Getting a Quaker

[Emma&pico]

When do you get Oscar ?

 

[WillowQ]

Night owls, my Quakers would have been IN the dish of food.

 

[Pixiebeak]

My quakers love veggies, and at this point est anything

I offer peppers everyday, especially yellow and orange bell peppers, leafy greens everyday mostly romaine ( always wash! Even wash ore washed stuff in bags!) Or I get mixed greens like I eat in salads . Then my other veggies vary as in what I get fir my meals it is in season. I try to have 4-6 kinds offered daily. First thing in the morning I let them out and have flat trays of the fresh stuff waiting for them in too of cage and they dig in with gusto!!
I offer veggies again late afternoon. Pellets , I use all kinds, oven baked bites, zooprem , Mizzuri, laffber. Or the top brands as mentioned. Seed mix at night hookbill mixs or whatever. As well as boiled/scrambled. egg. Food I eat thst safe for birds.

Veggies thst most take to easier, peas ( I thaw frozen ones in water drain and serve) corn cut from the cob, and peppers , broccoli, cooked sweet potato. Those seem taken to easier , then they start getting the idea and try more stuff, cut up zucchini, squash, cucumber, fresh green beans and sbso peas and the lettuces , swiss chard, spinach. I'm real stingy on fruit! Prefer berries, pomegranate, cherry, plums . Apple once in while. Grape never really ...maybe once a year. No citrus.

Can't wait to nest Oscar!

 

[Alien J]

Here's Oscar.

We weren't able to pick him up until about 7pm. The lady he was with said she is at least his 4th owner, prior to that she doesn't know how many. He's been through 3 in the last 4 months. She has had him 2 months and she had immediately put him in the cage with her Quaker. The cage wasn't very big. Not even as big as TDs cage which is 27"Hx24"Lx21"D. They had a room with about 20 budgies (not counting the newborns in the nest box, which was 2 broods being raised by one female as the other mother had been killed by another budgie, but they don't know which one). They were feeding him salted pumpkin seeds (the kind packaged for humans).

He was pretty scared when we got him home. I let him stay in the travel cage over night bcuz I thought it would be too overwhelming putting him into that gigantic cage I bought. I maybe went too far on that!

This morning he hadn't moved from sitting on the food bowl. Of it was full of poop by then. He was panting a little. I don't believe he's taken any water.

I sat with him for awhile this morning, just talking to him or softly singing along with Pandora (Lewis Capaldi mostly and some classical). I decided to go ahead and put him in the big cage. I let him watch me fill bowls with water, greens, nutriberries, and TDs food, which is Zupreme Smart Selects. When I put him in the big cage, he climbed up to the highest perch and he hasn't moved since. His head is bobbiing like an elderly person with Parkinson's.

I sat with him again after the transfer just reading to him from a book. I didn't look at him much, but inserted his name "Oscar, the pretty bird" into the book reading often. I did this for about an hour. Now I've left him with some music playing to give him time to hopefully move around and check things out (and eat and drink, I pray). I'm going to shower and then spend some time with TD.

Any input into what I can do better will always be welcome. I want Oscar to feel secure and unafraid as soon as is possible for him. Thanks everyone!

 

[Emma&pico]

He’s so gorgeous I am so glad you have him sounds like you are doing an amazing job I hope he soon see your a friend and comes around
Can’t wait for your updates good luck

 

[MommyBird]

Poor little one, he has had quite a stressful life.
I think you are doing everything just as well as can be.

It's always a worry when they don't eat or drink. Be prepared to offer some "junk" food like a sunflower seed or piece of bread or a peanut.....whatever anyone who didn't know better might feed him.
Put a shallow water bowl on the bottom of the cage if he seems to be afraid of the water dish. I'm sure he'll figure it all out though.

If he is really nervous in the big cage, maybe cover 2 sides of it so it seems a bit cozier?
You have good instincts, I'm sure you will make good decisions.

 

[Alien J]

Poor little one, he has had quite a stressful life.
I think you are doing everything just as well as can be.

It's always a worry when they don't eat or drink. Be prepared to offer some "junk" food like a sunflower seed or piece of bread or a peanut.....whatever anyone who didn't know better might feed him.
Put a shallow water bowl on the bottom of the cage if he seems to be afraid of the water dish. I'm sure he'll figure it all out though.

If he is really nervous in the big cage, maybe cover 2 sides of it so it seems a bit cozier?
You have good instincts, I'm sure you will make good decisions.

I already covered two sides of the cage. I have him in my "art room" for his quarantine. I thought the drawings on the walls and all the stuffed animals (especially the monkey collection) might frighten him. He is letting out a good squawk once in awhile now. Should I keep his door closed, or open it so he can see us as we pass by on occasion?

 

[Alien J]

I know when I first got TD I saw a thread with a recipe for bird bread. I couldn't make it as I had no oven in the RV, but now I can and, of course, now I can't find it. Can anyone enlighten me?

Oh, shoot. Our hot water line must have just burst as the kitchen and utility room are now flooded. 2nd time since we've been here! Gotta go!

 

[Pixiebeak]

Congratulations!!!
It's fine to be freaked out the first few days. But stick in millet first and treats. Because eating will help lower stress.
Sounds like you are doing great keep it up !

 

[MommyBird]

I already covered two sides of the cage. I have him in my "art room" for his quarantine. I thought the drawings on the walls and all the stuffed animals (especially the monkey collection) might frighten him. He is letting out a good squawk once in awhile now. Should I keep his door closed, or open it so he can see us as we pass by on occasion?

oh no! I hope your plumbing is straightened out by now! And the cleaning up!
I know my Hahns is very observant and he notices any change in objects in the room and has to take awhile till he sees if they are dangerous. Since it's his temporary room, could you box up some of the monkeys/animals till quarantine is over? Having a large number of things to check out may be overwhelming. A few things is reasonable to get used to and probably good practice.
As for the door - my inclination would be to have it open. If he takes fright when you go past, then close it. but it just feels like closing it really isolates him too much. Also some of my flock cannot see me before I enter the room, so I always say "hi guys " before I enter. Every time. I think they really appreciate it and it builds trust.

 

[WillowQ]

I know my Lucy Quaker had a fear of faces, particularly ones with big eyes. I had to sell a beautiful African ceramic owl lamp because she would stare at it and scream.
So maybe remove any starey things. Esp realistic. Cutesy teddy bear type stuff won’t get the same reaction; that’s why it’s cute!

 

[Alien J]

George asked me a question I couldn't answer yesterday. He asked what's the point of quarantining the new bird when the AC is on? The AC is a closed system which means those in the AC are all breathing the same recycled air. This is how Legionnaires is passed. I said, good question. Yesterday it was so hot we had no choice but to have the air on. As a matter of fact I had to turn it to 76 to get Oscar's room anywhere near a liveable temperature. Those two rooms get the full force of the afternoon sun and get extremely hot.

 

[Emma&pico]

George asked me a question I couldn't answer yesterday. He asked what's the point of quarantining the new bird when the AC is on? The AC is a closed system which means those in the AC are all breathing the same recycled air. This is how Legionnaires is passed. I said, good question. Yesterday it was so hot we had no choice but to have the air on. As a matter of fact I had to turn it to 76 to get Oscar's room anywhere near a liveable temperature. Those two rooms get the full force of the afternoon sun and get extremely hot.

That is a very good question I hope someone can answer for you

how’s Oscar doing today did he eat or drink I really hope so and hope he’s a tad more settled

 

[Alien J]

It was so hot in his room that I jacked the AC up and let everyone else in the house freeze, and still he didn't move from the high perch. He didn't eat or drink. He was panting. So I misted him. He loved it. After I misted him pretty well, but didn't get him soaking wet, he began playing with the big toy by the high perch. He still didn't move off the perch. So I chopped up some different colored bell peppers and fed them to him one by one. He would take them from my fingers but tried to bite me when I offered him the bowl.
He would only eat the yellow and orange. No red or green. Wouldn't eat broccoli, or peas, or lettuce. Ate a few bites of homemade whole wheat bread. Then I broke down and fed him a few of the salted pumpkin seeds she had given me.

0verslept this morning. Just got TD up and am heading into get Oscar up now.

 

[MommyBird]

George asked me a question I couldn't answer yesterday. He asked what's the point of quarantining the new bird when the AC is on? The AC is a closed system which means those in the AC are all breathing the same recycled air. This is how Legionnaires is passed. I said, good question. Yesterday it was so hot we had no choice but to have the air on. As a matter of fact I had to turn it to 76 to get Oscar's room anywhere near a liveable temperature. Those two rooms get the full force of the afternoon sun and get extremely hot.

yep, that's a problem with traditional forced air heat and cooling. Sometimes you see quarantine specify "with separate air handling systems". I still think it's worth continuing as perhaps the filters will reduce risks some, and the AC isn't on all the time. You do the best you can. I thik it is of greater importance to wash your hands, and change shirts if the bird is on you.
I've always lived in homes heated by hot-water radiators so never had to deal with it. I have no AC in the house now but will be getting a heat pump in Oct. (good old climate change). For those with heat pumps I want to mention that each room has a separate air handling system unlike traditional forced air that is all on one system.

 

[Emma&pico]

It was so hot in his room that I jacked the AC up and let everyone else in the house freeze, and still he didn't move from the high perch. He didn't eat or drink. He was panting. So I misted him. He loved it. After I misted him pretty well, but didn't get him soaking wet, he began playing with the big toy by the high perch. He still didn't move off the perch. So I chopped up some different colored bell peppers and fed them to him one by one. He would take them from my fingers but tried to bite me when I offered him the bowl.
He would only eat the yellow and orange. No red or green. Wouldn't eat broccoli, or peas, or lettuce. Ate a few bites of homemade whole wheat bread. Then I broke down and fed him a few of the salted pumpkin seeds she had given me.

0verslept this morning. Just got TD up and am heading into get Oscar up now.

Sounds like you are making progress just keep telling yourself he’s lucky to have you

 

[owlsthetic]

George asked me a question I couldn't answer yesterday. He asked what's the point of quarantining the new bird when the AC is on? The AC is a closed system which means those in the AC are all breathing the same recycled air. This is how Legionnaires is passed. I said, good question. Yesterday it was so hot we had no choice but to have the air on. As a matter of fact I had to turn it to 76 to get Oscar's room anywhere near a liveable temperature. Those two rooms get the full force of the afternoon sun and get extremely hot.

I think a quarantine with separate airspace would be the ideal situation but not realistic for most people on most cases, so we can really just do our best when it comes to quarantine and taking precautions by making sure new birds are tested and checked at the vet's, as well as minimizing contact by washing hands thoroughly after contact, keeping food, water, toys and waste completely separate from existing flock, etc since not all pathogens are transmitted through air but also through contact and droplets (like sneezes), etc

In my case, I did think the quarantine had the added benefit of helping to slowly introduce a new bird to the house for my first bird as they could hear each other and call your to each other but there wasn't just suddenly a new bird in their space which may have added to the stress of the routine change that also came with it

 

[Alien J]

Thanks, everyone, for the input. I agree that it's got to be easier on the birds, both new and already established, if you don't force them on each other immediately. TD and Oscar are already talking to each other, though they can't see each other. Oscar looked a lot better after his shower yesterday. He's saying Pretty Bird and quacking and barking. The house he just left had 3 yipping yorkies... I guess I have a yipping yorkie now! He still hasn't left the high perch. I loaded a lower perch that has crevices in it with his pumpkin seeds to hopefully lure him over.

 

[WillowQ]

Even if AC is on having the birds in separate rooms certainly DECREASES the aerosols of bacteria and virus that the new bird shares with resident birds. And decreases what you carry between rooms especially if you start servicing cages, feeding, care with your resident bird and then move to the

ideally rooms have a separate air handling system and filter. Places that work with disease have their own air filtration and negative air pressure. So when you open the door to go in it kind of suctions and you can feel a slight pull.

The avian suites in the twin cities have separate air systems for each customers birds. So a room with one household has its own air supply and filtration. Then the next households birds room has its own air dupply and filtration.

honestly washing and changing your clothes between old and new birds helps a lot. I would service the old birds first and then the new bird and change. Not new bird to old bird in case your new bird is carrying something.

Similarly if you’re working with animals you go from well to sick animals. Or for example I have an ear infection the dr looks at my good ear first (to get an idea of what it should look like) and moves to see the bad ear. So she doesn’t bring “bad bacteria” or fungus from sick ear to well ear on her tools. I was so happy she thought to start on the well side, because I’ve always wondered why you stick a dirty tool into a clean ear.

hurrah for tangents! Hopefully you learn something new.

 

[Clueless]

Way to go!!!!