Quaker Parrot is known for his playful and comical nature. But there are many doubts in the parrot lover’s minds about their other side. With some calling them simply aggressive, the indecisiveness of Quaker lovers gets only deeper. So, what kind of personality traits Quakers possess? Are they comical? Or aggressive? Are they even good companions? Let’s clear some facts about Quaker Parrots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Quaker Parrots Loud?
Are Quaker parrots smart?
Are Quaker parrots aggressive?
Why are Quaker Parrots illegal?
How big are Quaker Parrots?
Where are Quaker Parrots from?
Can Quaker Parrot talk?
How to tell quaker parrot gender?
What food can a quaker parrot eat?
Why does my quaker parrot shake his head?
Why do quaker parrots quake?
Why do quaker parrots puff up?
Why do quaker parrots bite?
Why do quaker parrots purr?
How do quaker parrots sleep?
How do quaker parrots show affection?
How long quaker parrots live?
How do quaker parrots breed?
How much quaker parrots cost?
Are quaker parrots good for beginners
Are Quaker Parrots loud?
Quaker parrots are moderately loud. Apart from giving out a customary contact call every morning and evening, they are their usual chirpy self all day. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be loud. It all depends on the individual Quaker. An untrained Quaker, who has never been told not to scream is capable of screaming at the top of his lungs if irritated. Or a Quaker who has been housed with a loud species like conure would naturally become noisy over time, having started in a bid to win the noise contest with his cagemate.
Discouraging this kind of behavior from the beginning and feeding his screaming tantrums from the very beginning would form a Quaker personality that is as silent as Cockatiels.
Are Quaker parrots smart?
Quaker Parrots are one of the smartest parrot species in the world. And they have proved this time and again with some very clear evidence like:
- Managing not only to remember a massive vocabulary but also to use it in context.
- Remembering the names of fellow cagemates, family members, and other pets in the family.
- Learning the technique of opening their cage locks every time they are replaced.
- Their nest-making abilities that are impossible without a highly developed architectural intellect.
- And the list doesn’t end here. Solving puzzles, mimicking, et al are all enough evidence of their smartness.
Are Quaker parrots aggressive?
The aggression level of Quaker depends solely on how the bird has been raised. A hand-reared Quaker, if trained, would know that his aggression would only go unnoticed, and hence, he’ll not waste his time on biting and getting aggressive.
However, a hand-reared and extremely pampered Quaker would be overtly aggressive if his tantrums aren’t attended well. Also, a pampered Quaker would never have been bashed by a bigger bird to put him in his place as is the norm in the wild. So, a Quaker can be aggressive if left untamed or untrained.
Why are Quaker Parrots illegal?
Quaker parrots breed aggressively by sometimes producing five to six clutches every year. Each clutch has generally 5 to 12 eggs hatching in around 24 days. Famed for living in large colonies with 30 plus flock members living in a single nest, they start dominating the region.
Their huge nests weighing hundreds of pounds cause great financial damage to infrastructure like transformers, poles. Etc.
The huge flock starts raiding the nearby farms and orchards by sometimes destroying a whopping 45 percent of the farm-produce meant for the human population.
They also start attacking the smaller bird and more often than not, end up killing them in aggression while they were trying to eat from the same farm or orchard.
Additionally, their nests near human settlements are a source of great noise pollution with so many birds chirping and squawking at the same time.
For all of the above reasons, they are illegal in many states. And in many others, one needs to obtain a license to keep them as pets and follow certain rules like band them or clip their wings too. If the law is not followed regarding Quaker’s captivity, the pet bird fears euthanization.
How big are Quaker Parrots?
Quaker Parrots are a medium-sized bird of around 10-12 inches from head to tail. They weigh around 110-120 grams. Their size can be on the lower end of the length and weight spectrum mostly if their gender is female or they are a specific color mutation. And the male Quakers generally fall on the upper end of the length and weight spectrum. So, even the largest Quaker is quite small as compared to bigger species like Eclectus or African Grey.
Where are Quaker Parrots from?
Quaker parrots are native to the sub-tropical and temperate regions of Argentina and many countries bordering South America. Since they are accustomed to adapt quickly to the urban areas, they moved to the new regions and are now found in huge numbers in Europe and North America.
Can Quaker Parrot talk?
Quaker parrots are known to possess excellent talking abilities. They are known to remember plenty of words. And they start actively learning them, sometimes, from as early as just six months old. To top that, they learn to use those words at a perfect time, i.e., whenever and wherever they fit the situation most appropriately.
That said, they don’t happen to learn to talk all by themselves. Just like any other being, they need to be taught the art of communicating. Many Quakers never utter a word their whole life. At the end of the day, it all depends on the owner, if he is putting an effort to teach his Quaker.
How to tell Quaker Parrot gender?
A8. Like many other parrot species, Quaker Parrots are also monomorphic. That means, there are hardly any visible differences between both the sexes. With some hit-and -trial ways of females being smaller in size than male or having duller plumage than their male counterparts. But these aren’t sure-shot ways to tell both the sexes apart.
The only way to tell Quaker Parrot gender is by following the scientific route of sexing. Following are the two most appropriate techniques of having an accurate gender identification:
Surgical Sexing: This is the traditional way of testing the bird’s gender. The procedure involves treating the bird with mild anesthesia and then making an incision in his abdomen after plucking a few feathers away. An arthroscope is then sent through the incision to look for the testes or ovaries, confirming the bird to be a male in the former case and a female in the latter.
DNA Sexing: A relatively safer method than surgical sexing. DNA testing carries the same basics of taking a blood sample of the bird by clipping his toenail. The sample is then sent for laboratory testing. The test, then, clearly states the accurate gender of the bird.
Though both the ways are accurate, more and more parrot lovers opt for the latter technique, since surgical sexing is invasive and involves the use of anesthesia. The procedure also causes pain and trauma to the bird apart from increasing the risk of exposure to post-surgical infection.
What can a Quaker Parrot eat?
When in the wild, Quakers eat a variety of seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, and other vegetation. They also like their daily dose of insects and their larvae. But in captivity, their diet profile changes as suggested by the vet or fed by the owners. An ideal Quaker Parrot diet includes:
Seeds: A small portion of their feed includes seeds like chia, quinoa, millets, safflower, etc. Since they are high in fat, they must be served in moderation only. Feed a mix of 2 or 3 seeds together to keep the bird from getting bored. Sprinkle half a nut or some passion fruit over it to make it more tempting. To drain excess fat from the seeds, serve them sprouted.
Pellets: To provide Quakers with all that is missing from their diet, pellets are a great help. They are fortified with the complete nutrient profile required for the Quaker in an average daily diet. Go for only high-quality brands.
Fruits: Fresh fruits like apples, mangoes, berries, pears, bananas, etc. are Quaker’s favorite. Serve them freshly chopped, diced, sliced, or pureed. Remove the seeds to keep the bird from accidentally choking on them.
Vegetables: Fresh green vegetables like watercress, kale, collard greens, green beans, etc. make Quaker’s diet wholesome. They give them their share of greens. Adding spinach and broccoli would fulfill their calcium needs. Dark-skinned vegetables like winter squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, etc. adds a lot of Vitamin A.
Cuttlebone: To make Quaker’s bones strong and healthy, providing them a mineral block or cuttlebone is essential.
Freshwater: To maintain optimum body temperature and regulate all the body functions, providing them access to fresh water all the time is a must.
Why does my Quaker Parrot shake his head?
Shaking head is abnormal for parrots. But Quakers happen to be an exception to this. Shaking their heads comes naturally to Quakers and this is where they got their name from. They do more of this head-shaking when they are young. Every time they feel hungry or excited, they tend to quake. But as they tend to grow old, the shaking gets subtle or in many cases, rather disappear. So, head-shaking is completely normal for a Quaker.
Why do Quaker parrots quake?
Quaking is an inherent personality trait of the whole Quaker species. They tend to quake a lot while they are juvenile and the sole reason is that it gets difficult for them to control their extreme emotions like excitement, happiness, hunger, etc. But as they grow old, they tend to gain more control over these emotions and their quaking decreases to a noticeably great extent.
Why are Quaker Parrots illegal in some states?
Quaker Parrots are illegal in some states as they are considered a threat to agricultural produce. Quakers are known to reproduce very fast and many times which leads to the formation of large flocks in an area quickly. These flocks are infamous for raiding nearby farms and orchards and destroying the crops meant for human survival. Owing to millions of dollars of losses, they have been made illegal in many states.
Why do Quaker Parrots puff up?
Quaker parrots puff up to maintain their optimum body temperature. In most of the cases, they puff up their feathers to retain heat and keep themselves warm in colder weather. Another reason for feather puffing could be to get some extra air in to keep themselves cool in hotter weather. So occasionally, they do this in the times of feeling excess heat.
Why do Quaker Parrots bite?
Quaker Parrots have been known to be extremely territorial. They are possessive about their cage and their belongings. And they want them a specific way. If Quakers notice a hand reaching inside their cage, they can bite from fear, or just they don’t want to be disturbed..
Why do Quakers purr?
Quaker’s purr is quite common and it is a good sign. Quakers purr only when they are happy and content. This purr is not exactly similar to a cat’s purr but a subtle growling that is not loud at all. Contrary to the belief that Quakers also purr when they are overly aggressive, it is completely a myth. Quakers do not purr in aggression. This can be evident with no fluffed-up feathers or no dilated pupils. If one is not sure about his Quaker’s purr, he can look for these obvious signs. If the bird seems like purring with his pupils dilated and feathers fluffed, it certainly isn’t a purr. That rather accounts for a growl.
How do Quaker Parrots sleep?
Quaker parrots have unusual sleeping patterns with each bird having his own unique way. Once the lights are off, or it gets dark, it’s time for them to go to bed. Silence is preferred by these birds. But beyond this point, each bird has his ‘sleeping position’. Some sleep with one foot up and other down, a few them sleep on their backs or sides, others prefer tucking their head inside their wings for a cozy sleep. There are as many sleeping patterns of Quakers as there are Quakers in the world.
That said, there has been a thing common among many Quakers and that is a liking for a snug-sleep. Many Quakers love to sleep in their cozy huts provided by their owners and wouldn’t ever go back to a normal cage sleep.
How do Quaker Parrots show affection?
Quaker Parrots are a great companion bird and love to be with their human flock. Once they develop a close bond with their favorite human, they shower him with all the love and affection in the world. They express their affection in many ways like:
- Snuggling up to his favorite human;
- Contact calling the human while he leaves the bird alone in the room;
- Singing songs, whistling, or purring to his favorite human;
- Kissing or licking the human;
- Sleeping carefree on the lap of his favorite human;
- Trying to regurgitate the food to his human mate the way he does this to his mate in the cage;
- Preening his favorite human;
- Constant tail wagging like other pets like dogs do after seeing their human companion;
- Fluffing up his feathers at the sight of his favorite human or whenever he feels the need to show affection.
- And the list is not exhaustive. Since each Quaker is an individual, they form their ways to express their affection the way they like.
How long Quaker Parrots live?
Quaker parrots’ lifespan varies with a change in their habitat. While in the wild, they live for around 15-20 years that is quite less than their average age in captivity. Many adversities in the wild cause their shorter lifespan. Threat from the big birds or other wild animals, not getting enough care, lack of balanced nutrition, are a few factors shortening their lifespan.
But in captivity, Quaker Parrots can easily live around 25-30 years with some living beyond 30 years healthily and heartily. An adequate and balanced diet, proper care, safety from predators, and medical care are few important factors that contribute greatly to lengthening this period.
How do Quaker Parrots breed?
Quaker Parrots mate for their life. Once they have developed a liking towards their mate, they breed with the same bird season after season. And their breeding season happens to be the rainy season. At the onset of the rainy season, the Quaker pair gets affectionate towards each other and starts feeding each other. This is the sign that the pair is ready to mate. Other noticeable signs are tail fanning, regurgitating on their mates, wing flapping, eye pinning, etc.
They also experience hormonal changes and display a changed behavior like getting overly aggressive, extremely territorial, nippy, or screamy. Additionally, Quakers love to breed in a place that is cozy like home. That is why many owners add a snug-fit nestbox to their usual cage to offer them comfort and privacy. Laying a clutch of 8-10 eggs within a timespan of 8-10 days is a norm. Quakers are known to breed twice in a season. After having laid one clutch, a new clutch is laid after an interval of around 4 weeks.
How much Quaker parrots cost?
The cost of Quaker parrots varies from place to place and breeder to breeder. It also depends on whether the bird is hand-raised or parent-raised. After taking into account all these factors, a Quaker parrot might cost anywhere between $300 to $700 and the average price hovers around $450.
Also, the price varies with varying color mutations. With the more common mutations like Blue Quaker, the price demanded is around $700-800 but for the rarer mutations like yellow or albino, the price may go as high as $1200-1500.
That said, the above-mentioned cost is only the initial cost of having a Quaker as a pet. The figures do not include the cost of raising the parrot.
Are Quaker Parrots good for beginners?
Quaker Parrots can be a great companion bird for beginners. Contrary to the claims that Quakers are demanding and seemingly loud for a new pet parent, a few factors are enough to prove them as one of the most compatible parrot species with the beginners.
They are not as demanding as some species needing hours of attention from their owners. For eg. Cockatiels get aggressive and screamy if not given enough attention every day.
Quakers aren’t loud or noisy to the point that it hurts the ears of someone who is not yet accustomed to living with parrots. For eg. they aren’t as loud as conures who are infamous for their ear-piercing shrieks.
All Quakers need a moderate level of care and attention that any pet parrot would need. Spending some time with them with their cage nearby while simultaneously catching up on the household chores is enough of the attention of the bird. Their dietary needs are also very similar to other bird pets making them an easy-maintenance bird.
