Quaker or Monk ParakeetSize: 11-13” in length. Medium size parrot with long tail.
Life Span: 30 years in captivity with proper care and diet. Origin: Temperate areas in South America. Understanding Quakers They are typically fast learners and gifted mimics, so quakers usually make very talkative avian companions. Despite being talkative, they are still relatively quiet when compared to other parrots. They are not considered a “one person” parrot, which makes them a good family bird. Quakers build nests in the wild that are akin to apartment blocks, with multi-room “apartments” built adjacent to those of other surrounding “tenants.” Quakers will take anything from eyeglasses to pens to paper scraps and stash them away in their cages, as part of their instinct to collect materials for their elaborate nests. A flock of quakers can be quite noisy! When kept singly they generally aren't a noisy bird but be sure to give them lots of toys to keep their smart curious brains busy. Toys that require them to search for prizes or require them to figure out how to get into for treats are the best. These curious birds will figure them out quickly. |
Personality and Behavior
Quaker Parrots are intelligent, comical and engaging birds. Their personality is quite charming and can provide great companionship. They are gregarious birds that like to play and often can be quite cuddly. Quaker parrots can develop to an intelligence level of a 3-5 year old child. Quakers often repeat words spoken with great emphasis such as expletives, after hearing the phrase only once. With that in mind, remember NEVER say anything in front of your parrot that you do not want repeated. Quakers are not sexually dimorphic so the only way to determine sex is through DNA testing. Care and Feeding Though the quaker is a medium-sized bird, it needs a large environment. They will suffer greatly from being confined to a small cage and will likely break their tail feathers. Provide your quaker with the largest housing you have room for and can afford. Make sure that the bar-spacing is appropriate for a bird of its size and that there’s a grating on the bottom of the cage. This playful bird will discover the weaknesses in its cage in no time, so be sure that the cage is of quality construction. As with most parrots, quakers thrive on a pellet base diet that is supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables. For the least amount of waste, choose the smallest pellet your bird will accept. Although many people do it, keeping your Quaker on a sunflower seed-based diet can result in a shortened lifespan and diseases that can cause a weakened state of the mouth, liver, and kidneys. |