"What is a Chickmunk?"

Why they are called "Monk" Parakeets

When they were bred by a group of monks in South America - the same monks who invented spaghetti. Legend has it that the monks used to put their bowls of newly pressed spaghetti next to the Quakers' cages to cool, and the smart little birds soon learned to stretch their beaks out through the bars and grab a strand of spaghetti, chewing from the end and pulling it into their mouths, much like you see a small child eating the pasta. Apparently, over the years, the younger monks saw the parrots eating that way and assumed that was the way the birds were supposed to be fed. As the generations of birds also passed, the birds became accustomed to eating that way. So, nowadays, that's how most of us feed our Quakers. We but a bowl of spaghetti next to the cage and stand back as the birds chow down, reaching through the bars. They think it's the most natural thing in the world. Old Teddy Bird likes tomato rather than the white sauce.

Super Bowl Snacks

Teaching your Quaker to Talk
(dialog)

On the subject of Quakers talking:

Female Quakers do talk! Old Teddy Bird is a DNA-sexed female who just happens to be a "closet talker." I have to admit that one of the reasons we purchased a Quaker was because they had such a great reputation as talkers. Our late, great male cockatiel, CD, was a wonderful talker - clear and distinct. We worked and worked with Teddy, and nary a peep (well, really - lots of "peeps" but no words). I groused at SWMBO that with my luck, I had purchased the only non-talking Quaker Parakeet in the world. To top it off, we live in reasonably close proximity to Guido, the Wonder Bird, who not only recites the Gettysburg Address but also temps in Tena's office as a receptionist. SWMBO was very sympathetic and suggested that maybe I should trade Teddy in on a couple of goldfish or just let her fly out the window while singing "Born Free."

I did have an experience a week or so ago, when Teddy was sitting on my shoulder and treated me to a serenade of her talking: Younger Son had taken Bilbo Bob Bird (Meyers Parrot) off with him and left Teddy Bird with me. Out of the blue, I was treated to a serenade of words, songs and whistles: "Pretty Bird. Teddy's such a pretty bird. Pretty, Pretty, Pretty. Come on! Come on! Get up! Get up. Who's the pretty bird? Who's the Teddy Bird? Teddy. Teddy Bird. Teddy's a Teddy Bird. Come on! Get up." And on and on and on. I guess one of the big surprises was the phrase "Come On!" I didn't know where that had come from, but I finally figured out that I would say that to Teddy when I was trying to get her out of her sleeping cage and into the big cage for the day. (I also say the same thing to Younger Son - with the same indifferent response.) You do have to watch what you say to these mimics: I once had a Budgie who would say "Say Pretty Bird! Say Pretty Bird!" - just like we had taught it.

On the Meaning of life

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and  that's the true meaning of life."

On proper Quaker weight:
Teddy Bird obviously belongs to one of the smaller Quaker sub-species. She has weighed in at the Avian Vet's office at 93 grams each and every time she has been there, over the three years of her life. I had mentioned to the Vet that Teddy appeared puny when compared to some of the "Mega-Quakers" on the List. The Vet said that Teddy was at an ideal weight and then asked me if I believed everything I read on the 'Net. For some reason, he laughed when I said, "Yes."

On heat and insects:
We keep Teddy and Bilbo out in a large cage on our screened-in back porch whenever the weather is good. It's protected from the elements but they do get plenty of fresh air and sunshine. The porch faces East, so they get the morning sun, but afternoon shade. I think they enjoy it - I wouldn't mind sitting out there all day. Last year, I put one of those enclosed Cockatiel-sized bath tubs on one of the cage doors, but I don't think either bird trusted it.

Turned out to be one of our zillion chipmunks, who had to climb, scamper and jump to get to the cage and then squeeze through the cage bars and the grate bars to get down into the 3-inch deep tray. The Chip was filling his/her pouches with all those expensive Harrisons pellets while Teddy sat totally unconcerned. Our chipmunks have the sleekest, glossiest coats! "Course, there was another time when I looked out the kitchen window, and spotted a fox sitting on the lawn by the porch, observing the birds.