towel will have a much easier time when it goes to the veterinarian or groomer.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Because of the quaker parrots' instinct for territorial aggression, it's important not to service the cage with the bird in it. Just open the door, let the bird come out to the top of the door, then step the well-practiced bird up to a hand or hand-held perch and put it on a play pen. Then food, water, toys, or perches can be safely changed, and the bird will not learn how much fun it is to chase hands and other human parts.
A well-adjusted quaker parrot is too busy to be noisy. If the bird is making lots of unpleasant sounds, it may be unhappy. Try to find out why. Much chronic noise making is a habit, like any other. First assess and improve the environment, then guide the bird to replace habitual noise-making behaviors with more-appropriate behaviors. These little green feathered dragons are never spayed or neutered for behavioral reasons, and therefore, they may be expected to demonstrate several diverse forms of sexually-related behaviors. In this group, approximately half of the birds over one year old masturbated. While a little more than half of those birds seemed to prefer the pleasure of a toy, a little less than half seemed to prefer their favorite person's hand. One of the birds in this study was reported to pleasure itself frequently "with anything handy … while saying `peek-a-boo' the whole time".
THE QUAKER CONTROVERSY
In times past it was feared that escaped quaker parrots could represent a threat as potential agricultural pests. Several states reacted by banning or otherwise regulating the ownership of quaker parrots. Because so many modern quaker parrots are hand feds that could probably not survive outdoors, it would not be surprising to see a little easing of these regulations.
Actually quaker parrots might be the first birds we see with permanent ID requirements such as microchips. And, because a quaker that could not reproduce would not threaten the local environment, quaker parrots might be the first parrots spayed. While this may seem hard on the bird and not at all ideal, if spaying could help a quaker parrot remain with its long-time family, it just might be worthwhile.
Mattie Sue Athan has been a companion parrot behavior consultant since 1978. During that time she has averaged two to three new Quaker clients per week. Her first book, Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot, is an industry standard. Her second book, Guide to the Quaker Parrot, sold out the first printing in 5 months. She also wrote Guide to the Senegal Parrot and Its Family and Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior.
Email: msathan@aol.com
50 Comments on Quaker Parrots: Terrific Talkers for a Tiny Price »
February 18, 2007
Cindy @ 6:45 pm:
We got our Kiwi 2 years ago when she was only 5 weeks old.After I gave her a bath,I`d wrap her in a washcloth and open it up and say"peek-a-boo".Well,one day after her bath,she said Peek-a-boo!(Baby`s 1st words!).With Kiwi,it seems that she can retain about 20 sentences.If we keep saying them,she`ll repeat them.Once in a while,she`ll surprise us with one that we haven`t said for awhile.(I`d tell my dog,"got to rub the belly" and she`ll roll over.Kiwi sometimes say it,too!) I`d love to have a study done on Quakers because they are very smart.When Kiwi wants a bath,she`ll say"take a bath",and when I call the dog to come in,she`ll whistle and call for the dog and say the dog`s name(Dixie).
May 30, 2007
margie @ 11:45 am:
I have a pair of quakers and since I git them they have been very aggresive,they will not let you touch them whatsoever.What is their problem? They scream alot I don't know what to do?
November 8, 2007
linda gillespie @ 8:07 pm:
My quaker parrot falls over if it eats any kind of fruit. Why is this?
linda gillespie @ 8:09 pm:
It is true that our parrott likes to hide when he talks.
November 16, 2007
Michelle @ 1:52 pm:
As a pair they are bonded to each other and will probably react aggressively. they're protecting their nest. It's a pair thing. I prefer my birds by themselves then they bond with me rather then each other
December 20, 2007
Gisela @ 7:51 pm:
i just got a parrot that cant walk. it's legs are out to the sides. it climbs all over the cage. i feel that it(Amboy) should exercise more and since amboy cant walk i place him on a flat surface 3 or 4 times a day so that he is forced to fly. am i doing the right thing i feel so desperately bad for him because he cant walk.
January 13, 2008
Breeze @ 11:12 pm:
When I Turn 11 I will ge my first bird
Any tips
January 20, 2008
Cyn (and Eek) @ 5:40 am:
Dear Breeze,
I hope that you get a Quaker parrot because I have one and I absolutely love him! He is now four years old and his name is Eek, which I chose because I am a nurse living in Alaska and I have a delightful patient who lives in a town called Eek. Anyway,my little parrot is lively and very funny, and he is learning more and more words all the time.
Teaching a parrot to speak requires patience and a sense of humor,because they are like toddlers who will not speak when you want them to,but won't shut up if you need peace and quiet. The breeder from whom I bought Eek told me "Parrots love to be held and cuddled and talked to." She was so right, and my parrot loves to be held so much that he will lie on his back in the palm of my hand with his eyes closed,and he is obviously happiest when I am spoiling him like a little child. He is a whistler,too, and is learning to whistle the opening tune of Beethoven's Fifth
Symphony! He coughs when I cough,laughs when I laugh, and
even bobs his head to sneeze when I sneeze. If I am lucky,
he will live to be twenty five or thirty years old. The only bad thing about companion birds is that they seem to
poop about twenty times for every bite of food they eat. On
the plus side, their poop does not stink,and is easily cleaned up. He loves to sit on my shoulder (birds always want to be at the highest spot attainable so that they are able to see the whole room,yard, or whereever they happen to be.)so I drape a hand towel over my shoulder when he sits there so that I don't have to have bird poop on every outfit I wear. I think that you will love having a bird who wants to be loved by you and who will love you back. If you want to see something fascinating, go to the website called
Brooklynparrots.com and check out the flock of Quaker parrots who live right in the midst of New York City. Also, there is a wonderful movie called "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" about a city flock of Cherry-Headed Conures.
Sorry for writing so much, but I am excited for you and the chance that you will have to have a wonderful companion bird
just like I have! When is your birthday??
Reply when you have a chance!
January 29, 2008
Brian @ 1:11 pm:
I've heard about the parrots in brooklyn that make nests on top of the Electric poles. i have never seen them though. I was just wondering if these Quakers can be left home when i go to work and not go crazy because they are by themselves the whole time? This is the reason i do not want to get a cockatoo because i hear they are very emotional.
March 30, 2008
Sutton @ 8:17 pm:
I've only had my Lexi a week, adopted her from a pet store. She's 4yrs old and was given up by her owners because they felt they couldn't give her enough time. Lexi hasn't spoken and to my knowledge has never. I do alot of talking to our Red Lory Parrot, and I talk to Lexi alot, so I'm hoping that she will gradually pick up a few words at least. She has begun to make funny little noises and will move her beak and tongue around almost like she's trying to figure it out, I'm not sure. When I hold her little head up to my cheek and say, "Awwwwwwwww," I can hear a little funny Awwww sound in her throat but it's so quiet. Do you think she'll learn to talk?
June 27, 2008
gary @ 9:31 pm:
how do u tell how old your quaker is
Pip @ 10:17 pm:
I was buying supplies at a local pet store for our own flock (budgies, lovebird and finch) and visited with some of the birds at the store. A beautiful little Quaker clambered up the side of his/her cage to see me and said, "Hello!" I said "Hello, sweetheart," back and the bird made kissing noises and said clearly, "I love you."
If I had more room where we are living that little Quaker would have come home with me. I just about fell in love with the little guy/gal. One of these days I am going to adopt one.
July 24, 2008
Hope with a Heart @ 4:20 pm:
Our lil guy perry is a blue quaker, he has been saying little sentences like come here, what, peek a boo, whatcha doin, etc for a few months now. He has his favorite people in the house, and then there's the ones he likes to try and attack. He can be a real sweetie when he's in the mood, but when he isn't he can be real ugly. He loves me, emma my 11 year old, and my nephew Jordan, 14. My husband, mom, neice, and 4 other daughters he always runs at them beak open and wings a'flappin. I try not to laugh, its not funny and I am working with him, but sometimes when they stop dead in their tracks and he won't let them pass his cage it get hilarious, how a little bird can stop a 100lb + human from passing through a room amazes me. Of course there are times that as long as they don't try to pet him he will allow them to talk to him. sometimes. I know thats bad behavior, but I am working on it.
July 25, 2008
nemo @ 2:02 am:
i got a quaker a while back (dont know exactly how long ago, maybe a year)and she has never said anything from what i know. the previous owner works with my mom and didnt have enough time for her. she used to scream constantly, but that has subsided. im 12 and would love to teach my quaker to talk, even if possible have conversations. i have no siblings, and my mother is almost always at work,so she is my main person to talk to. she has learned a few noises and loved bugging us when we first got her. she barks like a dog, growls and hisses like a cat ect. i have looked at the chet womach thing for training her to talk but even the basic is a bit pricy for me. can anyone help?
August 12, 2008
Jessica @ 3:41 pm:
my kiwi sings and talks more when I'm in the bathroom doing my hair. This morning I heart him sing the superman song and then say SUPERBIRD!
its was too funny!
Jessica @ 3:43 pm:
Start small. A lovebird or cockateil. Just remember these birds live a long long time. My cockateil is 18 and showing no signs of age at all! So if your not sure on a bird get some finches or a canary..They live long too but are pretty easy to take care of. Especially if your planning on in the future going to college you can't take your pet with you so now your parents have to take care of it. Just keep that in mind!
:)
Jessica @ 3:46 pm:
my bird has a band with his birthday on it. It should be on one of his feet
August 19, 2008
MARNIE @ 6:02 pm:
We bought a Quaker for my 96 year Aunt who has just passed away. The bird was handfed and purchased from a great breeder and is an affectionate lovely bird. We spent time with her and handled her and played with her while she was with my Aunt. She doesn't talk very much at all now. She is about 18 months and says Peek A Boo very plainly. She used to laugh and say "Big bird'," pretty girl," and "give me a kiss." She is very attached to me and knows her name whenever it is mentioned. She scolds me when I walk away from her. Have you had any experience with grieving Quakers?
Thanks,
August 21, 2008
jholman @ 10:32 am:
Hi,
I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your lost. I just lost a meyers parrot a couple of weeks ago. People who have never been bonded to a bird have no idea how much it can hurt. I have never been in your position as far as having to deal with a greving bird. I can only ofer you what I would do. I don't know if it is right. I would try to spend more time with the greving bird.Allow her some distance if she didn't want to be bothered for a few days. I would try to take her out on a road trip around the block. Maybe a new toy.And last of all I might get her a new friend if that is an option. I guess I would do anything to get her thinking about something else after she greved a few days. I will be interested to see the other answers you recieve. I have never had to deal with this so I am only telling you what I would do. Some one who has gone through it may give you better advise. I hope you will feel better in a few days it does take time. jholman
BARBARA @ 11:28 am:
HEY THERE, I WAS TOLD IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HANDEL YOUR BIRD IS NOT TO HAVE A PAIR IN THE SAME CAGE CAUSE THEY BOND TOGETHER. MABEY YOU CAN SEPERATE THEM & TRY TO HANDEL THEM SLOWLY EACH & EVREY DAY AT THE SAMR TIME. GOOD LUCK !! BARB.
September 8, 2008
charles dean @ 7:42 pm:
can u teach a wild quaker parrot to talk, Also how can u tell there age
September 13, 2008
amanda @ 3:38 pm:
I just bought a 7 month old quaker and it doesnot talk and shows no sign of talking should i be worried ? will the bird ever talk or is it to late?
September 14, 2008
Violet @ 11:34 pm:
I also have an older quaker about 1 - 1 1/2 now and does not talk. He also shows no signs of talking and I really wanted a talking bird. I just hope maybe one day.
September 17, 2008
myst @ 9:26 pm:
NEMO- we had a yellow nape parrot from when he was a baby. His name was actually baby. We talked to him often, repeating phrases. You can see when they're learning something new by how they move thier tongues in thier beaks and focus on you. Also- when you're gone, leave the television or radio on- his vocabulary will expand, and it gives him something to occupy his time. A hint though- make sure the channel is tuned to something you want him to learn- nick jr. is good because they say words slow for preschoolers and the words are usually good words.
September 19, 2008
JESSICA MARSHALL @ 11:57 am:
I JUST GOT MY FIRST QUACKER 3 MONTHS AGO…. HE IS NOW 5 MONTHS OLD…. HES NOW TALKIN AND I ALWAYS LEAVE THE CAGE OPEN.,… HE JUMPS DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN HE DOES I HAVE 2 DACHSHUNDS AND HE RUNS THE HOUSE. HE HAS BONDED WITH ME AND HATES MY HUSBAND. HES A GREAT BIRD… VERY FRIENDLY AND LOVES TO LOVE ON ME.
September 23, 2008
Valerie @ 5:59 pm:
Separate your Quakers. They tend to e more aggresive when they ar together. Quakers that have companionsvery rarely learn to talk.
September 28, 2008
shirley becker @ 1:59 am:
I just got a really pretty green quacker bird a few days ago. He is only 4 months old. I would like some tips or feedback on a good way to teach him how to talk.
September 30, 2008
michael @ 11:51 pm:
how much do quakers run?
November 4, 2008
josue @ 8:25 pm:
i tink my parrot is about 1 or2 and it still dont talk what chould i do
November 8, 2008
Erica @ 2:42 am:
Just talk to him/her a lot and play with it a lot to bond with the bird, let it sit on your shoulder or on your finger. If you talk to the bird alot it will start to learn the words that it hears because it thinks of you as part of its flock, and it wants to communicate with you. It helps if you repeat things even after it learns the words, because then it will remember them better. I don;t know why but my bird really likes to talk to me when I am in the shower and she perches on the shower curtain rod. If I take a shower and I don't let her into the room, she gets really mad. But she talks up a storm in there.
December 5, 2008
Melane @ 1:23 pm:
Hi. I purchased "Kiwi" a young green quaker in early Oct. She was approx 4 1/2 mos old…now around 7 mos old. I believe Kiwi is a girl. A bird breeder once told me that if the bird's pelvis is wide it's a female. Any truth….I don't know? My bird shows interest, bobs up & down and almost sounds like she's trying to talk. I see her move her tongue around like she's trying to say something. Mostly she chatters or squawks. She lets me handle her, rarely bites & if so gently, nibbles on my hair and comes right over to me when I approach her cage. She'll lay on her back in my palm and stares at my face. She's not yet talking, not a sound, it's frustrating. I work so hard with her on a daily basis. If she's not yet talking at 7 mos does that decrease the likelihood of her ever talking? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks……Melanie (FL)
December 6, 2008
Dawn @ 4:31 pm:
My bird is 6 mo and she still will not me hold her, she'll come close to me and that is all. As for as saying wor the only thing I've only heard her do is squack
December 17, 2008
Lacy @ 8:40 pm:
My Quaker is 15 years old or so. We got him from my sister in law. He had plucked out all of his chest feathers and some of his shoulder (wing) feathers. He has now been here for 4 weeks and is slowly growing them back. He hates almost everyone, except for me. He lunges at people and tries to bite them. He speaks when he would like attention. He says "Here kitty kitty kitty kitty!" (we have no cats) He also says "pretty boy" (I tell him he's a pretty boy) makes kissing noises, quaks like a duck and mocks many sounds easily. I really love our little family addition. I spend at least one entire hour a day with him or he freaks out and screams. Anyone interested in a quaker should definately get one, but be warned, they pick their human, and you can't make them like you if they don't want to!
December 18, 2008
joseph tatro @ 12:18 am:
"How much does a quaker nun?" Dogs run quakers fly!! I bought my girlfriend a blue quaker for valentines. We were told by the handlers to avoid contact as much as possible, for the first 2 days. TOUGH, BUT WE DID IT! Occasionally, he would start screaming. Every time he did, we said "WHAT". In less than 24 hrs, he said his "first word". "WHAT". He's now 11 months. He says dozens of words, and phrases, such as, peekaboo,let's dance,and where ya goin. He will talk when he's with us, but mid afternoon, if he's alone, HE GOES OFF!!! Everything he knows to say, until he sees us, then he's quiet again. Dec. 12 was my b-day. You don't need to know how old! Around 2:00 am we had christmas music playing, KINDA LOUD. Bouncing around in the living room, with "SMOOCHES", (VALENTINES PRESENT). We kept saying let's dance,let's dance. His reply, after a few tries was, "WE GO BEDDIE BYE"!!! Seems, this little quaker parrot, has more sense, than 2 adult humans!!!!!! My point here is, he didn't learn all these words on his own. We spent lots of time with him, teaching him new words, and phrases. Example: "GOOD BOY", became "VERY GOOD BOY", became" I'M A VERY GOOD BOY". We took it a little farther. When he starts to say "boy", his head is near his feat. While he says "boy" he slowly raises his head. With that image in mind, "I'M A VERY GOOD BOOOOOYYYYYYY" Time, patience, and persistence, your bird will talk. Remove bird from cage for cleaning, GREAT ADVICE!!!!!!!! I'll pass that on to my girlfriend. Birds,and showers,….. Your bird sitting on the shower curtain singing to you, to me sounds great. Be careful!!!!!! I've heard of someone how took showers with his bird. Because of where the nostrils are placed, the bird drowned on his shoulder. !!!!!!!! "i tink my parrot is about 1 or2 and it still dont talk what chould i do?" AFTER "YOU" LEARN TO SPEAK, think about teaching the bird to speak!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 30, 2008
Angie @ 11:31 am:
Hi, I have had a couple of Quakers and they do just fine alone. Just put plenty of toys in there cage with shiny bells, swings, and ladders. Swap the toys out with different ones about ever other week to keep them from being bored. I would suggest getting one that has just been weened or just about weened. That way you can raise them the way you want them to be.
December 31, 2008
jj @ 8:45 pm:
how long do quaker birds live and how much are they
SHARON COOK @ 10:15 pm:
I HAD TWO QUAKER PARROTS ELVIS THAT WAS 11 1/2 AND COSEY THAT IS 10 1/2 I HAVE HAD THEM SINCE THEY WERE HAND FED. I CAME HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY AND FOUND ELVIS ON THE FLOOR OF HER CAGE ON HER SIDE HARDLY BREATHING AND HER HEART WAS POUNDING HARD. I PICKED HER UP AND TOLD HER I LOVED HER SHE THEN DIED. IT SEAMED SHE HELD ON TILL I GOT HOME TO SAY GOOD BYE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER SHE WAS VERY HEALTHY. WE NAMED HER ELVIS BEFORE WE NEW SHE WAS A GIRL BY THEN SHE NEW HER NAME SHE NEVER SPOKE VERY MUCH SHE WOULD SAY GIVE ME KISS, NIGHT NIGHT, AND YES BUT SHE WAS VERY LOVING. COSEY IS A MALE AND TALKS ALL THE TIME HE SAYS BAD BOY, WHERE IS ELVIS, WANT TO GO OUTSIDE, WANNA TAKE A BATH BOY, YES, COSEY BAD BOY, GIVE ME KISS, SEE, YA LATER, NIGHT NIGHT, OK, AND A FEW OTHER WORDS. I WORK DURING THE DAY THEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR SO LONG NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THEIR CAGES. I LET THEM OUT WHEN I AM HOME AND ONLY PUT THEM IN THEIR CAGE WHEN I LEAVE. I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD GET ANOTHER ONE TO KEEP COSEY COMPANY OR NOT WHAT DO YOU THINK? HE KEEPS LOOKING FOR HER BUT I KNOW HE KNOW SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HER. MY HEART IS BROKEN I LOVED HER SO MUCH.
January 3, 2009
Betty @ 10:20 pm:
I have a female that needs a companion. I am very attached to her. I don't know if we could make a deal. I don't want to get rid of mine. She is in good health and is snappy. But I believe she needs company. I've had her for 15 years and I would be lost if something was to happen to her. Let me know what you think. I live in NJ, where are you from?
Betty
January 10, 2009
idk @ 5:54 pm:
i am thinking of getting a quaker. I am wondering how easy they are to breed. Oh an also, does anyone know the avarge cost of a normal green one?
January 11, 2009
brea @ 10:26 pm:
They usually cost around 300 dollars
February 18, 2009
richa @ 4:53 pm:
i got a quaker parrot a year and a half ago..my first pet..became so attached to him, he was my everything, my love, my best friend…in this past year, he has given me and my family so much unconditional love ..he died monday night from quaker mutilation syndrome..all throughout the year he picked on his thighs, sometimes tail..and then monday morning when we woke him up he had picked deeply into his neck..we rushed to the vet in forest hills, some negligent bastard..who said my baby was perfectly normal and that these birds pick on themselves all the time..so we brought him home..and we tried to keep him busy from plucking any more..but around 8 o clock, he bled so heavily..to death..it was so painful to look at him, after losing so much blood he could even stand on his legs, we had to wrap him up in a towel..he died in my arms at 10 pm..after taking 3 last breaths..im so devasted..my family is too..we cant stop crying..he became a member of the family ..my house seems so weird now..its so silent..theres nothing to do..he was our happiness…his death was so unexpected..only 1 and a half years old..poor thing..we're still in shock..it might take me months to get over it..i love you baby mita..i love you so much
March 9, 2009
crystal t @ 12:19 pm:
I just got a quaker parrot and I need advice on everything.he was hand raised..and says mama and shakes your hand when you say hello..I'm a 1st time owner.
March 21, 2009
Janette @ 5:08 pm:
To get a quaker to talk start with little clicking sounds first, something easy they can mimick, like clicking your toung on the roof of your mouth. Think of it as "bird talk". Then try something a little harder. As they get more comfortable with "talking" to you they will likely say more things. My bird will only say something if he can say it perfectly, otherwise he just works on it till it is. He also loves to mimick every sound I make on a daily basis including the microwave button, squeek, squeek when I am cleaning something, the sound of the zipper being zipped up among his or her large vocabulary of words. My bird's first words were whatch doing, which he came with at 4 months, but later he learned "come here" which I used instead of step up and he learned "pretty bird" from another bird he was with while being bird sat. He also says "whats your name" and answers when I ask him. They seem to know names, he really liked this one gal who came over to my house once and demanded "what's your name" over and over till I told him her name. :-)
Janette @ 5:20 pm:
I am so sorry for your loss! I have a bird that age too! If you get another bird and have any problems, try contacting people who do bird rescue. Mostly they have seen it all and have solutions that have worked for them. I have a horse that nearly lost her life because the vet was not responsive, said she was probably fine…. I had a friend who knows a lot about horses save her life, but without her, the horse would have likely had to be put down.
April 1, 2009
Amber @ 10:48 pm:
I am getting a 2 year old quaker this weekend and it says a few words, like hello and mimics whistling sounds and laughs. Will I still have a chance to teach it more words or is it to late after 2 years old? Any thoughts or experiences? Thanks
April 5, 2009
karen Pierson @ 8:35 pm:
Most birds prefer a mate to a human friend. Try separate cages in different rooms
April 11, 2009
Cheri Dowdy @ 3:42 pm:
I have a wonderful Quaker. Meanie Bird. She was parent raised and was well over a year old when I got her. She didn't talk and would bite like crazy! Three months later the biting stopped! Another six weeks later she started talking. It's okay, you're alright. Her first words…LOL I didn't try to teach her to talk, she just said what she had heard for almost five months. Now she says…What? Whatcha doin? What's up? Que pasa? Come on. Good girl. What a good girl/bird you are. Meanie Birds a pretty girl/bird. What a pretty girl/bird you are. You're a pretty bird/girl. Ha ha ha..ha ha ha. (she actually laughs when I laugh) Whatcha doin (pretty girl?)*(also ends with Meanie Bird or pretty bird, her choice) She also clucks like a chicken and bobs her head up and down when I do it to her. She will say Quit it! when you clap your hands (what I used to do to my Lovebirds whenever they got too scrappy) I have been trying to get her to say "I love you." but she refuses. (must not love me LOL) She also mumbles a bit, mostly words I can not understand…
She won't step up too well unless she is somewhere she doesn't want to be, like the floor or behind a plant or somewhere she can't fly too easily from. I'd like to teach her to step up, but I don't really want to trim her wings to teach her. She is shy around people she doesn't know. Her only friend besides me is my little Lovebird, Sweety. He is so cute. He likes her and they get along great (which is shocking to me). He didn't like my other Lovebird at all. I ended up letting my niece have her.
I love them both and they are great pets. They keep me company and entertained with endless chatter and comical behavior. I have had them now for a year and a half and they have huge cages and are out of them daily.
They have lots of toys and they both sleep in thier tents. Sweety actually humps his tent and is in love with it. Meanie Bird loves bells the best. She uses them to scratch her head and removes every ringer in every bell she ever gets!
Meanie Bird was free, and Sweety was $20.00.
ado @ 4:33 pm:
what is the cheapest quaker parrot available?
May 5, 2009
Lucille @ 10:33 am:
I had a Quaker parrot 1 1/2 years old . she/he was a great talker. She hung herself on a top with a rope hanging down. I removed all the ropes from toys, and got another Quaker. She/he is 11 months old. She says hello and wolf whistles, but doesn't have the volcaibary that my last Quaker. Any advice is helpful. Thanks. Lucille.
May 6, 2009
Atif @ 11:07 am:
I have a female talking green parrot who came to our house one day and was finding some shelter. It was a pet parrot which has a problem with its one leg. Please tell us whether it can mate and live in the same cage with an ordinary green non-talking green parrot ? Please tell me…I'll wait for ur early response.