Complete newbie 💁‍♀️🐦

W1tt3rs

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Hi all

Just recently came across this website -very handy for advice! I've recently homed a true blue Kak and we have named him Louie, I believe he is roughly 4-5months old and a complete nutcase! We've had him now for almost 2 days and despite being fairly impatient, I am trying my best to spend time with him and hoping he gets used to me so he will become easier to handle and tame. His previous owner said he was lovely natured with her and it would take some time for him to get used to his surroundings, he is much more interested in my jack Russel currently 😂
So any advice is welcome and it will be a pleasure hearing any stories you may have or any tips and tricks for a new bird owner! ✌
 
Hello and welcome, your bird looks lovely. we have another new member whom has a blue Kakariki you have to be so careful with dogs and parrots. there is lots of advice in the training section that will help you, Our Roz has done some lovely posts to help new parrot owners
 
Michael

Thank you for the reply. I'm hoping that the more knowledgable owners will be able to help with some general advice about taking them etc.
 
Kakariki's are also known as clown parrots, do you know if you have a male or female? you can take a photo of a front view of your bird .
they live life in the fast lane and become very active for periods but also need a dark place to rest during the day, it is one bird I recommend getting a nest box for. when they go in to sleep do not disturb them as lack of rest can lead to a bird that may attack. its still very early days with your bird so let it settle in for a few more days, approach slowly always talk gently, try to keep below your bird and do not stair just give glances so your bird dose not see you as a threat.
 
I have a male Kak. We have called him Louie. I will look at getting him a nest some point tomorrow, I have noticed he likes his rest during points of the day. I have always places a blanket partially over the cage during the night.
Thank you for the advice, I'm really excited and hopeful that the hard work pays off with him.
 
:welcome: from me too. You have only had Louie a short while and it can take sometime for birds to settle and get used to their new home and routine.
I hope our other members who recently joined andhave Kaks will be along with advice, maybe you can find their thread, as the advice to them would be the same to you to help both you and dear Louie. Do keep us up to date.:thumbsup:
 
Welcome from me and the zoo. Lovely blue kak they tend to be fairly food orientated I use to get mine to come on my hand for dandelions but he was never into strokes or much contact. However the males can be good at mimicking, I got mine to whistle several songs and say a few words.
 
Welcome from me and my two boys!

I have a 8 month old parolette named Alfie and an African grey who is 6 months old today and has lived with me for 3 weeks! I had never joined a forum with my little guy but when i got Bo my grey i joined this forum and the help/advice i have been given is invaluable! Also helps everyone is so friendly and willing to talk!:)
 
I had been told by the woman who owns the aviary that males tend to be more likely to bond with female humans? Is that the case?
He is taking food from me when I offer him, so that's a start but as you all say it is still very early days.
 
My parolette is a male and he tolerates me at the best but he's obsessed with my boyfriend, Alfie will come out for me and take food from me but he will sit on my boyfriend for hours and cuddle.

Bo is also a male and at the minute he will go to anybody, he loves everybody who gives him attention and loves to sit on anybody and cuddle. His eyes have started pinning when im around him but then he does the same to my dad.

So for me my older male bird has taken to my boyfriend despite us spending equal time with him and my grey loves everyone. I know time could change them but that's my experience so far :)
 
Ah makes sense I guess. My mums cockateil loves my dad and will fly to him most of the time, despite my mum doing all the feeding. 😂
I will be the one spending most of the time with him and feeding so hoping that helps.
 
I had to hide my jealousy that my little guy loves my boyfriend more than me :lol:
But im happy that my grey will go to anybody in the family, especially with my work as im a shift worker and im happy knowing my mum can come to the house and see both without the bigger lad hurting her.

Wouldn't fancy a bite from that beak! Your little guy is beautiful! :see_hearts:
 
Yeah, I would be the same. Especially when it would be me putting in the hard work! Haha..
I'd have loved a grey or a macaw but with working shifts myself it wouldn't be fair- although my dog loves the time to herself and the peace and quiet.

Any thoughts about when I should give Louie time to fly about? Would you say after hes been in the home for a couple of weeks and settled? It wasnt the easiest getting hold of him from the transport cage to his actual one so I'm concerned he might be a nightmare to chase. I'd like to think he would come to me rather than chasing him 😂

He is a beauty, thank you. 🐦🥰 I'm looking forward to seeing him blossom in the upcoming weeks.

It's great your grey goes to anyone, no favouritism, just pure fuss pot!
 
My shifts put me off getting a grey for the longest time but my boyfriend workes a normal Monday-friday 8-4pm so there's only two days when i am on earlies when the bird will be alone all day and that might not be every week so we took the plunge and i am obsessed with him! My late shifts he is alone for 2 hours whilst my boyfriend gets home and nights don't affect him as he is asleep haha!

Bo can't fly, his breeder clipped one wing so at the minute he comes out and walks around, i cannot wait for him to be able to fly though and hopefully soon his flight feathers will grow back in and he will be doing what a bird should do! I let Alfie out to fly after around 2 weeks, and looking back it was too soon because to get him back it was me stood on a chair trying to prise him from my curtains!

Alfie wasn't hand tame so we spent a good while working with him to get used to us through his cage by talking to him and giving him treats through the bars and then eventually he started to fly to us when he was out for treats, i think you'll know when your bird is ready and has enough trust in you. We started to teach Alfie to step up when he was in the cage after he realisdd we wouldnt hurt him and this helped us massively!

This is what worked for me but im sure other parrot owners with more experience will be able to offer great advice also!
 
Ah sounds as though your shifts are very similar to mine then? What is it you do?

At least the shifts work out then. My boyfriend also works similar hours to your other half so it probably wouldn't have been as bad. But I think I need to get my small parrot experience up 😂

Ah, not sure I agree with clipping wings. All sorts of disadvantages to it isnt there? Bless him, well I hope his feathers grow quickly. Sounds like you're doing a fab job with him. Is he speaking to you yet?

I'll be heading to the pet shop soon to get a small nest and some bark for the bottom of the cage tray so he can use his feet a bit more to look for food instead of the actual cage. (Advice I was given yesterday) so that should give him some more interesting bits to do whilst he is in his cage.
 
Thank you! Yeah he is speaking a lot, loves to ask me what im doing and shout hello non stop which sounds annoying but i love his little voice. He whistles all day and has started to copy my laugh, especially when the little bird won't go back in his cage for me :lol:
But no i agree i wont be clipping once these feathers have grown back in, my little guy hasn't been clipped and i love that he can fly round the downstairs of my house!

Ah that sounds good! I have had loads of advice on here and all is brilliant, im about to make some home made foraging boxes for Bo for when i return to work tomorrow, again suggested by someone on here which is fantastic and something i would never have thought of!

I work for the emergency services in Yorkshire, assuming if our shifts are similar we are more or less in the same role:lol:
I wish you all the best with your little guy, if you need anything/chat feel free to message!
 
Welcome to the forum from Jeanette & Boo Boo. I have never had a Kak so unable to provide any advice on that particular species.

As a new owner you can make a good start by ensuring that Louie's home environment is right. Boo Boo spends all of his time out of his cage as I am fortunate that my partner is at home when I'm at work.

He loves to play and has all sorts of toys, boings, swings, foraging bits and most precious to him baby toys Boo Boo loves chewing so he has plenty of toxic free baby toys as well as a large outdoor aviary that goes directly off the patio doors.

Even though boo boo doesn't spend much time in his cage his perches are mostly natural from Apple trees and the brought perches are natural woods of different sizes and some living world pedi perches great for keeping nails in shape and for arthritic conditions . It would be a good idea to change the dowel type perch currently in Louie cage ad mix them up with more natural different size and type ones.

I hope his wings grow back well to help with flight. I don't support wing clipping it has far too many negative effects on a birds well being than good ones so I'm glad you won't be doing it.

All the best, I hope Louie brings you lots of joy and happiness.
 

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