Can't decide between a conure and a quaker.

[caseymayyne]

I'm thinking about getting a gcc, but the ones I held were nasty and didn't do much except sit in their cages. Then I held a quaker, and he was so adorable and funny. He didn't bite me at all. But I did hear that some quakers are horrible and develop behavioral problems fairly easily. I also heard that most conures are extremely cuddly and fun.

Which do you prefer and why?

[Munchy]

I've never had a Quaker but there was a you tube video of one complaining that I absolutely loved! But they are illegal in California. I am an avid conure lover. I love Disney so much if I ever was able to have another bird, will not happen not enough time, it would be another conure, maybe a Blue Crown or a Gold Cap or Peach Front. The one I have a Half Moon whose pictures are now all over this board is great. He is constantly clowning around in his cage. Climbing all over it and doing acrobatics in the process. He loves to be with both me and my husband and will fly to us if he is out of the cage. He knows when we pull up in the driveway and starts screeching. He is better than a guard dog! We have taught him the bad habit of wanting something whenever we are in the kitchen, so we have plenty of birdy treats to bring out for him. He loves to do summersaults on my chest and let me play with his feet. He learns pretty easily and could be a well trained bird if I had the time.
From the videos of Quakers I've seen, they seem like a good choice as well. If they were legal here I'd want one. I guess I'm no help.

[Mum2rory]

Oh, the dilemma you are in.LOL I am no use to you either. I currently have a cinnamon gcc and love him to bits. But if I were to get another bird, it would be a quaker. So my advice, either one. Just depends on what YOU want.

[Saerphe]

As Munchy mentioned already, Quakers are illegal in some states. If you think you want one, you'd better read up on your local laws and see whether or not it's legal to keep them. You don't want to spend all that money and time with a bird only for the authorities to seize and possibly euthanize it. D:

[Munchy]

did you ever decide? and what are you going with?

[Naurthon]

I thought NY banned quakers a couple of years ago. I know they have problems with feral quakers nesting in transformer boxes, chewing the wires, and causing power outages and fires. It would be worth confirming. The only info I could find on line was a few years old, so I'm not sure it is up to date.

*UPDATE* Looks like quakers are legal in NY, but they must be banded and registered.

[liz]

Search each type in the forum through the search box. You can find out what the owners say about them.

[Michael]

I thought NY banned quakers a couple of years ago. I know they have problems with feral quakers nesting in transformer boxes, chewing the wires, and causing power outages and fires. It would be worth confirming. The only info I could find on line was a few years old, so I'm not sure it is up to date.

*UPDATE* Looks like quakers are legal in NY, but they must be banded and registered.

NY requires bands but in NJ they are illegal.

[Cage Cleaner]

I wanted a quaker as well when I first got my parrot. I was actually almost willing to try to get one even though they are illegal in CA. I ended up with a GCC instead, not really because of my choosing but because of just how it turned out.

I've given this same advice before: If you know that you're interested in a certain type of parrot or parrots, then go and meet some individuals of those species. In the end, it wouldn't be the species that determines whether or not you take the critter home--it's going to be the individual. Birds are very different from individual to individual, even within the same species. Now that you've narrowed it down to two specific species, it's time to pick out that one that you want to live with.

[Aloysius]

The Quaker I own (Shiloh) is very sweet to me and some others in my family all the time. But to others she occasionally starts attacking without warning, but that is pretty much only when she is on the couch (which she fancies her territory). otherwise she is perfect except for a little noise. I prefer Quakers much more than GCCs.