Quaker Parrots Love Baths
Yes, and your quaker parrot should take baths regularly to stay clean and healthy. Without regular baths, a quaker parrot can build up oil and dust that even a quaker’s vigorous preening can’t remove which can lead to illness.
Ideally, you should select a location for your quaker parrot’s bath that is ok to get wet, like the kitchen table. Allow up to a 6 foot area for splash, and place a towel down to catch most of the water. Fill a wide dish (I use a baking dish) ideally 1-2 inches high. It shouldn’t be over that or it will be too deep for the bird, any lower and it won’t be enough water.
Once the bath is set up, let your quaker parrot check it out. If he is not used to taking baths, it may take a few minutes for him to figure out what this new thing is all about. Just give him time and don’t make him feel pushed. If he is looking interested in the water, dip your hand in it to show it is ok. Eventually he will realize what its all about and will start enjoying the water. Always use fresh clean water for baths, just like for the drinking water.
A number of ‘bird bath’ products are available to help contain splashing, but I don’t recommend them since they restrict the area and may discourage bathing. Also the amount of splashing will vary depending on the bird. Some splash a little, some cover entire square feet and the weatherman comes to do a live report on location.
(Of course there is always the exception. Try it and see if your quaker likes taking baths or not.)
Filed under Quaker Parrot | Comment (1)Quaker Parrot Toys
Every quaker parrot needs toys for mental and physical stimulation. In the wild, a quaker parrot would have sticks and grasses to chew and tear apart; in your home however he needs an ample supply of suitable toys. Without toys, a quaker parrot will get bored and may turn to feather picking or even self-mutilation.
When choosing a toy for your quaker parrot, both materials used and the species the toy was designed for should be considered. Be sure the toy is made of bird-safe materials, which include most types of wood, large acrylic beads, sisal and cotton rope, and leather strips to name a few. The toy may say it is for a quaker parrot, or choose one made for medium to small birds.
Quaker parrot toys should be checked daily for loose strands of rope, cracked or split beads or plastic parts which may be a risk of being ingested. Most toys can be washed by hand or put through the dishwasher; check for washing instructions on the package, if any.
Filed under Quaker Parrot | Comment (1)What Does a Quaker Parrot Eat?
A quaker parrot’s diet should ideally consist of a basic food mix of equal parts of a good seed mix (many types of seeds suited for medium exotic birds) and a high-quality pellet food such as Zupreem or Kaytee Exact. For extra vitamins a supplement, such as Petamine egg food may be added, a little on top of the quaker parrot’s daily food mix.
Also essential to good nutritional health is a daily fresh supply of vegetables, such as lettuce, which may be served shredded, chopped or whole; grated carrot is a favorite among many birds and a quaker parrot is no exception. Fresh or dried fruits are also a good idea, stay away from fruits with artificial colors added as these can build up in their system and cause problems farther along.
Many quaker parrot owners offer their bird a cooked grain mix which many birds enjoy. There are many commercial grain mixes available, and many prefer to create their own mix more suited to their quaker’s needs.
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