Quaker Parrots

By Chet Womach & Kim Bear

Whether you know them as Quaker parrots or Monk parrots, these little green and grey birds are the subject of a lot of controversy in the U.S. Quakers are illegal to keep in many states. The worry is that escaped individuals will form large wild populations and become a major pest. Whether these laws are based in reality or not, the issue is being hotly debated between parrot welfare groups and governing agencies. You can get more information about this from the internet--I like quakerville.com--but be sure to add the word "parrot" in your search or you will get a bunch of websites about the Quaker religion! This article is about the Quaker as a pet, for those of you who are allowed to have one. Those who can't are encouraged to become active in the efforts to overturn the restrictive laws so that everyone can enjoy Quakers. Or you can check out this great site for training your quaker parrot.

Quakers are a small parrot native to South America. They are a very affordable bird compared to other parrots their size. Beautiful color mutations like powder blue and yellow are available, too. They're more expensive than the normal greens, but as they become more established, the prices become more reasonable. A Quaker's size makes him easy to accommodate if you don't have a lot of space, but if you live in an apartment, you may want to check to see how "soundproof" your walls are. Noise is often one of the biggest behavior problems reported by Quaker owners. Nipping is another. These birds are outgoing and active, and their energy levels can be hard for some people to manage. If you're a patient person, and know how to provide a sense of authority without being a bully, you're more likely to get along with a Quaker than someone who's either too hesitant or too aggressive. Overall, the Quaker is a feisty but lovable little parrot. One thing that makes them so cute is their lively, bouncy bob. When you see it, you can't help but be drawn to the bird.

Snuggles and kisses are activities Quakers like to engage in, but they're also playful and like to show off. Their talking ability can be quite impressive, and they tend to be enthusiastic learners. Games and trick training are good ways to provide needed physical and mental exercise, as well as giving your bird some structure to his daily life. Appropriate activity helps the bird channel his energy in a way that's not as likely to get him into trouble. When behavior problems do occur with Quakers, boredom is a common contributor. Keep your Quaker busy, and you'll keep him happy.

Because Quakers are very social, they're eager for attention, and will usually want to hang around with you. Encouraging independent play is very important so your Quaker can be by himself when he needs to. You'll also want him to meet and be handled by other people, and set consistent rules so he knows what he can and can't get away with. If children are going to handle him, they'll need to know the rules, too, so they don't accidentally encourage bad habits. A Quaker may quickly take advantage of a person he thinks isn't going to make him mind.

Some Quakers may be reluctant to step up onto people's hands. We had one like this. It wasn't that he didn't' want to come to us, but he would rather be picked up like a ball than step up. At first we thought he had a physical problem, or was mentally not too bright, but we eventually realized this wasn't the case. He just liked being picked up. The people who had him before we did probably took the path of least resistance and never worked on stepping up since it was easier to pick him up. Having talked to other Quaker owners with a similar problem, I think this may be more common in birds that came from large breeding facilities, or any place where the hand feeder didn't have time to wait for the young bird to figure out the hand thing. Quakers are smart, but they're also on the stubborn side, which can be part of their charm. That, and their little bob.
About the Author

This article was co-authored by Chet Womach and Kim Bear. Kim Bear is a parrot behavioral specialist who has helped people around the world with their quaker parrots [ http://www.birdtricks.com/Quaker-Parrot/ ].

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