Bird Cage And Food Recommendations for 2 Quaker Cagemates

Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Mitch Rezman

Looking for an appropriate birdcage to house 2 Quaker parrot cagemates

Hi Rose,

I think this 3159 Select would be a great cage from Prevue.

The 36-inch wide footprint gives the birds ample room for separation if needed.

It provides the best of both worlds having a dome top for interior height and a play area for time outside the cage.

As you can see it has ample seed skirts

We like to see at least 10 toys in the upper 1/3 of the cage.

Toys are like the leaves of a tree the birds would habitat in the wild.

They offer foraging opportunities & entertainment. One overlooked aspect of toys is the “feeling of security” they provide.

With a cage full of toys your birds can “hide” behind they’ll feel more secure much like you and I do when we pull the blinds down before retiring.

A grooming perch should be in every cage.

Grooming perches should be slightly oversized in diameter so the bird’s nails are always in contact with the abrasive surface.

The perches should be placed where the birds are active and will not be on them for extended periods like sleep.

Dual Top Door-in-Door Bird Cage Prevue Pet 3159

Perch placement near food dishes means lots of foot activity and allows the bird to wipe their beaks on it helping keep their beaks in optimal condition.

This would be an appropriate size grooming perch for a Quaker. The thickness would ensure better nail wear.

Booda soft rope perches are comfortable on a Quaker’s feet.

They are flexible and allow you to create tree-like navigation paths through both the inside and outside of the cage.

Optional, but non the less important you may want to consider a Lixit water bottle.

A very helpful tool to combat “poop soup.”

A 16 Oz Lixit GB Glass Water Bottle Set with a Medium Tip is fine for Quakers or even the Snapple Water Bottle Kit in Medium.

Ladders are not only fun but they provide “gateways” from cage doors to the floor and can act as “bridges” to furniture or a bird stand.

mitchr

New (solo) Quaker parrot bird cage question

I need your professional opinion.

I don’t have a lot of money to spend, but I want something that will make a Quaker happy.

I need a birdcage.

I am limited on space in my house, but I don’t want to put it in a cage that is too small.

I can get rid of the furniture.

I have seen some smaller bird cages that are built like it will house a gorilla.

I don’t need (nor do I want) one like that. They usually have very narrow doors.

I would like the one that is 23w x 19d x 30t like Ezra’s.

His is a scalloped top that opens up and has a very large door.

It is the thinner wire with a plastic bottom and slide-out tray.

What do you have along those lines? Thanks, I appreciate your help! 🙂

Cindy

Dear Cindy –

These are welded one-piece all-metal cages, they have drop-down landing doors that the birds like to sit on. They are made in the USA too.

Other suitable cages will be higher.

Hope this helps.

Thank you.

Catherine

This one looks like Ezra’s only his is like a regular birdcage, not one on steroids.

The HQ birdcage and stand (above) is a nice cage for the money. They are sturdy and will last a long, long time.

It would ship out of Florida direct to you.

The cage you have Ezra in now is not as heavy-duty, how big is it. Left to right?

A good Quaker cage should be NO smaller than 20 x 20 and that is really small still.

Catherine

How many readers of this blog are familiar with Chicago’s feral Quakers?

Yep, birds that survive winter after winter living close to lake Michigan, by the museum of Science and Industry

Urban legend has it that back in the seventies a crate full of Quaker parrots was accidentally opened up at O’Hare international Airport.

The birds escaped heading east.

Once they hit Lake Michigan, they settled in around the Museum of Science and Industry.

The key to Quaker parrot’s survival in the cold climates is their ability to build beehive-like nests.

These nests allow the birds to live in a confine shielded from the cold and maintain warmth through the sheer numbers in the nest.

A major problem is many of the nests are built next to electrical equipment that gives off warmth (electrical transformers).

The downside to this is that many babies end up being born with malformities that come with living inches away from a high-voltage electrical transformer.

Feathered factoid: Quakers are the only parrot that builds nests.

All other parrot species live in the hollows of trees, under rocks or holes in the hills/ground

Quakers are prolific nest builders and have the ability to build huge nests on their own, so having an entire flock is like having a construction crew building an apartment building.

That said I found this terrific video of the Quakers precision engineering ability shot in time lapse photography.

It’s just amazing!

Nutrition is vitally important for monk parakeets as with all captive birds

For Quakers, we really like Sunburst Delight Conure from Higgins bird foods.

Higgins Sunburst Diets are unique blends of seeds, pasteurized, like Higgins Vita Seeds, but with additional fruits and nuts and more exotic seeds that birds really enjoy.

These premier Gourmet avian exotic tropical mixtures birds cannot resist. Loaded with natural goodies.

You’ll be impressed by not only the premium quality of the ingredients but the quantity of select natural treats.

We also have a bird food category devoted to Quaker parrots aka Monk parakeets found here

Leading to another Quaker parrot bird food question

Hi —

I’m having trouble finding a food mix that my Quaker parrot will eat.

Most of the Tropimix-type foods she just picks through and eats only one or two types of seeds out of.

She won’t even touch the fruit. She eats a little and then is bored.

She does the same with people’s food.

Eats a little and then is bored or won’t bother with it the next time (except for peanut or almond butter which she eats as much as she can get of and she also likes Nutriberries and Avicakes).

She likes to put her food into her water, so I tried some cooked bird food and likes it for a few bites and then is bored again.

Is she just being a Quaker?

She wastes an awful lot of food! Thanks for your help!

Annie

Hi Annie,

Unfortunately, birds are somewhat like autistic children so it’s a matter of trial and error.

Your Quaker likes the seeds because of the fat, kind of like what french fries are to you and me. It’s really a matter of trial and error in finding the right food. I’m assuming you’re using Tropimix now.

If that’s not working out for you you might want to try a Quaker size blend

If you bird engages a seed only diet you may want to stick with that but we would suggest introducing a supplement Hagen Prime

Filed under: “Circle of life”

Mitch

I just lost one of a pair of Quakers.

The female is left and is shrieking and looking for her brother.

I am wondering if I should get another companion for her (I work during the day) so as not to stress her loneliness.

Good idea or not?

I am grief-stricken and know she is as well.

Linda

Hi Linda,

We are sorry for your loss knowing by experience what you’re going through.

Your remaining Quaker will get over it in the next week or two.

Not having all of the information we need to give you precise advice, my best guess is that because you work all day and your birds were left alone for the better part of the day they probably enjoyed each other’s company.

That said introducing a new Quaker would likely make the remaining one happy to have someone to chat with during the day while you’re at work.

Be very careful when introducing the new bird. I suggest keeping it in a separate cage for the initial period of introduction while you’re away at work.

This way you won’t have to worry about any possible territorial issues the existing bird may have and any potential fights would be avoided.

When you get home from work nightly you could take the two birds out and allow them to engage with one another under your supervision thus ensuring a smooth transition for both birds.

I would recommend a quaker that is close to the age of your female, or at least not a baby.

If you can get a mild-mannered female instead of a male, you will also avoid the possibility of them breeding, unless you want that.

best

mitchr

Hello – I really enjoy your emails and am always interested in the things I learn, or the laughs I get.

One thing, they are never boring.

Sometimes I see something I’d love to share with my bird club. I

have forwarded some stories to friends, but I just became editor of the MidAmerican Cage Bird Society (MACBS) and want to know if I could occasionally reprint an article?

I would use you as the source of the information and provide a link to your site.

Our bird club is located in Des Moines, IA although members live throughout the state.

I could even contact you for permission for specific articles.

Best Regards, Debra S

Hi Debra,

You have our permission to reprint any articles. We are always happy to help caged bird keepers of any experience level

best mitchr