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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 12:17:09 GMT 10
Post by mgaggie on Apr 3, 2011 12:17:09 GMT 10
Hi everyone, I found this site the other day. I live in Victoria near Marysville, Buxton and Narbethong. I have a Quaker called Sunny Bird, we are both learning lots together, as I've only had budgies when I was a teenager. I got Sunny from a co-worker/friend who breeds birds and also is a wildlife rescuer. I'll admit I didn't quite realise how much character Sunny had at first! Anyway thats me and Sunny in a nutshell, and I hope I won't bombard the boards with too many questions, but I'm a bit of an information junkie
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 12:32:55 GMT 10
Post by silvercloud on Apr 3, 2011 12:32:55 GMT 10
Hi and welcome to you and Sunny. I've never kept quakers as we aren't allowed them in WA but I have heard so much about them, I wish we could.
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 16:10:24 GMT 10
Post by flossy on Apr 3, 2011 16:10:24 GMT 10
Welcome to the Forum. I breed and handraise Quakers (amongst others....lol) and they are an allround awesome bird! I also have 2 pet Quakers and they are just the life of the party....Been through a little bit of turmoil with poor little Toddles, but wow....they are amazing! Toddles can sing, dance, play peekaboo...Quacks, grunts....asks all sorts of questions....laughs, plays games.....so intelligent! and so much fun..... My other little guy Angus (seems to be a common name at the moment!!)....is just too cute. Only a baby, but wow,what a personality already! He is yelling out "oi" already and then laughs.... Highly recommend them to anyone and everyone! Amazing little parrots with so much love to give. Enjoy your little friend Sunny and keep us posted with his antics..... Ann-Maree
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 16:12:44 GMT 10
Post by flossy on Apr 3, 2011 16:12:44 GMT 10
ps. I had Angus named months before he was hatched....just wanted to clarify I'm not copying anyone ....... I have a list of prospective names and as he was such a gorgeous little bubby, I thought...YOU ROCK! so Angus it was.....lol
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 17:14:32 GMT 10
Post by mgaggie on Apr 3, 2011 17:14:32 GMT 10
thanks silver and flossy. I read about poor Toodles, I'm amazed and impressed at how well Toodles has come since the injury.
I chose the name Sunny/sunni as its a good multi sex name. Sunny says a form of Hello, I don't how old he/she is I forgot to ask my friend. Loves to carry things around and destroy them if possible, one favourite toy at the moment is an Ikea bag clip.
I love the name Angus. Makes me think of MacGuyver
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Post by carlsandclan on Apr 3, 2011 18:11:46 GMT 10
Quakers are awesome - big personality in little packages! We have a blue girl named Sonic. As in the hedgehog. LOL
Everyone here is so helpful. My first foray into parrots (apart from budgies) was a galah, and everyone helped heaps!
Look forward to hearing lots about your Sunny!
Carley
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 21:04:15 GMT 10
Post by mgaggie on Apr 3, 2011 21:04:15 GMT 10
Thanks Carley. Very apt name for your Quaker, Sonic!
Sunny is green. I had him/her out of the cage earlier, will come out onto my hand without too much trouble and while he/she climbed all over me I noticed he/she smelled a bit like cow poo. I did give Sunny a shower with a spray bottle the other day and have changed the litter in the bottom of the cage. I've never noticed this smell before.
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Post by carlsandclan on Apr 3, 2011 21:28:21 GMT 10
Yikes! That's not a good smell! Sonic smells like citrus. By litter, what are you using? I personally just use the grate at the bottom (minus the tray, because the birds are out under the verandah) and I find it much cleaner. Newspaper works too, as long as it's changed every day. I've also found that quakers love to make soup in their water bowl - more than my galah, rainbow, cockatiel and budgies combined! And they WILL bathe in it! Ewwwwww! Offer Sunny a bowl of water in the bottom of the cage for a bath. Sonic LOVES to splash around! They seem to be more bath birds than shower birds. I'd get rid of the litter, too. It could harbor all sorts of nasties. Carls
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 21:34:10 GMT 10
Post by avinet on Apr 3, 2011 21:34:10 GMT 10
Sunny is green. I had him/her out of the cage earlier, will come out onto my hand without too much trouble and while he/she climbed all over me I noticed he/she smelled a bit like cow poo. I did give Sunny a shower with a spray bottle the other day and have changed the litter in the bottom of the cage. I've never noticed this smell before. I have to agree with Carls - litter on the bottom of the cage doesn't sound good - potentially all sort of problems if it isn't changed daily. I have been using newspaper in my cages for 20 years, without a grill and changed daily,without problems. My oldest cockatiel is now almost 20 and has lived all her life with newspaper as substrate. cheers, Mike
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 21:41:03 GMT 10
Post by mgaggie on Apr 3, 2011 21:41:03 GMT 10
I use Oz-pet litter its biodegradable wood fibre. Sunny enjoys waddling around on the bottom of the cage. I did have a grate for the cage, but its long gone as this cage I've had for about 10 years (when I last had budgies). I have a feeling that I should of changed the litter much sooner than I did as when I changed it today I was suprised at how much poop there was. Yep Sunny likes to make a soup in its water too. I find food, toys, litter and newspaper (when I used that as a lining) in the water cup. I change it at least 2 twice a day. I will try a bowl of water in the bottom of the cage in the next couple of days. Thanks Carley
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 21:57:45 GMT 10
Post by avinet on Apr 3, 2011 21:57:45 GMT 10
I use Oz-pet litter its biodegradable wood fibre. Sunny enjoys waddling around on the bottom of the cage. I did have a grate for the cage, but its long gone as this cage I've had for about 10 years (when I last had budgies). I have a feeling that I should of changed the litter much sooner than I did as when I changed it today I was suprised at how much poop there was. That litter gets wet and starts to develop potentially harmful fungus such as aspergillosis, and the dropping that work down into it after a day or two start to develop a healthy bacterial population that again can be a source of bad bacteria to infect the bird. cheers, Mike
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 22:03:58 GMT 10
Post by mgaggie on Apr 3, 2011 22:03:58 GMT 10
That litter gets wet and starts to develop potentially harmful fungus such as aspergillosis, and the dropping that work down into it after a day or two start to develop a healthy bacterial population that again can be a source of bad bacteria to infect the bird. cheers, Mike Thanks Mike. I got the litter because I was told that newspaper is potentially harmful due to the inks used. Why does life have to be so confusing?!
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Post by carlsandclan on Apr 3, 2011 22:29:07 GMT 10
There WAS a time that newspaper ink was bad - but now it's vegetable based. Just use the non-glossy stuff.
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Newbie
Apr 3, 2011 22:31:38 GMT 10
Post by avinet on Apr 3, 2011 22:31:38 GMT 10
No worries with normal newsprint - just avoid glossy magazines and junk mail with glossy inks.
cheers,
Mike
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Post by twr on Apr 4, 2011 0:35:03 GMT 10
Hi and welcome to the forum. I don't have a Quaker, but from all I've heard, they great little birds as a pet.
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Newbie
Apr 4, 2011 12:27:59 GMT 10
Post by silvercloud on Apr 4, 2011 12:27:59 GMT 10
Quakers are another bird us West Aussies aren't allowed to have. And another I would dearly love.
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Newbie
Apr 4, 2011 16:43:03 GMT 10
Post by mgaggie on Apr 4, 2011 16:43:03 GMT 10
Thanks everyone for the welcome and the advice about the litter, much appreciated.
I had no idea that West Aussies aren't allowed Quakers, such a shame!
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Newbie
Apr 5, 2011 10:53:45 GMT 10
Post by anzac on Apr 5, 2011 10:53:45 GMT 10
There WAS a time that newspaper ink was bad - but now it's vegetable based. Just use the non-glossy stuff. I was also concerned about newspaper as I keep it in my rats cages for nesting. So I rang up "the West Australian" and they told me that all newspapers are printed with soy ink as compared to the old days when it was petroleum based. As the print room told me, not only is it safer for animals it was safer for the workers as well
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Newbie
Apr 5, 2011 14:14:52 GMT 10
Post by mgaggie on Apr 5, 2011 14:14:52 GMT 10
Thanks anzac, thats good to know! I'm pleased to report that the poopy smell has gone. I suspect it was due to the fact I didn't clean the bottom of the cage properly. Its now all clean with newspaper on the bottom. I now have a 5kg bag of useless litter sitting around
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Newbie
Apr 5, 2011 15:08:52 GMT 10
Post by anzac on Apr 5, 2011 15:08:52 GMT 10
darn pity you're not near me I'd take it for the rats, I use it in their litter tray. Not that they many off them poop in it anyway they just like to get in the tray and fling it around
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