A Guide To Quaker Parrot Training

Are you curious to know the best way to train your quaker parrot? They are tiny, intelligent pets and are perfect companions for humans. However, it is even better if you know how to teach them a few commands and a few words to get the best out of the time you spend with them.

This article describes the best way to train a quaker parrot and all you need to know to succeed in this task. 

Are Quaker Parrots Hard To Train?

In general, quaker parrots are not hard to train. You can tame and teach them easily with patience, work, and the proper training methods. In addition, those birds can form a strong bond with their owners and are quick learners.

Suppose you manage to bond with your quaker initially. In that case, you are set to make a long-lasting relationship and have more chances for your pet to follow your commands and be willing to be trained by you. 

You could consider a quaker comparable to a baby in terms of intelligence. They are the best choice for a person who has never trained a parrot before. Although Quakers can be aggressive and noisy at times, you can teach them some boundaries with proper training. 

You can expect a quaker to cuddle with you and stimulate your interest, make you laugh, and entertain you once you manage to tame it and train it. 

Qualities, Abilities, And Personality Of A Quaker Parrot 

Before starting the training of your quaker parrot, it is always a good idea to know more about their personality and habits. Understanding their general behavior can help you reach faster and better results.

Quaker parrots are social birds and require the company of other birds or the constant attention of their humans. You can expect the quaker parrot to be:

• Cuddly
• Intelligent
• Funny
• Entertaining
• Playful
• Affectionate
• Nice with kids
• Great talkers
• Territorial at times
• Like to chew a lot
• Noisy at times
• Curious
• They are fast learners
• Energetic

When you adopt a quaker parrot and bring it home for the first time, you can’t expect your bird to trust you immediately. It is similar to adopting a cat or a dog. There is always an initial stage where you and your pet need to get to know and trust each other.

With a new quaker parrot, it is essential to start the training as fast as possible after the initial period spent getting to know each other. During this time, your bird will learn that you do not have bad intentions but want to be his new friend. 

At this point, you can begin the training. 

There are other peculiarities about this bird. For example, the name “Quaker” comes from the fact that these birds have the habit of shaking, quaking, and bobbing. It is part of their nature, and it is pretty exclusive to this type of bird. 

Quaker parrots are a little clumsy, entertaining, cuddly, and lively. They will require your undivided attention for at least a few minutes every day. Since they are very social, they like attention, and once bonded, they will appreciate daily training sessions and play. 

How To Train Quaker Parrots In Simple Steps

You can start training your parrot following straightforward steps that anyone can do without any previous knowledge in training birds. Once your quaker parrot arrives home, the first thing to do is make him comfortable and provide everything he needs. 

It is essential to give him some space to get accustomed to the new environment. 

Here are the proper steps to train a quaker parrot:

1. Get Your New Quaker Settled In 

It is essential to refrain from getting all over your new friend once he has arrived home. Quakers can feel threatened and see you as a predator instead of a friend. It is vital to start on the right foot to make future training possible and successful. 

In general, you can make your bird comfortable by providing the following things:

• A correctly and adequately sized cage
• Cage cover if necessary
• Fortified pellets 
• Seeds 
• Several perches and toys 
• Food and water dishes 
• Vitamin supplements, if necessary
• Treats
• A small container filled with water for your bird to bathe 

The first few days, make sure he eats, drinks, plays, and feels good around you. 

In the beginning, quaker birds can become very territorial and not allow you or other family members to get into their space. You could resolve this issue by providing different cages and toys. For example, you can set him up for play in one cage and in another one to sleep and eat. 

Changing toys and environment can prevent a quaker from becoming excessively territorial, but let him settle before starting. 

2. Teach Your Quaker To Hop On Your Finger 

Now that trust is gained, one of the first things to teach your parrot is to be comfortable with your hands or finger. Birds like to hope from one perch to another could instinctively get on your finger if they trust you.

To train him to jump on your finger, you should extend it toward your quaker and say the command you wich him to learn, for example, “come” or “jump,” and gently nudge him to step on your finger or hand. 

After a while, your bird will understand that he should hop on your finger when you say that word. Once he does it, you can reword your bird with a treat. However, don’t be surprised if, in the beginning, he bites you. 

It is possible that your quaker parrot doesn’t understand what you want from him and can react by biting you. 

Therefore, when you start the training, you should show no hesitations when you approach your bird to move him from one perch to another or train him. If you hesitate, your pet will also doubt what you want from him. 

3. Use A Training Place For All The Training Sessions

You can teach your quaker parrot many things. When you do it, you should train him on neutral ground, not in an environment or place that he considers ” his territory.” For example, you can use treats to invite your bird to move out of his comfort zone.

Making sure your quaker will not get too territorial and aggressive will only help during the training. 

In addition, when you train them, you should not do it with other people around, especially if your parrot is affectionate to other family members. This precaution is due to their possessive nature and will distract them during the training session. 

4. Training Your Quaker Parrot To Talk

The most entertaining and funny training sessions are those done to teach parrots to talk. You can teach them to say words, sing, or even express elaborated sentences. The most straightforward way to introduce a quaker parrot to speak is to repeat words and sentences in front of them until they repeat them.

Parrots can learn how to vocalize sounds by hearing them. In addition, they can repeat what they hear. They can even understand to associate a word with a particular object or event. 

You can start training your quaker parrot to say simple words, for example, “hello,” “goodby,” “love you,” and similar. Here is are some simple words you can teach your parrot:

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Goodmorning
• Thank you
• Up
• Down
• Left
• Right
• Come
• Go
• Sleep
• Play
• Fly
• Door
• Phone
• Table
• Window

The key to the training is to repeat those words until your quaker parrot gets them and repeats them. Then, you can teach your bird to associate the words with an object by showing the thing each time you repeat the word. 

It is also better to teach one word at a time. In summary, do the following when training your parrot to take:

1. Say one word at a time clearly
2. Be patient and repeat it as much as necessary
3. Use singing tunes rhymes
4. Use treats to reward them once they have learned or repeated a word.

Parrots like to hear rhymes and can pick up on them if you are singing them or having music playing. If you like talking to your pets, you can hold a conversation with your Quaker parrot. Your bird can pick up words here and there and repeat them. 

Using positive training methods with rewards is essential. Treats are necessary for training. They signal your pet that they are doing something rights and make them feel that they can do it again. Treats you can use for training are sunflower seeds, figs, fruit treats, and pineapple bird treats. 

Although you could play music or tape for your bird to learn, it is not practical training. These birds like to interact with you because they are very social. Therefore, spending a little time with them during a short training session is more effective than a recording. 

5. Stick Training

It is not an essential part of training your quaker parrot, but it can save its life. For example, if your bird gets stuck somewhere, you could rescue him by getting him to step on a long stick so you can retrieve him. 

The training is similar to the one done to make your parrot jump on your finger or hand. Essentially, the bird will have to get used to hopping on the stick and letting you carry them. Then, you can teach them a specific command, and when you say, your parrot should know to jump on the stick. 

6. Potty Train Your Quaker Parrot 

It is possible to teach your bird to go to the bathroom in a specific spot. It requires a little bit of observation and patience, but you can do it. The task requires you to learn when your bird is going to the toilet and teach him where he should go. 

It would be best if you learned to read your parrot’s body language and figure out when he needs to go to the bathroom. At this point, you can move your bird to the spot he should use as a toilet and teach him a word that will signify that he has to poop. 

With time and repetition, your parrot will learn the right place to go potty. In the beginning, you have to do a lot of observation work and anticipate your pet’s needs to go to the bathroom. From there, it is just a matter of repetition. 

Don’t forget to reward and praise your parrot each time he does the right thing. Don’t worry if it takes longer than you expected. In the end, your quaker parrot will learn. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Train A Quaker Parrot Not To Bite?

You can train a quaker parrot not to bite you by building trust between you and your pet. In addition, if the bird bites you, you can gently blow air on your bird to distract them. You can also move your hand a little if they are standing on it to get your pet to stop biting. However, the best way to prevent biting is to build trust first. 

How To Tame An Aggressive Parrot?

If a parrot is aggressive, it is necessary to resolve the reason behind the aggression. Typically, they become aggressive if they feel someone is entering their territory. If this is the reason, you should spend time with your quaker parrot and get them used to different environments. 

It is also possible that your bird lacks food and water or his cage is not big enough. In this case, making your bird comfortable can resolve aggressive issues. 

How To Gain A Quaker Parrot’s Trust?

To gain a quaker parrot’s trust, you should build a friendly relationship without touching your bird too much and making him feel threatened. You could start by spending time near the cage so they become used to your presence. Then you could give him some treats and talk softly until he knows you are a friend. 

You could also adopt a second bird to increase his socializing skills and can have a friend to play with.

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