Quakers

[loxo]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if someone could suggest to me what I might expect to pay for a breeding pair of Blue Quakers?

Any other info about these guys would be great as well.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[avinet]

Price is pretty variable - depends in part on where you live. On Petlink.com.au there are pairs ranging from $200 to $450 from a quick look. Here in SE Qld I would expect $350 to $400 for a good pair.

Actually my strong preference is to use a blue paired with a green split blue rather than a pair where both are blue. I have seen some pretty poor quality small birds come out of blue parents, and using a good sized green split blue for one of the pair (doesn't matter which sex is the split or the blue) you will get better quality stronger babies.

The result would be 50% blue and 50% green split blue if you go with my suggestion. The upside is that you are likely to get better quality birds.

Whichever way you go, always choose the strongest best pair you can find - go for quality and not price. Paying a $100 more for better quality birds will repay in buckets over the breeding life of a pair with more and better babies. Go and see the birds in the flesh - and don't be afraid to say no if they don't look good enough. Buying sight unseen can work out OK but there are plenty of dodgy breeders in the bird world unfortunately.

cheers,

Mike

[loxo]

Thanks very much for that Mike, appreciate the advice. I found a pair on Petlink close to where I live for $200 and they seemed pretty cheap to me but you have probably explained why. I might still go and have a look at them over the weekend but I think I may stick with my original plan and source some GCC mutations instead.

Having a spare aviary laying around is dangerous

Thanks again.

Brett

[flossy]

Hi Brett.....

I'm with Mike. The blue with the split blue gives much bigger birds. We have been breeding quakers for some time now and the difference is incredible. When we first started we were all for the blues.....but seeing the difference in the size and quality of the chicks says it all.

In my opinion the greens are just as nice as the blues anyway.....and they all make gorgeous pets. $200 is super cheap for a pair - especially blues - which always seem to fetch bigger dollars.

Quakers are gorgeous and are becoming more popular as more people learn exactly how intelligent they are!! Pocket rockets in my opinion!

I've got eggs with all my pairs now and can't wait to see the babies - there is NOTHING cuter than the baby quaker dance ----- gets me everytime -------I NEVER get sick of feeding and interacting with baby quakers.......goodluck

[loxo]

Thank for that flossy. What's your experience with them in regard to noise? I've read various things from them being not too bad to downright loud. I guess like everything it probably varies? We have quite large flocks of rainbow lorries that take up residence in the backyard and in neighbouring houses every day and they can make a hell of a racket. Surely a pair of Quackers couldn't outnoise 30 or more rainbows?

Brett

[avinet]

Oct 15, 2011 6:04:22 GMT 10 flossy said:

I've got eggs with all my pairs now and can't wait to see the babies - there is NOTHING cuter than the baby quaker dance ----- gets me everytime -------I NEVER get sick of feeding and interacting with baby quakers.......goodluck

You've got that one right Flossy - Quaker babies are the cutest - I always loved feeding them. Quaker is a good name for them - the babies literally quake when they get excited. And when you get one that doesn't want to eat they have the most stubborn expression you could imagine in a bird. Having Quaker babies to feed each summer is one of the things I miss most with not having the shop.

And a cute quaker photo to finish,

cheers,

Mike

[avinet]

They are quite variable for noise - some can be load, and would give the wild Rainbows a run for their money but others are quiet.

In general a single bird is pretty good while a pair can be noisy - they always feel they have to join in if one is being noisy, and a flock can be pretty hard to take. I used to know a breeder who specialized in them - had a bank of 40 odd flights just of Quakers, and it was cotton wool in the ears territory when a stranger appeared.

cheers,

Mike

[avinet]

Oct 15, 2011 6:04:22 GMT 10 flossy said:

I'm with Mike. The blue with the split blue gives much bigger birds. We have been breeding quakers for some time now and the difference is incredible. When we first started we were all for the blues.....but seeing the difference in the size and quality of the chicks says it all.

/quote]

It all arises from the origin of the blues in Australia - 6 blues were smuggled in originally, in the days before sexing, and it turned out only 2 were males. In addition the first breeders went for the quick dollar and inbred blue to blue - resulting in a rapid decline in quality. Eventually a good breeder got hold of them and started out crossing to big normals to get some size back into them, but the effects of that initial bad breeding are still around.

Same happened with the first White-face Cockatiels to arrive - although these were legally imported during a brief window of importation in the very early 1990's. There was too much inbreeding early on to maximise profit and the early White-faces were often small poor quality birds.

It seems to be a problem when breeding recessive mutations, and regular out crossing to normal birds is necessary to ensure quality is kept.

cheers,

Mike

[mumto4birdies]

Mike, that baby photo is georgeous. Arent they cute little tackers? Dont you just wanna squish em (not literally, just the biggest little hug) Just reinforced why I have qwanted a wuaker for a while, how could you not love em?