How to Raise a Quaker Parrot

Quaker parrots (also known as Monk parakeets) are outgoing, social birds that require human interaction and mental stimulation. If you're raising a Quaker parrot, you'll need to provide an environment in which it feels safe and has ample opportunities for socialization and entertainment. You'll also need to teach it how to thrive as a pet.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage
  • Baby bird formula
  • Bird pellets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a safe environment for your bird. If your parrot is coming to your home from somewhere else, it may be nervous about making the transition to a new home. After your bird matures, it may feel comfortable spending most of its time around its human companions. When it's young, however, it may do better having a quiet spot all its own. If you have the space, you may want to set up a bird room.

    • 2

      Hand-feed your bird. Breeders often take baby Quakers from their parents when they're just a couple of weeks old, and hand-feed and wean them to promote socialization. You can purchase formula and syringes designed for hand-feeding baby birds. Stick with the same brand, and mix up a new batch each time you feed your bird. After feeding, gently remove any formula left in the bird's lower beak.

    • 3

      Wean your bird. There's no set time at which Quakers must be weaned. Some may be ready to transition to seeds, pellets, vegetables and other adult foods at 5 or 6 weeks. Some will want to continue with hand-feeding until they're a couple of months old, even when they've started eating some food on their own. Start by offering a few pellets or vegetables and then leaving pellets in the cage. Your Quaker will gradually start eating more on its own, while accepting less hand-feeding. During the transition, weigh your bird daily to ensure it's still getting enough food.

    • 4

      Socialize your bird early. Quaker parrots need human contact, and thrive in situations where they interact frequently with their human companions. They need to be socialized at a young age, and if they are hand-fed and socialized as babies, they usually grow up to be friendly and affectionate, according to PetEducation.com. Introduce your Quaker to people when it's still a baby, allowing it to interact with friends and family members for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

    • 5

      Teach your bird how to live in a household environment. A Quaker's natural parents teach it basic survival skills such as finding food. When you raise a baby Quaker, you take on this teaching role. You'll need to help it understand how to interact with its human companions, by teaching it things like how to "step up" onto your finger so you can remove it from its cage.