This comprehensive care guide will show you how to look after a Quaker in 3 easy steps
Fast Facts:
How long will my Quaker live? 20-30 years
How big will it grow? 30cm in length
What size of enclosure is recommended for my Quaker? A wire enclosure of 35” X 20” X 35”
What does a Quaker eat? South American pellets with fruit and vegetables
Quaker Housing
Hand raised Quakers have been raised by humans usually from 3 weeks old, making them accustomed to handling, cages and many noises that occur in everyday life. A small-medium gauge wire cage with dimensions of at least 35”(W) x 20”(D) x 35”(H) will give your Quaker enough room to spread out and exercise without risk of injury from hitting the wire sides.
Open top cages with perching areas are ideal for hand raised birds as they provide more freedom and interaction with their family. At night the cage should be covered with a sheet or cage cover to prevent drafts and reduce visual stress.
Quaker Care
Quakers should be fed on a quality South American pellet and given daily fresh fruit and vegetables. This can include apple, carrot, beans, peas, corn, broccoli and spinach. This food should not be left in the cage for too long as spoilt fruit can gather bacteria and yeasts that can make your bird ill. Make sure to remember to never feed your Quaker lettuce, avocado or apple seeds.
Quakers can also be offered small portions of seed such as a small parrot mix, but care should be taken to ensure this does not replace the birds pellet consumption. Vitamin supplements such as Soluvite D or Multivet can be added to your Quakers water two or three times a week.
Calcium and Iodine can be provided through cuttlebone and iodine bells. Fresh water should always be available and should be changed on a daily basis. Worming should be repeated every three months with a broad-spectrum bird wormer.
Quaker Feeding
Enrichment is all about enhancing the quality of life for your Quaker and generally relates back to activities they would usually perform in the wild. Foraging plays a big part in enrichment for birds. To search for food is a natural instinct all birds possess, so it is the perfect way to exercise both their body and mind. There is a vast range of foraging toys to suit all species of birds and keep them mentally stimulated for when you are not at home. It is a good idea to have several different types of foraging toys available, and to rotate them in the cage every couple of weeks.
Natural branches of varying lengths, shapes and thicknesses should also be provided. There are many native branches that you could offer your Quaker such as eucalyptus, gum, grevillea, bottle brush and lilly pilly, many of which have natural nuts and flowers that providing a foraging opportunity for your Quaker. This also allows your Quaker to properly exercise their feet and beak as they can chew and strip the bark perches.
Did You Know?
Quakers are one of the best talkers out of the small parrots. They are known around the world for their exceptional capacity to imitate both sounds and human speech. Quakers or Monk Parrots are endemic to the subtropical areas of Argentina and are the epitome of a big bird in a small body. Their ability to mimic speech and sounds rivals that of many birds greater in size, and their IQ levels are believed to be similar to that of Cockatoos.
We have created a Shopping list to show what you need to look after a Quaker:
- Cage; 35”x20”x35” small-medium gauge wire
- Water bowl
- Food bowl
- Perches
- Ozpet Litter
- Cage Tidy
- Cage cover
- Carry cage
- South American Pellets
- Vitamins
- Worming
- Avicare disinfectant
- Cuttlefish
- Lice & Mite spray
- Natural perches
- Cement perches
- Foraging toys
- Colourful toys
- Ladders
- Parrot pad
- Play stand
Common health issues in Quakers
Psittacosis: A type of bacterial lung infection commonly carried by wild and domesticated birds, and able to be passed onto humans.
Respiratory Infections: Usually caused by bacteria infecting the respiratory system of birds due to vitamin A deficiency, however can be caused by many other factors such as fungi, parasites and environmental toxins.
Bacterial Infections: There are many common bacterial diseases birds are susceptible to and is usually caused by lack of hygiene or stress, especially when there is another factor compromising the birds immune system.
Red flags
Is your Quaker showing any of the signs of disease or illness? If yes, please contact your vet.
- Fluffed up feathers
- Nasal discharge
- Lethargy
- Out of character behaviour
- Discoloured poo or diarrhoea
At Kellyville Pets, we encourage responsible pet ownership.
CARE GUIDE © Copyright 2016 Kellyville Pets - All information found in this care guide is based upon our own experience. The information provided is not the only information available. In any medical situations, you should always consult your vet, including questions regarding your pet's diet.