I had always read that quakers are notorious for building nests (?) in their cages or weaving things in between their cage bars. I'm just curious if anyones quaker(s) does these things? Skittles doesn't - and we give her plenty of things that she could use if she wanted to. Didn't know if she was abnormal or not?!

My Q Dolittle just started this in the last yr or so,she just turned 7.She has quite the little hide out built,you have to look just right to see her when she is in her nest.About the only things she will weave are leather strips and newspaper. My Q Nicky never did it and Doc has only been here 3 days,so I don't know if she will build a nest or not.

I have 5 quakers, and only one does anything remotely like building a nest.
Zipper files business cards...all day, every day, he takes business cards and "files" them in the cage bars. I've tried giving him sticks to build with, but he has no interest. He just files his cards, day in and day out... I have pictures of his handy-work, but I can't seem to locate them right now...
He throws a hissy fit when I clean his cage, because some cards get disrupted, fall, and end up thrown away. If I don't keep a full bowl of business cards in his cage he plucks, then starts removing cards from the bars, he stacks them and then re-files them.

And no, I didn't make him so obsessive/compulsive...he's a "rescue" bird that's had many many homes...

wendy

I have seen photos of some interesting nest buiding in captivity.
But this involved mated pairs and sticks were provided.
I should bring this issue up to my wife, she is always giving our birds items to chew and or tear up to keep there wonderful little minds buzy....I personally would be fasinated to see what they would do if sticks were provided and or instead of tearing something apart, constructing a nest...
Interesting subject.

Like Arty mentioned, I would think ya should provide them with plenty of natural sticks, twigs, branch pieces: a large mix of rigid, semi-rigid and some soft pliable pieces.... You should see all the wild Quaker nests in my neck of the woods (on telephone poles - both the concrete and wood type of "poles", right next to electrical transformers & also in certain kinds of palm trees), all constructed of the same/similar type construction materials. Ya would also need at least one pair (M&F) of bonded birds (I would think) to naturally start their urge to build.

I have seen some of the wild quaker nests (only in pictures) they are fascinating! I know of a few single, pet quakers that stack sticks and what not around their cages (or through the cage bars). I remember seeing a picture once of a quaker who would try to carry clothes hangers to his cage and had his cage full of them. I don't remember where I saw it at though. I don't want to really encourage nest building - don't want egg laying problems! But I saw a picture yesterday of a quaker who had all kinds of sticks through his cage bars, so thought I'd ask others to see how common it was.

Wendy - would love to see some pics of Zipper and his cards if you find them!

I think just like here, some do and some don't. From what I've read on other sites it seems just a few do in captivity alone, but like maniacs. It's a strong drive from morning till night. The others seem to not like being in cages and can get demanding but don't weave. Maybe it's got something to do with how much they were handfed, or not exposed to their flocks when young, which seems to be a emerging theory in captive parrots, but pretty much anecdotal.