Hi my name is Karen and I have a cream pied kakariki called sprocket.

Captain

Registered
I rescued my bird about two months ago and have been introducing new foods a better seed mix and egg and fruit. Sprocket has settled in very well and is such a character. I think it is a female although I was told it was a male. Her feathers were in a terrible condition but are improving really well now. I think she is beginning to moult she is preening and enjoys a bath. I would appreciate it if anyone could advise me how best to support her through the moult. I understand it can be stressful for them and want to make it as easy as possible. When I got sprocket her tail was just two feathers which just looked awful. She had not been out of a cage for about 18 months. She is out for between two and three hours every day and loves exploring and playing with her toys. Any advice would be appreciated. Oh and she has been treated for mites as she was very itchy and scratching a lot when I first got her. This has calmed down and she seems more relaxed.
 
Welcome Karen. I think it sounds as though you are doing very well with Sprocket and I'd say carry on as you are doing, especially the bath. Kakarikis are very active and being in a cage for 18 months would have done her no good at all. Now she is getting much more exercise she should be far fitter and generally healthier, and far more able to get through the natural process of moulting without a problem, although a calcium supplement would be very helpful. Parrots kept indoors tend to moult gradually throughout the year anyway rather than during one dramatic period (when I had parrots at home they certainly did) so I should not worry too much.

Andrew
 
I rescued my bird about two months ago and have been introducing new foods a better seed mix and egg and fruit. Sprocket has settled in very well and is such a character. I think it is a female although I was told it was a male. Her feathers were in a terrible condition but are improving really well now. I think she is beginning to moult she is preening and enjoys a bath. I would appreciate it if anyone could advise me how best to support her through the moult. I understand it can be stressful for them and want to make it as easy as possible. When I got sprocket her tail was just two feathers which just looked awful. She had not been out of a cage for about 18 months. She is out for between two and three hours every day and loves exploring and playing with her toys. Any advice would be appreciated. Oh and she has been treated for mites as she was very itchy and scratching a lot when I first got her. This has calmed down and she seems more relaxed.


Love the effort! Calcium always help....can usually get a kettlebone or a water solution to add....thankfully the mites issue is now resolved.
 
:welcome: to the forum from us. Can't really advise specifically about Kaks as we've never had them, and ref the moulting can just echo what's already been said. Baths are nice and soothing for them.
 
I rescued my bird about two months ago and have been introducing new foods a better seed mix and egg and fruit. Sprocket has settled in very well and is such a character. I think it is a female although I was told it was a male. Her feathers were in a terrible condition but are improving really well now. I think she is beginning to moult she is preening and enjoys a bath. I would appreciate it if anyone could advise me how best to support her through the moult. I understand it can be stressful for them and want to make it as easy as possible. When I got sprocket her tail was just two feathers which just looked awful. She had not been out of a cage for about 18 months. She is out for between two and three hours every day and loves exploring and playing with her toys. Any advice would be appreciated. Oh and she has been treated for mites as she was very itchy and scratching a lot when I first got her. This has calmed down and she seems more relaxed.
Hi Andrew
Thank you for your advice. Yes she is much stronger now. I have put cuttlefish bone in the cage as well as a mineral block but have read that kaks may need calcium adding to the diet so will look at this. She is losing a few feathers a day. I was just worried about her getting cold after the bath.
She is quite tame and will step up onto my hand and land on my head when she is out so I am sure she has been handled in the past just not by her previous owner. She takes food from my hand and will come to the front of the cage to talk /sqwauk at me. I have occasionally wrapped her in a towel to warm up after a bath and she sits still and does not bite or complain. She will stay snuggled for a little while until bored then it's back to the exploring and playing again.
 
Hi Everyone
I have been trying to upload a picture of sprocket but can't figure it out am totally thick where technology is concerned 🙄. Will keep trying. I think she is a female as she has a blue ring on her left leg but am not experienced enough to say definately
Thanks Karen
 

Have a read of this it should help reference photos.
 
Hope you can get side photos of the body of the bird.
We had somebody else with an unusual coloration of kakariki think it turned out to be a lace wing or cream fallow
 
He dose look special, will love to see more photos, in this modern times what is in a name? my favourite bird a ringneck called Beryl turned out to be a male and i never heard him complain Ha Ha
 
Aah that is lovely I bet Beryl is just happy to be looked after and loved. I agree a name doesn't matter as long as they are happy and well. Sprocket is a very special bird he is so brave and friendly. Considering he has not been handled he will land on your shoulder step up onto your hand and walk up your arm. Whenever I sit near the cage for my dinner he comes down sits next to me and eats his food too. He is even trying to talk I think. It sounds like he is trying to say his name but that might be my imagination. I am constantly surprised by him. When I first saw him he just clung to the front of his cage making noises and as good as saying get me out of here. I couldn't resist him.
 
Hi Andrew
Thank you for your advice. Yes she is much stronger now. I have put cuttlefish bone in the cage as well as a mineral block but have read that kaks may need calcium adding to the diet so will look at this. She is losing a few feathers a day. I was just worried about her getting cold after the bath.
She is quite tame and will step up onto my hand and land on my head when she is out so I am sure she has been handled in the past just not by her previous owner. She takes food from my hand and will come to the front of the cage to talk /sqwauk at me. I have occasionally wrapped her in a towel to warm up after a bath and she sits still and does not bite or complain. She will stay snuggled for a little while until bored then it's back to the exploring and playing again.
Hello Karen,

Pleased to be of help. It does sound as though you are doing very well. I shouldn't be too concerned about Sprocket getting cold after a bath, presuming it is not late in the day. I have always found that birds dry quite quickly.
 
Back
Top Bottom