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how to choose a new parrot here do not impulse buy here value transparency here ensure they are weaned here research what traits you desire Quakers page 70 (Barrons guide) bathing here

quaker colour combination COMPARISONS With the vast amount of mutations and available in Australia, it can be difficult to find professional and concise comparisons between each colour. It can be tricky for the untrained eye to see difference between the different mutations and what the effect is on the structural colour if you are unsure what you're looking for. Here are some comparison photographs to help distinguish them. ​ DO NOT screenshot, save or republish any copyrighted photographs from this website without expressed permission by the owner. This is a copyright infringement and punishable by law. ​ For the comprehensive colour chart, click here. ​ GROUP SHOTS L-R: Turquoise-Blue, Blue Opaline, Blue, Blue Pallid, Cobalt Pallid, Cobalt Opaline, Cobalt L-R: Dark Green Opaline, Dark Green, Green, Green Pallid, Green Pallidino GREEN PALLID VS GREEN PALLIDINO VS LUTINO L-R: Green Pallidino, Green Pallid, Lutino L-R: Lutino, Green Pallidino, Green Pallid L-R: Green Pallid, Green Pallidino Cobalt vs Cobalt Opaline vs Cobalt pallid L-R: Cobalt Pallid, Cobalt, Cobalt Opaline L-R: Cobalt Opaline, Cobalt, Cobalt Pallid Dark Green vs Olive L-R: Olive, Dark Green L-R: Dark Green, Olive L-R: Dark Green, Olive Turquoise vs Blue L-R: Blue, Turquoise (Parblue-Blue) L-R: Turquoise (Parblue-Blue), Blue

Is a parrot the right pet for you? Maybe you saw a cute bird at a pet shop, or in a video, and you were wowed by its gorgeous colours and playful demeanor. Or maybe you have met a bird of someone elses' and decided you wanted one of that species, too. However, each bird is an individual, and they often differ in quality from breeder to breeder, so know that you may not get a bird that behaves the same way as another without significant effort and training on your part, if at all. ​ Patience Parrots are often considered 'starter' pets, especially for kids. There are many misconceptions when it comes to correctly managing a parrots' physical and mental health, and it can sometimes lead to impulse purchases without understanding the whole scope of their care. Are you thinking of adding a new feathered member to your family? Take some time to consider the following points to help you make an educated decision: ​ biting Are you able to cope with being bitten? One thing that is common among all parrots is that they all bite. It is unreasonable to assume that you will never get bitten by your parrot, and new owners need to understand that they will at some point get bitten by their bird no matter how tame they are. Oftentimes owners misread the body language and miss subtle clues that indicate that the parrot is feeling threatened, is upset, in pain, or just not liking the situation. We may be intimidated by the size of their beak, and this is relayed to the bird causing fear induced behaviours like biting. ​ Time Do you have enough time to dedicate to your bird every day? Parrots are typically a socially dependant and needy pet, and require several hours per day of interaction outside the cage. This may be simply sitting on your shoulder as you do the meal preparation, fold laundry, working on the computer or vacuuming the floors. To a bird, you are an integral part of their 'flock', and extended separation from you can cause them significant stress and anxiety. ​ Mess Are you a neat freak? Can you deal with a high level of mess? Parrots make quite the mess: they flick their food all over the walls, spill it on the floor, and shred their toys into tiny pieces. They dump food in their water (conures are especially renowned for being "pellet dunkers" and even throw their dishes off the wall of their cage. And then there's the poop; they poop on their perches, your couch, your floor or any conceivable surface. ​ Are you prepared to clean out their cage tray every week? You will also need to scrub down the cage once a month and replace soiled and shredded perches as required. ​ Noise Do you hate noise? It is true that smaller birds make less noise, but that does not mean that they won't make any noise. Parrots are not a pet that is suitable for most people, they do screech and communicate in an audible way. The more parrots you have, the more noise they seem to generate. Your parrot may call for you if you leave the room without them, when they have been left alone for extended times, in the morning and evening (flock calling) and even when they drop a toy that they wanted. Poorly socialised birds will often screech excessively when things don't go their way, out of fear, or when they are trying to get your attention. It is their way of speaking to us and their fellow flock mates, and communicating their needs. ​ parrot's needs It is important to know what you need to provide for your bird for their optimal health, and to be continually improving on that knowledge. FRESH WATER DAILY Are you prepared to change their water bowl every single day? The general rule is, if you wouldn't put it in a cup and give it to your child, it's not good enough for your parrot. This might mean changing it several times a day if they tend to soil their water dish with food or other debris. ​ FRESH FOOD Are you able to provide them fresh food multiple times a week? In the wild, our parrots' ancestors soar the sky and explore vast areas of land each day to find the food they require for the day. This natural behaviour shows us many aspects to how birds feed: they have to find it (flying around), work for it (ripping open seed pods, stripping trees and plants), and they don't eat the same thing every single meal for every day. When we consider what is most commonly supplied to captive parrots, it simply doesn't provide the same variety and stimulation they need. To meet their nutritional needs, it is necessary for us to serve our parrots fresh vegetables, at least every 2-3 days, if not every day. Are you able to fit this into your schedule to cut up food, or add to your budget each week? ​ TOYS Are you prepared to purchase new toys regularly for your bird, or to make them yourself? Shreddable and interactable toys are very important for your birds mental health, especially if they remain caged for long periods during the day. It can be frustrating if your bird is destroying their toys and chewing them to toothpicks, leaving you feeling like you have wasted your money, it couldn't be more the opposite. The more time your parrot spends chewing specifically designated items is less time they could potentially be chewing themselves. A bird that is unfulfilled in its natural desire to chew, shred and destroy, will ultimately try to exhibit that behaviour in its only available avenue: their own body. Feather plucking, or self mutilation, can be a serious behavioural issue and can intrench in habits that are not so easy to correct. ​ MAINTENANCE If you decide to have a non-flighted bird, are you able to trim their wings yourself correctly, or do you have a service available to do this for you? Their nails will also require routine trimming, usually once a month that needs to be accounted for also. ​ Space Where will your bird's cage be kept at your home? Is there space to place it where the birds can be a part of the home, not just a dark corner in the back of the house? Where will you store their food, accessories, spare toys? Will they have two cages, one inside and one outside, and if so what parameters do can you implement to ensure they cannot escape? A bird cage (or two) is not a glamorous Pinterest-ready addition to a home, accompanied by the mess, so if this is something that is particularly important to you, a parrot may not be the right pet for you. ​ The Right Kind Have you researched different species of parrots to narrow down which will suit your social and financial needs? Not all parrots are alike, and they vary widely from species to species. Some are clingy, some are loud, some will bond exclusively to one person. Some are more hormonal than others, some have different dietary needs. Take the time to work out which species' fits best for you. Some people think a bird that is super clingy, crawls on the keyboard while you type, raids your cereal bowl and hangs off your hair is the perfect bird, but to others they prefer a calmer natured parrot. ​ Cost The true purchase price of a parrot is much more expensive than simply the price of the bird itself. Take a second to count the cost of the 'world' that you will create by having them: bird purchase price, plus cage, plus food, plus toys, plus accessories, plus bird stand, plus annual veterinary checkups or appointments should anything go wrong or even pet insurance. The funds required can often stack up into the thousands. Nothing lasts forever; food gets eaten, toys get destroyed, and cages start to flake, rust and deteriorate. These things will need to be replaced in varying intervals. Should your bird become ill and require treatment, where is your nearest veterinarian that specialises in birds? What first aid products need to be on hand for emergencies? ​ Children If you have children in the home, this can add insurmountable challenges to owning a parrot. Often children have difficulty reading bird body language which leads them to be bitten or stalked/chased more often. Kids don't handle well to bites, they react in a way which can then panic the bird, especially when they were most likely bitten out of fear, this will compound the problem and can make them fearful of humans in general. Children move much more quickly and spontaneously than adults, which makes it difficult for the parrot to read and gauge the child. They are also more likely to taunt and tease a parrot, in some kind of intended "play", which sends mixed threat signals to your parrot. It is your responsibility to educate and teach with your children about caring for birds and interacting with them in an appropriate way. ​ Allergies Sometimes people are allergic to dander; the white powdery substance that covers the new feathers. As birds preen themselves it flakes off becoming airborne, triggering allergic or similar reactions to that from cat and dog allergies. Birds that are particularly 'dusty' are cockatiels, cockatoos and African Grey parrots. Allowing your bird to bathe daily will help to curb the amount of dander, but there are some bird species that are considered 'hypoallergenic'. These include: budgerigars, Eclectus parrots and Pionus parrots. ​ Long Term Commitment And saving the best for last, this would have to be the most important question to consider of all: Are you prepared for a long term commitment? Most parrots live upwards of 20 to 30 years, and some even as long as 50 to 70 years. While parrots are the third most common pet owned in the world, they are the most common REHOMED pet. When you choose to add a parrot to your family, you are making the conscious decision to provide for all the needs of that bird for the rest of its natural life, not just until you get sick of them or fail to have time for them anymore. ​ It pains me to see the countless ads on Facebook or Gumtree stating: "Don't have time for these anymore" or "Unwanted Christmas/birthday gift" or "Need gone now". Where is the commitment to these birds that they deserve, what was promised to them when they were purchased? Just like puppies and kittens, parrots tend to go through a "terrible twos" cocktail of hormones and boundary-pushing behaviour which needs to be managed and trained. So many birds are surrendered to rescues and sanctuaries for no fault of their own, or for behaviour that may have been avoided on the part of a careless owner. ​ Consider where you are at in your life stages at this moment and in the coming years. Are you about to go off to university? Move house? Get married? Are you of mature age and will a parrot outlive you? Where are your priorities and how will a parrot fit in to your life should things change? What will happen if you were to fall ill, or even pass away; is there someone that is prepared to care for or even take on your bird? Animals are not a possession to be discarded when it becomes inconvenient. ​ So why own a parrot at all? With all the negatives above, one might wonder what point there is to even owning a bird at all. ​ INTELLIGENCE: From the largest macaw down to the smallest budgerigar, we are continually learning how intricately intelligent these creatures can be. They are easy to teach tricks, they can talk/mimic and even learn to navigate simple problem solving activities, all with a brain as minute as a pea. ​ COMPANIONSHIP: A parrot naturally lives its life as part of a flock, and when we share our home with them, we become an integral member of that flock with them. They bond to us, creating a beautiful connection of understanding, trust and respect. ​ LESS MAINTENANCE: Compared to dogs and cats, birds take up significantly less space. They don't require a large backyard, a weekly bath appointment or daily walk around the block. Instead, a monthly toenail trim and twice weekly spritz with a misting bottle is sufficient, if they don't already bathe in their water dish. On the most part, parrots take care of all their grooming needs. ​ LIFESPAN: Most of us have, or will in the future, experienced the deep pain of losing a beloved pet. So why not choose a companion that will live in excess of 20, 30 or even 60 years with you? With adequate care and nutrition, there is no reason why your feathered friend can remain by your side for a large portion of your life.

Quaker Colours & Mutations We have so many wonderful colours available in Australia, with even more available overseas additionally. Here is an overview to help you identify your own quaker, someone else's, or choose your next family member. The following photographs are our own property unless otherwise indicated. Note: We do not have "grey green" quakers in Australia currently, they are properly called Dark Green (SF Dark Factor) and Olive (DF Dark Factor). DO NOT screenshot, save or republish any copyrighted photographs from this website without expressed permission by the owner. This is a copyright infringement and punishable by law. ​ We are also working on cataloguing side-by-side comparisons of the different mutations, feel free to check them out here. ​ Jump to: Green Variants Dark Green Variants Olive Variants Ino Variants Blue Variants Turquoise Variants Cobalt Variants Mauve Variants ​ Green Green Pallid Green Pallidino Green Opaline Dark Green Dark Green Pallid dark green pallidINO Images coming soon. ​ dark green OPALINE Images coming soon. ​ OLIVE OLIVE PALLID Images coming soon. ​ Olive Opaline Images coming soon. ​ LUTINO ALBINO BLUE BLUE PALLID BLUE PALLIDINO Images coming soon. ​ BLUE OPALINE TURQUOISE (PARBLUE) TURQUOISE (PARBLUE) PALLID Images coming soon. ​ TURQUOISE (PARBLUE) OPALINE COBALT COBALT PALLID COBALT PALLIDINO COBALT OPALINE MAUVE MAUVE PALLID Images coming soon. ​ MAUVE Opaline Images coming soon. ​ Additional mutations include: ​​ Cobalt Turquoise Cobalt Turquoise Pallid Cobalt Turquoise Opaline Green Opaline Pallid Dark Green Opaline Pallid Olive Opaline Pallid Blue Opaline Pallid Cobalt Opaline Pallid Mauve Opaline Pallid Cremino (Parblue-ino) Turquoise Pallidino ​

quaker: SPECIES PROFILE Quakers, or monk parrots, make brilliant companion pets due to their affectionate, energetic and comical personalities. When it comes to talking ability in a small parrot, they almost outrival larger birds with their clarity and mimicry ability. They are such social creatures which bond readily to a single person or family unit. They are not particularly loud, but do have an alarm call as all parrots do which is something to be mindful of if you live in close proximity housing. ​ COMMON NAMES Quaker parrot, Monk parrot, Grey-breasted parakeet ​ SCIENTIFIC NAME Myiopsitta monachus ​ aDULT SIZE 12 inches (30.5cm) and between 95-120 grams ​ LIFE EXPECTANCY With adequate diet, care, health, stimulation and love, your quaker can live up to 20-30 years, or even beyond. However, most live only 10 years, due to owner neglect. This is why it is imperative to learn and grow our knowledge about avian care. ​ ORIGIN AND HISTORY The Quaker Parrot is native to Argentina, Bolivia and surrounding countries in South America. In the wild, they tend to live in very large flocks, and there are many feral populations in urban areas, such as North America and Europe. ​ Temperament Quakers are generally very playful, vivacious and ​social, with their distinctive bobbing behaviour and 'quaking' sounds. They love to be in the company of fellow birds and humans, are highly intelligent and very loyal. Their talkative nature makes these parrots a popular favourite among bird keepers. They are also known for their cage territorialism, which if seen as a natural behaviour, rather than a problem behaviour, this can be easily negated with training necessary for any companion parrot. ​ Colours and markings Quakers are monomorphic, meaning both sexes have identical colouring. They naturally occur as green in the wild, but there are a multitude of new colours that have been developed in captivity. ​ They are characterised by their vivid colours: vibrant greens, blues, yellow, white and even grey. ​ Some colours that are bred in captivity are: blue, lutino, albino, cobalt, mauve, dark green, olive, blue pallid, green pallid, cobalt pallid, mauve pallid, dark green pallid, olive pallid, as well as the same in opaline and parblue. To learn more about the different colour mutations, read here. ​ housing requirements Quakers, by nature, are very inquisitive, playful parrots. They need to have adequate room to play, forage, fly/flap and explore their surroundings. For birds, this is usually a cage or enclosure, which becomes your bird's "safe place". Their cage should provide sufficient room to freely spread both wings. Choose the largest cage you can afford and that will fit well in your space. ​ A cage recommended to house a quaker parrot should be at the very least 60x60x60cm, but recommended 80x90x55cm with between 15-19mm wide bar spacing. A cage with a playtops and doors with locking mechanisms are an advantage. Select natural branches to use as perches, as these provide different thicknesses, textures and enrichment to promote foot health. Quakers love to chew and should be given ample toys for the sole purpose of destroying and keeping them occupied. We purchase all our toys from Unique Beaks Handmade Bird Toys which are made with bird-safe natural dyes, stainless steel, plastic, wood and accessories. You can find them on Facebook here. ​ Items such as pony beads, paddlepop sticks, paper, untreated pine, paper straws, wax-free cupcake liners, and finger traps make great toys for inquisitive beaks to shred. Some metals, such as galvanised steel, lead, and zinc can cause metal poisoning, so it is best to use stainless steel wherever possible. ​ Feeding your quaker a balanced, nutritionally dense, varied diet is imperative to maintaining healthy physical and mental wellbeing. This should consist of a base diet of formulated pellets, low-fat seeds, sprouted seed, vegetables and a small amount of fruit. For more details on diet and nutrition for your parrot, read about it here. ​ diet and nutrition common health problems Quakers are known to be susceptible to feather plucking. This could have medical causes, or it could be contributed by boredom, or lack of mental stimulation (handling, variation in routine, not enough/any toys). Annual (or more often if required) checkups are highly advised to ensure your parrot is in best health, as diagnosis and treatment of any disease or illness can be given earlier rather than later. ​ Diseases known to affect quakers include: ​ Fatty Liver Disease (Malnutrition induced disease from too high fat content in diet. Symptoms: obesity, overgrown beaks, enlarged livers, anaemia, jaundice, lipemia) Psittacosis (Parrot fever: very common disease caused by Chlamydophila psittaci bacteria. Symptoms: loose droppings, poor appetite, green urates, weight loss, lethargy) Giardia infection (Natural occurring protozoan in the intestine, which affects absorption of vitamins and minerals. Symptoms: malnutrition, lethargy, poor appetite, dry itchy skin) Polyomavirus (Virus that affects multiple organs of young, caged birds. Symptoms: vomiting, swollen abdomen, diarrhoea, breathing issues, weight loss, and possibly haemorrhages) ​ Here are some avian vets in South East Queensland whom we have good dealings with and feel confident enough to recommend. There are others in the southern corner, however we would not recommend them. ​ THE EXOTICS VET Dr. Vanessa Harkess BVSC (Hons I) MANZCVS (Avian Health) 22 Ashmole Road, Redcliffe QLD Phone: (07) 3060 2112 Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Closed Sunday and Monday https://theexoticsvet.com/ ​ BRISBANE BIRD VET Dr. Adrian Gallagher BVSC (Hons) MANZCVS (Avian Health) 248 Hamilton Rd, Chermside QLD Phone: (07) 3359 2233 Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday until 7pm, Weekends closed https://brisbanebirdvet.com.au/ ​ BRISBANE BIRD & EXOTICS VETERINARY SERVICE Dr. Deborah Monks BVSc (Hons), Cert Zoo Med (RCVS), ECZM Diplomate (Avian Medicine), FANZCVS (Avian Medicine and Surgery) 191 Cornwall Street, Greenslopes, QLD Phone: (07) 3217 3533 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6:00pm, Saturday 8:30am to 12:00pm, Closed Sundays & Public Holidays https://bbevs.com.au/ ​

the importance of self care here bathing here ​ page 77 conure handbook sunshine moulting here here nail clipping here moulting here

MAKE YOUR OWN DIY PELLET & TREAT MIX A great diet can bring out the very best in your bird, but in the plethora of products to choose from, how do we know what is really the best for our parrot? ​ We've curated an easy to make, low prep pellet and treat mix recipe you can buy at your local Woolworths or Coles and make in minutes. It is so versatile and easy to adapt to whatever you have available, don't stress if you don't have all the ingredients below, just improvise! Add other things in, leave some things out, it's really up to you. You can always make it a little bit different every time! ​ You will need: 4kg of mixed pellets: Vetafarm Nutriblend Mini , Vetafarm Maintenance , Vetafarm South American , Tropican Lifetime , Zupreem Fruitblend Small 120g Slivered Almonds 300g Natural Pepitas 200g Coconut Flakes 500g Natural Sunflower Kernels 300g Banana Chips 200g Dried Diced Apricots 200g Hemp Seeds 200g Cashew Pieces 1kg Mixed Fruit Pieces 300g Pine Nuts ​ Mix together in a large bowl. Will yield approximately 7.5kg of mixed pellets. Store in airtight container in cool, dry place. At Maranatha Aviaries, we wean our babies onto this mix, and it also forms the basis of our pet birds' diet as well. It is best suited for indoor birds, in an outdoor cage or aviary you would need to only supply what each cage needs daily, as the fruit and nut components tend to spoil quickly and attract ants. ​ Depending on the size and quantity of birds, you can provide 2 tablespoons daily and increase per bird. ​ While this mix is great for exposing your bird to a variety of different textures, tastes and nutrients, it shouldn't comprise of the entire diet. To read more about why balanced nutrition is so important for your bird, read here.