How Long Do Quaker Parrots Live? (A Complete Guide)

Most people are aware that parrots can live an extraordinary amount of time, so you might be wondering how long a Quaker parrot can live for.

On average, a Quaker parrot will live between 15 and 20 years, but some can live as long as 30 years. Because they are long-lived birds, think carefully before getting one as a pet.

How Long Does A Quaker Parrot Live In Captivity?

In captivity, a Quaker parrot’s average lifespan is between twenty and thirty years, and according to Psittacology, some can even live for longer than that. Obviously, a wild parrot is exposed to more dangers than one that is kept in captivity.

The average life expectancy of a wild Quaker parrot is only fifteen to twenty years, and it may be very much less than this.

A captive Quaker’s parrot will enjoy a high quality of life, and this can help it to live for longer. It is not likely to face predators or be exposed to harsh outdoor weather or dangers such as cars.

However, it’s worth noting that many people don’t know how to care for their Quaker parrots properly, and this can shorten their life expectancy.

Let’s run through some basic facts and explore ways you can keep your parrot healthy and help it to live longer.

How To Make Sure Your Quaker Parrot Lives A Long Healthy Life

1. Allow Their Enclosure To Have Enough Space

TheSprucePets lists Quaker parrots in their medium sized birds, and they are usually only around twelve inches long. They are much smaller than other parrots, which makes them more suitable in homes where space is limited – but you should be aware that they still need a good amount of space.

As pointed out by ParrotQuaker, they are active birds that need plenty of room, and a cage should be at least 18” x 18” x 18” in order to be right for a Quaker parrot. Ideally, you should provide a larger size, and room for your bird to fly; the above measurement is the minimum these parrots need.

If your Quaker parrot is not kept in an aviary, it will need to be allowed some time to free fly around your home. This is important for the parrot’s happiness, as well as its exercise and fitness levels.

Parrots can get obese just like people can, and letting your feathered friend out is a great way to help it stay in shape. Free flying around your home also provides mental stimulation for your bird.

However, you should make sure that you can secure your parrot’s cage when needed, and don’t assume that you don’t need a cage for a parrot. You won’t always be able to supervise, and there may be times when you need to contain the bird for its safety.

Quaker parakeets are highly intelligent, so you will need a cage that locks, as many learn of these birds how to open doors. You should also make sure that the parrot cannot get its head through the bars, because they are inquisitive birds, and very good at escaping.

Bars should not be more than half an inch apart at the most, and should preferably be closer together than this, especially if your bird is small. If it can fit its head between the bars, it is at risk of getting stuck.

A good sized cage and lots of exercise will help to ensure that your parrot lives a long, happy, and healthy life. Quaker parrots that are cramped and do not get enough exercise may be more stressed, and consequently die younger.

2. Diet

Diet is an extremely important aspect of parrot care, and can make a big difference to how long your parrot will live.

According to Singing-Wings-Aviary, a Quaker parrot lives mostly on fruits and vegetables. They should be given a mix of grains, pellets, beans, seeds, and nuts, but they also need to be given fresh fruits and veggies in order to be healthy.

You should always double-check a food before you give it to your bird, but most fruits and vegetables should be fine for your parrot to eat. Carrots, kale, lettuce, bananas, apples, pears, and oranges are all popular with Quaker parrots.

Try to give fruit in moderation, as fruit is very sugary, and excessive amounts can make your parrot ill. They will really enjoy a bit of fresh fruit, however.

You may also want to provide treat foods, although this should again be done in moderation.

Quaker parrots can eat things like rice and pasta (boiled, but not with salt), sunflower seeds, and mealworms or crickets. You should not give your parrot a lot of any of these things, however; save them as special treats.

Your parrot also requires a mineral block for salt, and a permanent source of clean, fresh water.

With all these things in the right amounts, your parrot will do much better than if you don’t pay attention to its diet, or feed it too much of any one thing.

An obese parrot will not live a long time, so if you find that your parrot is gaining weight, make sure you cut back on the treats, keep a close eye on its diet, and encourage it to come out of its cage for plenty of exercise.

3. Provide Suitable Nesting Materials

These are a kind of parrot that builds nests regularly, and you need to provide some suitable nesting material for your bird. Your parrot may not show any interest in nesting, which is fine, but there should be some material available for if it decides that it would like to make a nest.

If you don’t provide nesting material, you may find that your parrot is keen to chew on its cage and other items around the home (if it is permitted to fly free) and this could be dangerous to your parrot, as well as frustrating for you.

Providing good material should help to avoid this potential issue before it occurs.

Related FAQs

What Are Quaker Parrots?

These little birds are known by many names, such as monk parakeets, Quaker parakeets, and monk parrots. They are a small parrot species, and their Latin name is Myiopsitta monachus.

They originally come from South America and the subtropical areas of Argentina, but they have since spread around the world. There are feral populations in Europe and North America.

They are highly adaptable and manage to survive in places far from their native home.

How Can You Tell How Old A Quaker Parrot Is?

According to Psittacology, you can’t really tell how old a parrot is when it is no longer a baby. Babies have patchy plumage and exhibit different behavior, but once a bird has its full feathers and no longer bobs its head or flaps to strengthen its wings for flight, it is impossible to tell how old it is.

If you buy a Quaker parrot from a pet store, make sure you ask them how old the bird is and make a note of this yourself if they don’t give you any paperwork (they probably will, but it never hurts to keep an extra note).

You should make an effort to keep a record of how old your parrot is so that you can watch out for age-related illnesses, and schedule regular checkups with your vet.

An elderly parrot may require slightly different care from one that is in its prime, so if you’re interested in maximizing the lifespan of your parrot, you should know how old it is.

Can Quaker Parrots Talk?

Yes, Quaker parrots can talk! Indeed, they talk a lot, and you can teach your Quaker parrot a variety of words and phrases if you work with them.

They will also pick up on things they hear you say, and according to TheNest, they can link sounds with meanings. That means you can have a conversation, to some degree, with your parrot, and it will understand what you are saying.

Your parrot may greet you with a “hi” or “hey” if you teach it that this sound means hello, and you can also teach it to say goodbye to you as you leave a room.

To teach a Quaker parrot to talk, you need to patiently repeat phrases, and give them a clear meaning by associating them with an action. Treat your parrot with a small piece of a favorite food when it says a word in the right context, and you will soon have your parrot talking to you.

You may even find that the challenge lies more in persuading your pet to give you a bit of a break from its chatter.

Summary

Parrots are a particularly popular bird species, beloved for their bright feathers and their ability to mimic and even understand human speech. Parrots are also known for being very long lived, and Quaker parrots aren’t an exception, although poor care can lead to a short life.

If you look after your Quaker parrot well and tend to all its needs, you may be able to enjoy its company for thirty years, or possibly even more!

What is a Quaker parrot?

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