I
would like to introduce you to the charming, lovable little parrot
called the Quaker Parakeet, also referred to as the "Quaker Parrot".
The Quaker is also known as the Monk or Grey-Breasted Parakeet. The
Quaker's native territory was extreme south eastern Brazil through
Uruguay to north eastern Argentina. The
Quaker is a small parrot, reaching 11-12 inches in length. As a
comparison, the Quaker is a bird similar in length to a Cockatiel. A
Quaker's weight ranges from 95 to 135 grams.
Most Quakers are green with pale Grey on their foreheads, cheeks and throats; extending down the chest. On the chest, the Grey feathers are white-tipped, giving a scalloped effect. Some blue can be found in the tail and flight feathers. The eyes are dark brown, and the bill is horn colored. Young birds look the same except the colors are not as bright as adult Quakers. The gender cannot be determined by its physical appearance, only by DNA/surgical sexing.
There are several color mutations in Quakers, although many color varieties are not commonly available for purchase in the United States. The blue mutation has become more established in this country. Many are now being
kept as treasured companions. Some of the more rare mutations are
Latinos, Pied, Albinos, Cinnamon's, Cinnamon Blue and Greens, and
Fallows.
We are currently breeding a Green Quaker pair, as well as a Blue Split to Cinnamon and Cinnamon Split to Blue Pallid.
Quakers
can live to be 25 to 30 years of age; perhaps even longer. They are
very hardy birds. In fact, there are wild colonies of Quakers in many
of the eastern, as well as southern, states. They thrive in cold
climates!
Some
Quakers are prone to Fatty Liver Disease. To ensure that your Quaker
has the longest lifespan possible, do not allow him/her to become
overweight. Make sure you stay away from all-seed diets, as well as other high fat foods.
QUAKER PARROTS
Because
pet birds generally spend much of their time in cages, it is best to
purchase the largest cage that your budget allows. Bar spacing of up to
5/8" is suitable. Cage dimensions of 18"w x 18"d should be considered
the bare minimum.
There are many different suggestions concerning diets, but most would agree that a seed-only diet does not provide complete nutrition for most birds. Pellets have been developed to meet the
nutritional needs of birds, so they should be part of a bird's diet.
(We feed Zupreem Pellets) You also need to provide healthy, fresh foods
such as veggies and fruits on a regular basis. Since my birds truly
relish the fresh foods, it
would be impossible for me to deny them their fresh foods. Fresh water
should be provided and changed on a daily basis, if not twice.
An
interesting fact about Quakers is that they are the only parrot species
that build nests. The nest actually consists of 3 areas. You could say
that one area is a bedroom, another is a living room and the third is a
front porch area. Eggs are laid and incubated
in the back bedroom. When the chicks are about a month old, they are
moved to the living room, and more eggs may then be laid in the bedroom
area. The parents then use the porch area to guard their eggs and babies.
Quakers are prolific and easy breeders. They are sexually mature at 1-2 years of age, although it's usually closer to the latter. The average clutch size is four to eight eggs, and a second clutch is usually started when the first chick is about 4 weeks old.
Incubation time is 23-26 days, and babies fledged at six to eight weeks
of age. Hand fed babies wean at eight to ten weeks of age, although
some Quakers wean earlier or later. Materials for nest building appear
to be much appreciated by the pair, but is not absolutely essential for a pair to go to nest.
The Quaker is a very hardy bird. They appear to thrive in even the coldest of climates. Colonies of free-flying Quakers exist in many of the eastern states. It is for this reason that several states have laws that either prohibit, or in some way, make it difficult to own Quakers.
Due to the fact that Quakers are prolific and easy breeders, they are reasonably priced.
Our hand fed normal green Quaker babies can be purchased for $200.00.
Blue Quakers can be purchased for around $350.00 and up. The more rare
types of Quakers,like the Cinnamon split to Blue, cost more to purchase
than those more commonly found.
Quakers are intelligent, comical and engaging birds. They have a wonderful zest for life that is contagious. Their personalities are always "on", and they never seem to wake up on the wrong side of the perch, so to speak.
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Quakers make wonderful,
loyal, and intelligent pets. I have listed 5 of their best features for those of
you who are considering opening your home to a Quaker.
- 1.
Appearance: they are beautiful in color, which in nature is usually a
brilliant green (not unlike the color of new spring grass) with blue
feathers and light Grey on their face and chest. Quakers weigh between 90
to 125 grams. They average about 12 inches from beak to tail. Quakers
are about the size of a Cockatiel, but have a stockier build.
2.
Personality:Known for their sweet and gentle ways particularly if they
have been hand fed from an early age. They make a great addition to the
family. Loyal to one person, or can be great with children with lots of
supervision, and will accept others in the family if a pattern of
social interaction is established early and maintained. Their ability
to talk is astounding, and with proper training they can often respond
with words appropriate for various situations. Consistent training is
the key for such high level behaviors.
- 3.
Physical Requirements: Quakers need space to be active both inside and
out of the cage. Provide a high quality cage that is spacious, easy to
clean, and it will probably last for your bird's entire life. Setting
up a play area outside of the cage with toys, perches, and swings will
help keep your bird physically fit, and emotionally balanced as well.
Plan to allow your bird several hours, more if possible outside the
cage daily.
- 4.
Life Span: If you are looking for a companion for life, you'll have a
friend in this little bird, as it often lives 20-30 years. These birds
are illegal in some parts of the United States, so make sure you check
your local laws before purchasing one, and before moving to another
part of the country with one.
- 5.
Diet: Thank goodness they are not fussy eaters! Most will eat pellets,
seeds, and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, pasta, grains, and
seeds (sprouted seeds are the most nutritious). Your bird will let you
know which of these are its favorites. AVOID chocolate, caffeine,
avocado, rhubarb, and alcohol; as all are toxic to birds.
Most Quaker Parakeets are vocal. I'm sure there are some Quaker owners who consider them quiet birds. My Quakers can entertain themselves for hours practicing their chirps, whistles and human vocalizations. The level of their vocalizations for the most part, is moderate and is not disturbing. In fact, I really enjoy listening to their chatter.
Quakers usually have a few loud vocalizations but are limited to short periods of time during the day. If you house more than one parrot in the same room, as with any bird, you can expect a higher noise level. Tips for minimizing the noise include covering the cage for a few minutes, giving
baths (not as a punishment but as a way to release pent-up energy), whispering to the bird and providing a special treat - especially one that takes some time and effort to eat.
You will get to the point where you will be able to anticipate when your Quaker is going to be noisy and can take steps to prevent it. For example, if you are going to watch a movie and actually want to be able to hear the actors, give your Quaker a drenching bath and 3-4 Lafeber Nutriberries just before the show starts. By the time it's done eating the treats and preening out all of those wet feathers, it will have much less interest in having a volume contest with the TV.
Quakers have an amazing capacity to imitate both sounds and human speech. Bird Talk magazine placed the Quaker on the "Top Ten List of the Best Talking Birds." While their speech doesn't equal the quality of an African Grey or some of the Amazons, it is definitely good enough to be clearly heard and understood. They often use their large
vocabularies of sounds and words at the most appropriate times. Most
Quakers start talking at 6 months or so, although many start during
hand-feeding!
If you purchase your Quaker from Kay D's Place Is For The Birds, I will be with you every step of the way to answer any questions.
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