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| Monk Parrot - Quaker Parrot - Photo: Pixabay |
Quakers are also known as Quaker Parakeets or Monk Parrots and make wonderful, loyal, and intelligent pets. Here are 6 of their best features if you are considering opening your home to a Quaker.
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. Breeders have increased color choices to include blue, white, and yellow to name a few. They weigh in between 75 to 125 grams. They average about 12 inches from beak to tail and look very similar to a parakeet with a heavier body build.
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 to such high-level behaviors.
Diet-
Thank goodness they are not fussy eaters! Most will eat pellets, seeds, and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic is best), pasta, grains, legumes, and seeds (sprouted seeds are the most nutritious). Your bird will let you know which of these are its favorites. They can also be fed some lactose intolerant dairy products since all birds are lactose-challenged. Avoid chocolate, caffeine, avocado, rhubarb, and alcohol as all are toxic to birds.
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.
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 to 30 years. These birds are illegal in some parts of the United States, so make sure you check your locality before purchasing one, and before moving to another part of the country with one.
General Health-
Generally considered as quite hardy, these birds can also adapt well to changes in climate. They are still susceptible to diseases that are spread through airborne viruses. Steps to avoid disease and infection include cleaning their cage daily, providing fresh water, removing fresh food before it can spoil, and filter their air with a HEPA air purifier.
By Debbie Davis
An excellent resource for a HEPA air purifier to remove airborne pollutants from your Quaker's air that often contribute to disease and infection is the Bird Dander Purifier offered by PurerAir.com at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html
Article Source: EzineArticles
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