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I'm not sure who is out there counting beaks to compile bird statistics. When I hear that Quaker parakeets are only second in popularity after Budgies and Cockatiels as companion birds, I have no doubt that they are counting correctly. In my experience, the desire for young Quakers and knowledge about the species continues to rise year after year. The Monk Parakeet, Gray Breasted Parakeet, Green Parakeet, and Montevidieo Parakeet are all names for the Quaker Parakeet. They are classified into four subspecies under the genus Myiopsitta. M. Monachus Monachus is the most well-known subspecies and the source of the name Monk. This bird is around eleven to twelve inches long, somewhat bigger than a cockatiel. The top half of the typical green is nearly all green, with medium green on the back and brighter green on the wings and tail. The lores, cheeks, and neck are grey, and the breast feathers are light grey with white tips, with a grayish olive green lower belly. The feather edges on the breast are particularly clear, lending a scaled aspect to the gray region. The thigh and underparts have a golden suffusion. The flying feathers are blue with a black border. The underwing coverts are light gray to bluish gray in color. The tail is long and thin, green with a hint of blue. The bill is horny, and the eyes are brown. The greens of immature birds are less vibrant, and the flights are more green than blue. These ordinary Quakers are not as showy or eye-catching as some of the exotics, but they are fat, chunky, and simply "cute" little birds. With a little imagination, these gray bibs resemble the old-fashioned gowns of the Quaker women. The mutations' hues are particularly stunning. The blue, with which I have much familiarity, is a gentle Wedgwood blue with silver cheeks, neck, and upper breast. The bill is made of horn. The top of the head and the lower rump are a vibrant turquoise blue. This mutant is already well established in aviculture, although it is still not widely accessible and much more costly than standard greens. The Lutino mutant is a pure yellow with a grayish white forehead and underparts, gray flight feathers, and a blue green underside of the tail. This mutation, like the cinnamons, pieds, and albinos, is very unusual and difficult to locate in this nation. The only psiticines that make their own nests are Quakers. Some love birds make their nests out of twigs, but only the Quakers construct a complex edifice from the ground up. In the wild, they normally make enormous nests at the tops of tall trees' topmost branches. Each couple of birds constructs their own independent room inside the main nest construction, much like an apartment building. Each chamber has three distinct areas: an inner living room, an outer living room, and an outer living room. A bedroom and a front porch are included. The birds lay their eggs and incubate them in the rear bedroom, then relocate the chicks into the living room as they develop in size. Then more eggs are deposited in the bedroom portion. The parent birds spend the most of their leisure time on the front porch, protecting their eggs and young. The adults repeatedly rebuild and expand the nests until they become enormous. Some have been discovered in their natural environment that weigh a quarter of a ton. We lay a little wire ledge in front of the nest box door for our breeding Quakers to utilize as a foundation for their nests. They will labor tirelessly until the nest covers the wire shelf and the whole front of a cockatiel size nest box if given a plentiful supply of twigs, vines, shredded paper, grasses, and just about any safe construction material. For weeks, my Mother's mating pair of blue Quakers has kept her delighted with their shenanigans about where to construct their nest. One of the couple (Mr or Mrs - no way to identify male from female without inspecting their bands) apparently couldn't agree. One would bring a twig up to the little shelf, and the other would instantly, with much chattering, hurl it down to the bottom of the cage. At times, the debate grew extremely intense. An irate, obstinate Quaker was often pulling at both end of a twig. They ultimately reached an agreement by constructing from the ground up and over the little shelf. This has proven to be a monster endeavor, occupying a major portion of their cage and requiring a hefty quantity of twigs, palm fronds, and other construction supplies every morning. They are still ignoring the nestbox. My guess is that their nest will eventually encircle the whole front of the box, at which point they will opt to deposit their eggs inside. This has occurred previously to aviary birds. My breeding bird philosophy is to gratify any of their whims whenever feasible. The goal is to make them happy, whatever it takes. Several pet owners have told me that solitary, companion Quakers will make nests in numerous locations around the home. They make use of stolen pencils, teeth picks, shredded paper, and anything else they can obtain. Many solitary Quakers like weaving different materials between the bars of their cages, despite the fact that they are not really creating nests. Feral Quakers have lived in the same 100-foot-tall fir tree on Long Island Sound in Bridgeport, Connecticut, since 1978. Over the next fifteen years, this fir tree housed more than forty Quaker Parakeet nests and more than 150 Quakers. The dimensions of these nests varied from 34 inches long by 23 inches wide to nine feet long by five feet wide. Three nests had three different openings, while one nest had five. These were genuinely many residences. Although the fir tree in which the Quakers were nesting had weathered a century of gale force winds, it could not withstand forty Quaker nests and a passing funnel cloud. The old fir was removed and placed at a 45-degree angle against an adjacent tree. It was June, and the nests were teeming with nestlings. The typical clutch size was five to six nestlings, with one clutch containing twelve nestlings. Volunteers who care about birds saved 81 living chicks, but 71 perished in the catastrophe. The parent birds moved to different areas, and fresh nests appeared within days. If materials are available, Quakers can build houses in only a few days. The blueprint is still in their minds, even after generations of captives have been born. Quakers are very resilient birds. They endure snow and ice with just the protection of the trees in the harshest conditions. They perform well in open aviaries in even the coldest climes, needing simply cover from the wind and rain when necessary. Until recently, thousands of these birds were imported. Those that survived the flight and quarantine station were sold to the pet trade at extremely cheap costs. A standard green Quaker might be purchased for as low as $35.00. Prices are now much higher, but only closed banded, locally raised birds are available. Making a loving and dedicated companion out a hand fed, socialized baby is a very different circumstance than dealing with an adult bird found in the wild. The hand-fed infant recognizes a person as the most significant source of sustenance. It forms stronger ties with people than with other birds. I assume that the hand-fed, well-socialized baby bird grows up not realizing he is a bird and instead thinks of himself as a person. For the inexperienced breeder, Quaker parakeets are a good alternative. Because the visible variations between the sexes are so minor, surgical sexing or DNA sexing is nearly always required. They are sexually mature at around a year or a year and a half and will normally connect strongly with the partner offered to them - this is seldom an issue. They may typically be counted on to produce two clutches of four to eight babies during their second year. We employ breeding cages that are 24 inches wide by 24 inches high by 48 inches long, as well as standard cockatiel nest boxes. Once established, the birds produce often and are typically wonderful parents. When they are in huge numbers and are not busy constructing nests or caring for their young, they may be incredibly loud. The unique Quaker personality is the primary reason for their rapidly gaining appeal. They are fully dedicated and form tight bonds with their human owners. They are adorable tiny birds who are bright, curious, and naughty. Their antics are a regular source of amusement. One woman told me that her Quaker, Buddy, adores her spouse. Buddy will go inside his cage as soon as she enters the room, shutting the cage door behind him. Many owners claim that when their birds are informed it's time to sleep, they go inside their cages and roost on their normal sleeping perch. It is not uncommon for them to be toilet trained. Most Quakers begin to speak at the age of six months. I often have infants that plainly say "mm, good" and "Want more?" when being hand fed. They are the simplest of all the species to feed by hand. They have shovel-like beaks that they expand wide while standing on tiptoe hunting for food; they are voracious feeders. Many Quakers perform songs with several verses without error. Many people have large vocabularies and are constantly learning new words and phrases. They communicate eloquently and utilize their abilities effectively. I have one small Quaker. In my aviary, I have a hen set up for breeding. When I open the cage door for service, she whispers, "Be cautious now!" in the charming tiny voice of her previous owner. She then laughs, perfectly imitating my laugh. Pelletized food is the backbone of our Quaker diet, for both breeders and pets. Seeds are only offered as a special reward on rare occasions. We only provide fruit and vegetable supplements as a reward. Apples and grapes are favorite fruits, and they all like corn. Parents are provided whole wheat bread, boiled corn, and other soft meals on a regular basis to assist them in feeding their children. Quakers like playing with their toys. It's entertaining to see their response to a new toy. They will approach it considerably more quickly than the usual bird, after just a brief time of careful observation. Toys bore them faster than other birds, therefore they need to be changed often to keep their attention. They are insatiably inquisitive and will study every new item made accessible - and turn almost anything into a toy. They are vigorous chewers and may quickly dismantle even the most hard of objects, which must be kept in mind for their safety. Unfortunately, but true, nine or ten states have some type of rule governing Quakers. The rationale offered for this is because when these birds are released into the wild, they are so robust and prolific that they immediately reproduce into vast flocks. When they descend on orchards and farmlands, they are considered a threat to agricultural produce. These rules and regulations differ significantly from state to state and are constantly changing, not only in substance but also in how rigidly they are implemented. Last summer, for example, many pet owners and breeders in Ohio were fleeing their Quakers for fear of them being seized and destroyed. The Ohio Department of Agriculture ruled that these birds must either have both wings pinioned (surgical removal of the terminal region of the wing) or be neutered and sterilized. Failure to comply would result in the bird being confiscated and euthanized, as well as a substantial fine. This tragic circumstance prompted such a flood of emails and criticism that the judgements were reconsidered. The criterion for keeping your pet Quaker was changed from pinioned wings to clipped wings. This has not yet gone through the necessary legal procedures, but contacts in Ohio assure me that getting it on the books is just a matter of time. In Georgia, ownership is discouraged but not outright forbidden. It is illegal to bring Quakers into the state. Even a pet owner who previously lived in George is not permitted to return to the state with the same pet. Only Quakers with closed bands may be bred, purchased, or sold in Virginia. Quakers were fully prohibited in California and Wyoming at the time of the previous enquiry. According to reports, California even refuses to let the birds into the state at checkpoints along the borders. Quakers are classified as potentially hazardous in New Jersey, and permission to possess them are granted only if severe conditions are satisfied. When attempting to outline current rules in some other states, the scenario creates full uncertainty. If you want to relocate to another state or travel extensively with a pet Quaker, you should consult with the Fish and Game department of the state in question. State restrictions are not included in the information from the United States Fish and Wildlife regulations. Despite what we who love them see as unfair regulation in certain locations, these endearing little birds continue to capture the hearts of an increasing number of new owners. Never inquire about a pet Quaker unless you are prepared for a full recital replete with images. The care and pride shown by the owner of each unique and distinctive bird will astound you. These Quakers are very rare among birds.

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