Tyco the Quaker Parrot

by Desirae Chipman
(Oregon/Washington)

Tyco is a quaker parrot. He will be one year old on May 12, 2010. I got him as a gift for my 15th birthday. My heart has always been with birds. I raised orphan birds with my dad growing up, and ever since then i've had a soft spot for birds.

I did A LOT of research on which kind of bird would be "right" for me, and recommend that everybody planning on getting a bird (or any other pet for that matter) do the same. I have heard of Quaker parrots before, but i didn't really know much about them. I mostly had my mind set on a Goffin Cockatoo or a Red Lored Amazon.

When i met a quaker parrot in a pet store...i fell in love! I am a rough 'n tumble kind of girl, so i like the hardy things. This kind of bird was definitely my kind of bird. I did some more research on them, and had my heart set on the Quaker.

My 15th bday was approaching when i finally e-mailed a quaker breeder in Oregon. He offers the BEST and healthiest babies possible. I enjoyed talking to him, and i definitely shared his compassion for birds. When i got to his house i had a plan to hold each bird and see which one i connected with most, male or female. The other birds were all busy eating and cleaning each other, and when i saw one bird hanging upside down bobbing his head, i knew that bird had to be mine.

I planned on naming it "Tikka" which means Hyena in some tribal language, because i wanted a nippy bird. A bird that i can gently and safely "rough house" with, without him getting all but hurt and mean. I wanted him to be a boy, so i switched up the name so it was masculine. So Tyco it was!


It took him about a week to warm up to me. Almost a year since he's hatched, he says a lot! Stuff like:
-C'mon! C'mon! C'mon!
-C'mon Tyco!
-Pretty bird!
-Shake hands!
-GOOD boy!
-Can you dance? Dance Tyco! Good job!
-Hi apollo! (the indian ringneck he's best friends with. Named after the Greek sun god because of his color and bright spirit.)
-You want some food? Hungry?
-Go potty..gross!
-You wanna take a bath?
-Cleaning? those pretty feathers!
and whistles a lot of different tunes and growls! :)

Tyco is very much a momma's boy. Extremely bonded to me, and definitely a protector. I think he thinks that i am his girlfriend, because he doesn't let any males get near me. He growls, hisses, and will attack any boy that gets too close! He cuddles with me 24/7, and rarely wants to leave my shoulder. He enjoys neck massages, and dance off's haha.

Tyco is EXTREMELY loud when he is on my shoulder, because he has a "location" call that travels quite a distance, and when he does it on my shoulder, it makes my ear ring. If you are a person with sensitive ears, maybe quakers aren't exactly the bird for you.

Living with a parrot is definitely an experience, the bird food is sometimes a hassle, always has me vaccuming the carpet. The bird poop got to be a hassle, until i recently got a bird diaper that Tyco proudly wears when wandering the house :)I love when he talks, its always a joy having him around. He flies to me when i say "cmon", and play fights. He's "froggy" because he is protective of everything thats "his" and definitely a knee slapper all the time.