Quakers

 

                                                            

                              Fred & Ginger                                                      Ozzie & Harriet

 

These are two of our quaker pairs, we have two more green pairs.  We have mostly green babies and when Ozzie and Harriet have babies we have some blue.  We are currently handfeeding green Quaker babies and Ozzie and Harriet are on 6 fertile eggs.

 

                                                                             

                                                                                       Quaker Care

 

About the size of a cockatiel but stockier, Quakers have the personality of a larger parrot packed into a small green and gray body. Social and mischievous, their antics make these attractive birds wonderful companions. Also known as monk parakeets, they require lots of mental stimulation.  Quakers are rated one of the top ten talkers in the parrot world. 

Average Size: 9 to 11 inches long.

Life Span: 20+ years with proper care.

 

Housing:

Birds acclimate well to average household temperatures; be cautious of extreme temperature change; cage should be placed off the floor in an area that is well-lit and away from drafts A cage approximately 24"W x 24"D x 36"H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 1/2" apart makes a good home for your Quaker parakeet; as with all animals, it is best to provide the largest habitat possible.  Perches should be at least 4" long and 1/2 - 3/4" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes and materials is recommended to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis

A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird away from droppings; line the droppings tray with cage paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning; to avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches.

 

Diet:

A good pellet/seed mix as a base diet is highly recommended and should consist of 60-70% of the diet; Fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apple slices, grated carrots, raw broccoli, and green, leafy vegetables, bananas, grapes, papaya, celery, sprout seeds etc. should be offered several times a week if not daily however do not just leave fresh foods out or they may spoil, throw them away daily.

Do not feed birds avocados, fruit seeds, chocolate, alcohol or caffeine as these can cause serious medical problems.

Fresh, clean, chlorine-free water should always be available.

 

Play time:

Be sure to provide plenty of bird safe toys for your quaker to play with, especially if he is in his cage during the day while no one is home.  Quakers love toys that make noise, like bells and rattly balls and also love toys they can chew on.  Boredom leads to feather plucking and other bad habits and can be prevented in most cases by keeping your bird stimulated.  When you are home play with and carry your quaker around.  The more he is handled the tamer he will be and the more you talk to and play with him the faster he will learn new words.

 

Bathing:

Like most birds Quakers love to bath and should be misted daily and provided a bowl to splash and bathe in a few times a week.

 

Handling:

Make sure you hold your quaker gently, do not squeeze or poke. Let them climb on you and sit on your head if they like.  When taking them from their cage, be sure to hold them firmly around their bodies and and make sure you don't bump their heads or beaks. Stroke them gently with the direction of their feathers and even scratch them gingerly around their body.  If you want your bird to stay tame, you need to handle them at least once a day.