Quaker Birds As Pets - 6 Best Features of the Quaker Parrot

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 for such high level behaviors.

Diet
Thank goodness they are not a 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 you 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 filtering their air with a HEPA air purifier.