I have a daughter who has her heart set on getting a Quaker Parrot. She has done an amazing job educating herself and raising the money to purchase the bird and essentials.
The problem is that I have very bad allergies and asthma. We are
currently sitting a Cockatiel, the 'dustiest' species I'm told, and I have had a very bad time with allergies. Are the Quakers that much less dusty? I have heard that there sprays and that frequent grooming can help to reduce the dust and feathers, but how much do they really help? Is the hope of being unaffected by the Quaker even possible? Do air filters make much of a difference?
We plan to try and sit a Quaker to do a test, but I don't want to give my daughter any false hope.
We have a bichon frise that I have done fine with, as long as I wash my hands after petting and grooming her.
Any comments, help, info, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Laura
lbrock@cfl.rr.com
2006-09-11 13:17:40 · 4 answers · asked by Laura 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
I have had a Quaker for 11 years and this is the most intelligent bird I have ever seen. I too have allergies and so does my son and the bird does not bother either of us. They do shed feathers at least once a year, but they are generally cleaner than most I have seen. be aware they bond with the person who spends the most time with them and tend to bite everyone else. They learn quickly and I leave a TV on for mine during the day and a light on at night. He only makes noise when I get up. He does not require a lot of things and does not want things changed in his cage. Their sex is not known except by DNA the female and male are alike. I think your daughter will be very happy with the Quaker. Also, they like for you to preen their feathers and break the feather shafts on their head and back because they cannot reach them. Look up Quakers on the net or obtain a book at a pet store and read about them prior to buying. For the money they are the best talking bird around.
2006-09-12 08:04:32 · answer #1 · answered by nighttimewkr 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm allergic to some dogs and cats and I have 4 parrots including Quaker and he seems to be the least of my problems. If you give the bird a bath at least once a week it helps also humidifiers and air cleaners help. Keeping the cage clean helps. Quakers have oil glands where as the tiels have powder glands and that makes the difference. I hardly ever bathe my quaker and he usually doesn't bother me. At certain times of the year when my sinuses are acting up and he gets in my face I can feel a pain go through my sinuses. But most of the time I have no problems. I have a slight case of asthma too and it doesn't bother that either. I've never had a doc to tell me I need to get rid of my birds either. I have a cockatoo which is the most powder producing bird there is and he doesn't bother me with exception of those certain times when my sinuses are already inflamed. Also around molting time there is more dust because of the feather shafts being shed. I've never used the sprays, but I don't like to put any chemicals on my babies either. They may help, but I think just a spray of water daily or every other day would do just as well.
2006-09-12 04:07:13 · answer #2 · answered by f8washere 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid unless you are willing to put up with a lot of misery, you're daughter may have to wait until she's on her own before owning a bird. Are you on any meds for your allergies yet? Sometimes they help. I myself take zyrtec and it works for me with our two cats. My daughter on the other hand has tried everything, even allergy shots, and still has trouble with sneezing. Singulair has taken care of her asthma problem, though. The allergy shots didn't seem to be working after 2 years, so she decided it wasn't worth the time and pain.
One time, I watched a rabbit for some neighbors and had a terrible time with my allergies, and that was while ON zyrtec.
So I guess you never know until you try. Since you say you are having a hard time while sitting for the Cockatiel, I think the same thing may happen, no matter the breed.
Good luck to you both.
2006-09-11 14:22:17 · answer #3 · answered by Evil Wordmonger, LTD LOL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
weekly baths help and also those hepa filters work really well. You can get the small ones at Home Depot, Ionic breeze ones that plug into the wall, for $14.00 each, there are several types. I have a Macaw in the Den, and that's what I use, and they are VERY dusty. Clean the Cage weekly.
2006-09-14 04:54:20 · answer #4 · answered by cantrellpets 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋