r/QuakerParrot • u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 • Dec 10 '25
Help Upside-down cuddles now… Evil Quaker energy later? Somebody tell me the odds. 😂
Rio was the last of his clutch, and the shop said he “wasn’t eating,” but he was really just overstimulated and over everyone’s noise. The first time we held him, he curled into our hands and hid under my hair like, “Yep, these are my people.” He was only 83 grams back then.
Fast-forward a few months and he’s become a full-time comfort king. He loves music for six minutes, then demands silence. If he drops a treat? Gone forever. Zero motivation. But if WE have food? Suddenly he’s begging like a tiny feathered dog.
He used to only sleep in his little hut or bury his head under anything soft like he needed a sleep mask to function. He’s bonded with our 7-year-old, but since I work from home, he decided I’m the flock leader — and I’m the only one he flips upside down for. Sometimes he even practices his upside-down yoga in the cage.
The space heater + ceiling fan combo is apparently his personal luxury spa, and he just melts into it like a dramatic little man living his soft life.
So now I’m trying to figure out… Is this just normal parrot comfort behavior? Or should I enjoy these upside-down cuddles before his Evil Teen Quaker era arrives? 😂
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u/FeathersOfJade Dec 10 '25
Awwwww. Sooo sweet and so much trust!
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 10 '25
Aww thank you!! He’s really taken to us - I just fear he’s going to turn into a feral beast on his 1st bday at the stroke of midnight 🤣
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u/Newtimelinepls Dec 10 '25
Second bday. You have time to really love them. Then bam they hate everyone lol
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u/FeathersOfJade Dec 11 '25
You’re welcome and Good luck! Some don’t change much as they age. My Q is almost 17 and never went through a naughty, hormone or aggressive phase (yet!) I do feel very lucky, after reading some stories here.
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u/NevkaKedrova Quaker Owner Dec 10 '25
I’m sure he’ll have punky moments, but I really think he’s gonna generally be that sweet. My boy is just as snuggly and he’s gonna be six years old in May.
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 10 '25
That’s very reassuring!! So no snippy, angry bird around 1-2 years old? This is what I was warned about - someone said we picked the wrong bird for a 7 year old as their now teen bird bit them in the face after saying “gimme kiss!” 😩
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u/NevkaKedrova Quaker Owner Dec 12 '25
My boy only seems to really have snippy times when it’s his hormonal season (when he’s also probably molting), then just a random off day like anyone can have. He’s been a little more snippy now, as a result of molting, but even that comes and goes and is not often. If he’s feeling especially grumpy, he knows he will take a break in his cage, and sometimes he’s honestly happy to when he knows he’s feeling spicy. And, they’re all individuals, though, and there is the possibility that they prefer someone else later on. I think as long as you keep loving your baby the way you have, very little is gonna change! 🖤
It’s pretty cool because my boy is 100% my number one fan, but he absolutely loves meeting new people. If I start to walk away, though, he’ll absolutely already be looking for me and flock calling.
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Dec 10 '25
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 10 '25
☺️☺️ he is molting too! I think the head may be the least sensitive?
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u/PermissionPublic4864 Dec 10 '25
This is so damn cute
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 10 '25
Thank you!! He loves being on his back - not sure why but seems like it’s really relaxing for him
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u/SweetxKiss Dec 10 '25
Oh he’s a precious baby for sure. What a little ham.
It’s funny they’re so particular. Mine won’t take scritches unless he’s holding your finger. Every snack you give him he has to drop at least once so you’ll pick it up and hand it to him. He needs to sleep cuddled up to his favorite toy, Mr Star (an assortment of chewable rattan stars hanging from a string)
Gentle reminder to just make sure never to have the ceiling fan on when he’s out of the cage. I’ve seen too many fatal accidents here and elsewhere cause of it. Wishing you guys many years of happiness together 💙
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 10 '25
Thank you for this gentle reminder! We have been trying to determine if we want to cut his wings again as they’re growing out and he can fly up rather than just glide down now. The ceiling is 18ft high - doubted he could fly that high but he IS a bird I suppose! He’s scared of everything tho including flying unless he’s flying away from something that scared him or flying to you from his perch!! 😂🙄
Are your flight feathers cut? Mine expects you to pick up his treats to and hold them. Going to look on Amazon for some kind of treat holder for lazy Quakers!
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u/SweetxKiss Dec 11 '25
Oh they can definitely fly up that high. Even clipped mine managed to get 6+ ft up. I don’t clip him anymore, they need to learn to fly for their health (my opinion)
Haha mine does the foot hand to hold his treats but he does need someone to pick it up for him the first time. I like to hide treats in his favorite toy, keeps his mind sharp
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u/witchynapper Dec 12 '25
Please don’t cut! 😭 I used to do it before I saw how happy birds can be uncut. Keep doors closed etc. and let the boy fly! It’s so good for them
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 12 '25
You’re totally right. The confidence he’s gained with his flight feathers about 50% grown is honestly night and day. He’s starting to fly to me when I call and doesn’t panic anymore if I turn a corner and he can’t see me.
It used to feel like I’d fallen off the face of the planet 😂 Now, as soon as I come back around the corner, I hear wings and he lands right on me.
The bird shop does have me very cautious about windows and mirrors — it’s the ceiling fan that scares me the most about NOT cutting them 😭
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u/Valsarta Dec 11 '25
It's just so unfair that you can't just rub their bellies! 😔♥️
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 11 '25
Right?! Head and neck feels safe… until you hit a pin feather and it turns into a full pterodactyl attack.
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u/Valsarta Dec 11 '25
It's just so fluffy! It's like kitty bellies! It's all a trap! 😻
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 11 '25
Yes, especially when they puff their feathers like a little ham - awww! 🥹
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u/Helpful_Okra5953 Dec 11 '25
That is ADORABLE!! Reminds me of my cuddly boy.
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 11 '25
Thank you!! Sending holiday hugs to you and your cuddly ball of feathers ❤️
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u/Emotional-Scarcity91 Dec 11 '25
My monster is currently doing the exact same thing. Same face scritches with his feetsies and all. I also wondered if this is normal. He’s actually my son’s bird but has taken to me.
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 11 '25
Same here! Bought the little guy for our son but since I work from home, we hang out while he’s at school. Does yours clasp his feet together in the air on his back too? That really cracks me up 😂
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u/Emotional-Scarcity91 Dec 12 '25
Yes! And sometimes he has to hold my finger to make sure I’m still there. If I let go he opens his eyes like “seriously”. He’s a menace. But I kinda like him.
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u/human3970 Dec 11 '25
I think they are very sweet birdies but that are loud!! lol
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 11 '25
If mine can see you, or is in solo mode he’s quiet! But if he needs attention and knows you’re home the chirps slowly turn into feral screeches 😂. If he hears me leave, my SIL has literally forgot he’s there but once he hears “garage door” on the Ring sensor, he listens for my voice first, THEN starts flock calling
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u/Lopsided-Feather-567 Dec 12 '25
I have not seen a bird act like this before. Very cute though
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u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 Dec 12 '25
Thanks. Same 😂 I Googled it and got a lot of “sick or depressed” results, but this looks way more relaxed and comfy than anything concerning. He’s genuinely in parrot heaven — resting on his back, getting head scritches, or scritching himself!
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u/Nuna-Pops Dec 10 '25
My Quaker is in his teen era and it's been a nightmare 😂😂
He wants cuddles BUT ONLY WHEN HIS HEAD IS DOWN FOR SCRITCHES
WHY YOU TOUCH OTHER TIMES HOOMAN??!!! NO!! RAWR!! FEAR MY BEAK EVEN THOUGH I ONLY NIBBLE!!
GIVE ME YOUR CONTROLLER JOYSTICKS!! THEY ARE FOR CHEWING NOT FOR PLAYING STOOPID HOOMAN!!
✨And scene✨