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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

29.0. "Info on Monk Parrots" by CSC32::K_WORKMAN (No Dukes!) Mon Oct 24 1988 15:57

    Does any one have any knowledge on the MONK (QUAKER) Parrots, sometimes
    referred to as parakeets.  A breeder has two hand-fed babies and
    they seem to be really neet birds.  They are a little bigger than
    cockatiels.  We are seriously thinking about adding these two babies
    to our collection.
    
    I have several books on bird species but none really talk about
    the Monk, not even by its scientific name.  I know that in Illinois
    these birds are wild and are in danger by man because of the
    potential damage they can do to crops etc..  They apparantly have
    escaped capativity in the U.S. and are increasing in population.
    
    I really just want to know about them, I think my mind is made up
    about getting the little guys but I really am finding it hard to
    get any information on these types of birds either positive or
    negative.  About the only thing I have read is that they aren't
    real popular birds because they don't have the fantastic coloring
    like a conure or larger parrot.  They are Green, with a grey front
    and blue tipped wings.
    
    As a side question, should we keep them in the same cage or for
    the sake of keeping them tamer to humans, should they be seperated?
    
    Your information is always helpfull!  Thanks-
    
    Karen from Colorado
    
    
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29.1Quincy's a Quaker!SQUEKE::HUTCHINSFeathered Obsessions AviaryWed Oct 26 1988 15:3817
    Hi Karen!  I have a Quaker (Monk) named Quincy!  She's the neatest
    little creep!  We just love her.  She is colorful tho, she has some
    red feathers in her wings and yellow under her tail.  Check the
    laws in your state.  These birds are not legal in too many states
    west of the Mighty Mississip'!  They are illegal in Massachusettes
    and NY, but, being in NH, I'm keeping mine!
    
    Quakers are noisy birds, and wonderful pets when tame!  They are
    parrakeets though not parrots.  Quincy lives in the cockatiel flight
    and fortunately has learned to "talk" like the cockatiels rather
    than the Quakers!  We clip Q's wings and put her on a leash and
    take her outside with us.  She's a real show stopper!
    
    Go for it Karen!  BTW:  feed them just like you feed cockatiels.
    
    jean
    
29.2Well Karen...FREKE::HUTCHINSFeathered Obsessions AviaryFri Oct 28 1988 20:507
    Well Karen... are you going to get the quakers?  There are some
    people that call these birds gray troated conures.  They are not.
    They are just a very large parrakeet.  Their beaks and eyes are
    to big to be conures.
    
    J
    
29.3Can't resist them babies!COORS::K_WORKMANNo Dukes!Fri Oct 28 1988 21:1118
    Hi Jean....
    
    How could I not take them home!  They are really cute, but they
    won't be ready for me to actually bring home for another week because
    they are still being hand fed.  The breeder said that they are down
    to one hand-feeding a day and are eating the seed really well but
    he said he likes to gradually cut the hand feedings back to help 
    wean (spelling?) them a little better.  
    
    In the meantime we are still trying to find them their pleasure
    pallace.  I still don't know if I should keep them in one big
    cage or two somewhat smaller cages.  We are going to a place in
    Denver to look at some cages for them this weekend.  
    
    Thanks for your interest!  This makes 24 for me, what do you have,
    1000+ + +?
    
    Karen_who_can't_stop_buying_these_feathered_cuties_!
29.4Equally Obsessed with them babies!FREKE::HUTCHINSFeathered Obsessions AviaryMon Oct 31 1988 12:0123
    Good Morning Karen!
    
    Since these little fethered cuties are hand fed, keep them in one
    large palace and handle them often!  We keep Quincey in a large
    flight with other birds, and shortly after we have her out, she
    calms down again, but if we kept her out all the time, she'd be
    like a dog!  Congratulations!!!
    
    Nope, we are down to about 75 now!  Just sold 60, and added a few
    over the past two weekends!  What can I say, I'm obsessed!!!
    
    And....the state came and relicensed me last Tuesday, a local news
    paper interviewed us and took loads of pictures yesterday too! 
    We are going to be a feature story in next Sunday's lifestyle
    section!!! I think in fairness to the public and my aviary, we should
    have pictures of the faces of the reporter and photographer...it
    was priceless when they came in, and the birds started screaming
    and flying and landing in THIER hair!
    
    What a weekend!
    
    J  8^}
    
29.5Their home!CSC32::K_WORKMANNo Dukes!Mon Oct 31 1988 12:4918
    Well I just couldn't wait to take them home, so this weekend we
    went ahead and took them a week early.  I will continue their
    hand-feeding myself.  I can't believe how big they allready are.
    I gave them their first hand-feeding last night.  We got more on
    their outsides than their insides!  They are so tame but boy are
    they LOUD when it comes to feeding!  Phew...  I would really recommend
    these birds to people who want something about the size of a cockatiel
    but really like the parrotty look.  They remind me alot of the GREY
    CHEEK parokeet but about twice the size.  Also if these little guys
    can survive in mid-winter in chicago in the open, then these are
    very hearty little creatures.
    
    Your next bird... Try a Quaker! (or two) (or three.....)
    
    Karen
    
    Ps.  Jean, will you send me a copy of the article?  I would love
    one!  I will send you my company mailing address.  Thanks again!
29.6Yet another project??ZEKE::HUTCHINSFeathered Obsessions AviaryMon Oct 31 1988 15:099
    Now, I really have a project cut out for me....find the story! 
    I will Karen!  And my Quincy is just about the size of the Red Lored
    Amazon...She is huge!  It's quite comical whe people meet her for
    the first time too!  They just *know* she's a parrot...then I go
    thru the explaination of the tail....it's long and tapered, and
    I think Quakers are one of *the* largest parrakeets!
    
    j
    
29.7WITNES::MACONEIt's the story of a man named BradyTue Nov 01 1988 11:126
    Jean,
    
    What paper will the article be in?
    
    	-Nancy
    
29.8When I'm Exited, I loose my mind!FREKE::HUTCHINSFeathered Obsessions AviaryTue Nov 01 1988 15:3710
    Re: .7
    
    The Nashua Telegraph!  I'm so excited, I run to the bathroom a lot!
    ;^)!!!  Although, before I go getting too excited...I asked three
    papers to cover the New Hampshire bird show, and they sent reporters
    and photographers....and only printed 1 picture and 3 paragraphs...
    I'm hoping for the best!  If it's a bomb, I'll flat disappear!
    
    J
    
29.9a few questionsFSTTOO::WIMMERFri Dec 16 1988 15:2112
    I saw a couple of hand-fed baby Quakers yesterday and I'm really
    hooked!  What great birds! A couple of questions.....
    
    I know it is illegal to sell them in Mass, but is it illegal to
    keep them?  Can I get away with it?
    
    What is the going price?  The ones I saw were $299.  Is that about
    right?
    
    How big a cage do they need?  Is it allright to keep just one?
    
    
29.10I love Quakies!CSC32::K_WORKMANHand picked by Juan ValdezFri Dec 16 1988 20:1516
    Was that 299.00 a piece?? That is alot more than I paid for my hand
    fed babies.  From what I understand, it is illegal to keep them
    also.  The threat is of them getting loose and because they are
    hearty birds and good breeders they are afraid that crop damage
    and overpopulation will arise.  You may want to check because this law
    is different from state to state.  In Colorado they are totally
    legal.
    
    As far as the price, If I saw them I would probably pay that price
    even if it was for each one.  Like I said in an early note, the
    way people price birds is weirod...  As far as I'm concerned they
    are all priceless!
    
    I bought two brothers, at least the vet thinks they are both boys.
    I think they really enjoy having each other since I can't be there
    all the time to play with them.
29.11Oooch...watch it Diane! $299 ???SMURF::HORNERTue Jan 03 1989 19:0425
    Hi Diane, I hope I'm not too late!!!
    
    The average price for a quaker is about the same as a parent raised
    peach faced love bird...no more than $60 each!  They are great litte
    birds, but are very social.  Mine lives with the cockatiels and
    she thinks she is one of them.  If I take her out of the flight,
    she gets lonely, refuses to eat and goes light on me!  If the quakers
    you looked at were with other birds, then you may want to get a
    pair...They are known to talk, and are one of the easiest birds
    I've every trained!   We LOVE our quaker!!
    
    Let me warn you though...if you live in an apartment, this may not
    be the  bird for you.  they make a heck of a racket!  I am begining
    to weaken.  My husband wants me to breed quakers...I've said if
    we had more than one quaker, I'd move out!  but, it may be nice
    if some of the neighbors moved out instead  8^)...Quakers make great
    outdoor aviary pets too!  They are VERY HEARTY. House them as you
    would a cockatiel....and feed them the same way!  Aside from adjusting
    from the screeching...quakers are a good choice in pets!
    
    My vet called me over the weekend...he wanted my opinion on
    quakers...He lives in Mass, and they are not legal there....so he
    said he'd come visit Quincy, (my Quaker) and pretend she was his!
    
    Jean
29.12in time!FSTVAX::WIMMERTue Jan 03 1989 22:3713
    Nope, you're not too late!!  The ones I looked at were hand fed
    babies, but that still seems to be a pretty substantial price
    difference.  
    
    Should I assume you are trying to tell me nicely it's not a good
    idea since I live in Mass??  How about if I'm only 4 miles from
    the New Hanpshire border?? (I know, I know).  I guess I really fell
    in love with them since I can't afford a bigger parrot right now.
    
    Just in case......got any idea where I could find a hand fed one
    at a more reasonable price???