When it comes to pet birds, parrots tend to be some of the more popular ones to have for any kind of owner because they have the appearance and the demeanor that makes them fit to be perfect pets. And when it comes to happiness, no other parrot will make you feel as happy as the Quaker Parrot. Of course, these parrots might come with a price tag that can be pretty hefty. That is why there are plenty of pet owners who probably won’t try to go for a Quaker Parrot no matter how good they may be. But if you understand more about this parrot and get to know how great of a pet it is to have in your home, you will certainly regard the happiness you get from it more than worth the heavy price tag it comes with.
What is the Quaker Parrot?
Knowing more about the Quaker Parrot will most likely convince you that it is worth every single penny you are paying for it. Here are some of the things you might want to know when you want to understand this popular and expensive parrot:
Overview
The Quaker Parrot is one of the most fun-loving pet birds to have in your house. It is downright silly and is fond of doing all sorts of antics on top of its parrot-like ability to mimic sounds and words. Also called the Monk Parakeet, this bird is a true parrot. It originates from the subtropical regions of Argentina and some other regions in South America. However, it has since formed sustainable populations in the wilds of the United States ever since it was introduced to North America. They have a long lifespan and can live for up to 30 years when given the best kind of care. However, there will be some that get to live for only about 15 to 20 years.
Physical Description
Quaker Parrots are mostly bright green in terms of its overall color. It has a strikingly bright color that will instantly catch your attention. Although it is dominantly green, the Quaker Parrot has a chest that can be whitish to grayish in color. This goes well with its bright green body. Meanwhile, its belly or abdomen also complements its green feathers as it comes with a yellowish-green kind of color that certainly makes it stand out and striking on its own. In that regard, it is great as far as aesthetics are concerned because this bird will instantly stand out in a crowded room and will certainly catch the eyes of your guests even if it does not even do anything yet.
In terms of its size, the Quaker Parrot is somewhere around 11 inches when fully grown and has a wingspan of about 19 inches. It barely weighs over a hundred grams at its heaviest. Females are a bit smaller than males, but the only way you can reliably sex them or tell them apart from males is through DNA testing because these parrots are all similar in appearance regardless of their sex.
Diet
Quaker Parrots are regarded as omnivorous birds but usually follow a diet that leans more towards what herbivores usually eat. While most domesticated birds thrive on seeds and pellets, this parrot should have a diet that is more focused on pellets rather than seeds. You may, however, still feed it with seeds, but it should feed more on pellets as they already contain all of the nutritional needs of the Quaker Parrot.
Fruits and vegetables can be used as supplements to the Quaker Parrot’s pellet-based diet. While pellets contain all of their basic nutritional needs, there are vitamins and minerals they can get from fruits and vegetables that they cannot get from a diet that is based primarily on pellets. As such, you need to give them fruits and vegetables on a regular basis to supplement their diet. Refer to this if you want to know the fruits and vegetables that are safe for your Quaker Parrot to eat.
Avoid foods with caffeine (chocolate and coffee), peanuts shells, fava beans, dry beans, alcoholic food and drinks, cabbage, salt, lemons, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, dried foods, junk food, and foods that are high in fat and sugar if you want to make sure that your Quaker Parrot gets to maximize its lifespan.
Housing
Experts recommend that you house your Quaker Parrot in a cage meant for medium-sized birds. It must be about 18 x 18 x 18. Make sure that the bars are small enough to prevent your parrot from escaping or sticking its head. Also, go for cages that have very secured locking mechanisms as Quaker Parrots are known to be expert escape artists when the locking mechanism tends to be too simple.
Perches and branches are essential in the Quaker Parrot’s cage. Also, there should be toys and other playthings inside the cage to foster physical activity and mental stimulation on the part of your parrot.
Personality and Demeanor
The Quaker Parrot’s overall demeanor is what makes it one of the more exciting pet birds to have for any kind of owner. They are very intelligent and are smart enough to learn how to open doors. In line with their intelligence, they are adept mimics that can imitate almost any kind of sound they hear. They are very inquisitive and will try to learn more about their surroundings to the point that they can even injure or hurt themselves in the process of studying the things around them.
Quaker Parrots are known to be very silly. When they are used to live under captive care, they will not hesitate to show their funny side and will perform all sorts of silly antics. That is why these birds are known to bring happiness to any kind of owner as they have the kind of personality that people love to have around the house. In many ways, they are worth every penny you pay for them.
How much do they cost?
Going right down to the meat of it, what you should know is that Quaker Parrots are pretty expensive pet birds to purchase initially. If you do a simple search on the internet, most pages will reveal that these parrots cost somewhere north of $300 and may even be as expensive as $1000 depending on the breeder. In that regard, there is no doubt that a bird such as this carries quite a hefty price tag. If you want to play it safe, go for a Quaker Parrot with a price north of $400 to be sure that it comes from a reputable breeder. Anything cheaper than $300 might not be an authentic Quaker Parrot or might be one of poor health and bloodline.
However, do not fret about the Quaker Parrot’s initial price because taking care of it costs just as much as other types of parrots. Moreover, if you happen to take care of it properly, there is a good possibility that it will get to live for over 20 years. Two decades are more than enough for a bird that costs $300, especially if you factor in the happiness it can bring to an entire household.
Tips for maximizing their lifespan
- Keep them away from rooms that have many mirrors or windows. Quaker Parrots cannot distinguish glass mirrors and windows from reality and will most likely fly straight into them.
- A healthy Quaker Parrot is lively, active, curious, and has clean and smooth feathers. If yours do not show any of those signs, you might need to worry about its overall health.
- Avoid feeding them the dangerous types of food.
- Make sure that you keep them away from any kind of fumes whenever you are cooking, painting, or spraying something inside the house as Quaker Parrots have sensitive respiratory systems.
- Always replace their water with a fresh batch because they are pretty active and are rather prone to defecating in their water bowl.
- Supplement their diet with cuttlebone to give them the calcium they need to develop strong bones.
- Avoid placing them in the same room as other household pets no matter how safe those pets might be.
- Certain types of plants may be toxic or poisonous to your Quaker Parrot, even if they are safe for you and your other pets.
If you can, keep your Quaker Parrot’s wings clipped to minimize the risk of them flying into dangerous objects such as open and closed windows, mirrors, and ceiling fans.
