Teddy
Bird
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 The Oakton Virginia
Davey Family purchased Teddy Bird in early August 1995 from Wilson's Parrots store in
Alexandria, Va. We had been looking for a bird ever since the untimely death of our
beloved "CD" (Cockatiel Dundee) a normal gray Cockatiel that had died from an
injury sustained in one of the "night thrashing" incidents that seem to plague
some cockatiels. We wanted a smaller bird that would be more like a larger parrot -
intelligence and personality without some of the handling problems that larger parrots
entail. We also wanted a hardy bird that could speak. We did a lot of research
and finally came up with a recommendation from "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot"
which said that a Quaker would fill all of our requirements. (Picture #1: Younger Son and Teddy Bird in a
"BP" (Before Plucking) pose)
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 Teddy
was in a 20 gallon aquarium tank with five other clutch mates. We looked for the
most extroverted bird - the one that "ruled the roost." Younger Son chose the
name "Teddy Bird" for our new 12 week-old Quaker, and it stuck. We later
found out that Teddy Bird was female, but by that time, the name had stuck, and we
couldn't change her name to
anything more feminine.(Picture
#2 Teddy Bird today, with her disheveled, dress-down Generation X plucked look.
After two years of plucking, Teddy's lower breast feathers are fuller than they have been,
but are always disheveled. We think they are damaged and that she will never have
the "streamlined" Quaker look again.)
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 Teddy
is a "closet talker." She mostly talks when no one is around and will
quiet down as soon as she realizes that someone is listening. Teddy Bird is one of the
more famous "pluckers" on the Quaker Parakeet Mailing List.
She plucked a classic "brood patch" at six months of age and then re-grew all
her feathers until age 12 months when she again started plucking. We have tried diet
change, hormone therapy, and valium on Teddy, and nothing really seems to work.
Teddy's Vet recommends that we may have to get used to the idea of a happy, well adjusted,
plucked Quaker. (Picture #3: Teddy is "pretty good natured" (for
a Quaker) about being handled. John D. received only a few sharp nips for posing her
like this. Note the plucked bare skin under her wing and around her crop.)
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 In July 1997, we
purchased a young Meyer's Parrot - Bilbo - in an attempt to keep Teddy Bird occupied while
people were at work and school. Bilbo is a softie, and just wants to be friends with
everyone. Teddy is not so sure about this new interloper.(Picture #4: Bilbo Bob Bird and Teddy Bird: Check
out that body language! You can just feel the warmth and affection between the two birds!)
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John's
Philosophy of life, FEATURE
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