Categories: Pets

How to Keep a Quaker Parrot Quiet and Happy

Quaker parrots are noisy birds. In the wild they live active lives, building complicated nests, interacting with other birds, and raising young. If you have a pet Quaker, it is important to provide it with adequate stimulation. Bored parrots do not make fun pets. They squawk at inopportune times, demand attention, and can even start self mutilation behaviors like plucking feathers and tearing at their skin.

Quaker parrots in particular are known for being problem birds if they don’t have an outlet for their natural curiosity. Take some time socializing your Quaker parrot, choose some stimulating toys and treats for it, and you will be on your way to having a wonderful pet.

Quaker parrots need adequate attention. If you want your parrot to be able to entertain itself, you need to start by having regular times set aside to interact with it. A parrot that knows that you will be playing with it on a regular basis will have less need to scream to try to get your attention. When you play with your parrot, reinforce positive behavior. Let your parrot ride on your shoulder while you talk quietly to it. Don’t scream or make other unpleasant noises. You will just be setting up a situation that encourages your pet bird to imitate you. If your bird does something wrong, the best thing to do is to ignore it. Any kind of attention could be seen as positive reinforcement and might perpetuate the behavior.

Quaker parrots need lots of toys. There are many commercial bird toys that your pet might enjoy. Choose toys that are sturdy and hard to take apart because the Quaker parrot is known for dismantling things. If your pet doesn’t seem interested in its toys, play with the toys when you are spending time with your bird. Allow the bird to perch on your shoulder, and then start playing with one of its toys. Don’t pay any attention to the bird. The bird will want your attention and most likely will start playing with the toy with you. When you are gone, the bird will associate the toy with you.

Food can be another source of entertainment for your pet. In the wild, parrots spend a large portion of their time finding food. You can stimulate the search for food with your pet Quaker. One way, is to buy commercial bird toys that dispense food. With these toys, you put a treat or some of the bird’s regular food into the toy, and the bird has to figure out how to get it out. To increase the play value of these toys, buy a few different ones and change them regularly. You can also simply put your Quaker’s food in several small bowls in different areas of its cage. If might not be much of a challenge to find, but at least the bird will have to move around to get fed. Select treats for your pet that will be more difficult to eat. If a treat can be gulped down in a mouthful it is too easy. You want treats that need to be pecked at and pulled apart.

Homemade challenges are an inexpensive way to further entertain your Quaker parrot. Put several large wooden beads in its food dish. It will have to toss them out to get at its food. Get several large flexible branches, like willow boughs, long enough to go from one side of the cage to the other with a bit poking out on each side. When the bird is out of its cage, stick ten or twelve or more (depending on the size of the branches) in various locations throughout the cage poking out on both sides. The bird will have to bite through the branches and break them to move around its cage. Not only is this activity intellectually stimulating, it provides the bird with an appropriate time to bite reducing the risk of self mutilating behavior.