Kakariki New Owner

Dave Smith

Regular Member
Hello there, From the High Peak, Derbyshire.
I've had budgies before & bred them but not for several years.
I've got a fair bit of time on my hands & wanted to try & get to know a bird & attempt to tame one.
I wasn't too sure what bird I wanted but when saw these Kakariki's we fell in love with one.
Only had it for 3 days & getting on well with it.
Hoping to pick up some tips & maybe share some?
All the best. Dave.
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Hi Dave and welcome to the forum :)
that's a smart little sweetie :)
Have a few myself but mine are aviary birds mad as a bottle of frogs the lot of them!
Have you seen your little ones' mischief side yet? They love to run around upside down on the roof of the cage and you can see them watching you working out how you opened or closed something so be warned they are very smart little noodles! Your going to be kept on your toes.
May I make some suggestions for the cage? Take the bottom grill out they loves to scrat around on the floor and instead of plastic perches take them out and pop in some wood branches by that I mean cut some willow or some apple branch or silver birch etc its far kinder for their feet keeps the claws down gives then something to chew on and flexes their toes so they don't end up with any arthritis in them.
We have a great training thread folder and our Roz has written some brilliant posts on how to train and tame.
Food wise they love fresh fruit and veggies as well as seeds.
 
hi DizzyBlue.
Thanks for the welcome & advise.
We had just come to the conclusion it likes to scrat around & yes, it's always upside down walking all around the cage. lol
And did get out yesterday as I had the door open with my hand in there but was busy watching TV!
Great idea about the perches I'll sort some out along with the bottom.
Do you know if they will eat dandelion leaves?
Many thanks. Dave.
 
:welcome: from me too.
A few of our members have kept them I am sure they will be along with more advice although advice already given is first class.
 
Mine scoff the lot! Dandelions are brilliant source of vitamin dn minerals totally packed with nutrients obviously make sure they have not been weed killer fed, don't pick near a road and away from dog walkers. Plants are systemic so they will contain basically what they come into contact with.
They also like different types of grass when its seeding, I also use a lot of those florettes mixed leaf salad (I have more than just kaks in my aviary)
They love things like chopped apple, cherry tomato (minus the green stalks) peas, cucumber, shredded carrot, grapes. I make a huge mixed bowl of basically anything I have in salad wise and add the fruit to it stick it all in a bowl with a sprinkle of live meal worms as a treat from time to time (those are optional but a great source of protein) and leave the perishers too it. My aviary has my little dude flock in it budgies, cockatiels and kaks… first in the bowl every time is the kak gang rummaging around grabbing their favourite bits very bold little birds. If I wear a top they don't like then they are the first to tell me so by swooping at me and slapping me with their wing and tail feathers - doesn't hurt but I get the message lol.
our kak looks like a cinnamon cross buttercup. I have a cinnamon cock bird and a buttercup female and their chicks that were bred look exactly like yours :) an explosion in a paint factory, very pretty.
 
Oooo other thing they like since its now spring … willow strands with the resh leaf still on it great for shredding and making a mess … busy beak is an occupied brain.
 
hi your little one is beautiful. I had 2 kaks until a while ago. They are very inquisitive and learn very quickly. they are super fast flyers that can zoom around like mini tornados. They love willow and budlia branches. mine would strip a big branch in a matter of hours. they eat alsorts of stuff mine loved chillis. they are bottom feeders so a deep sprinkling of easybed is great for them to forage through.
 
Thanks for all the advise, very usefull & i will try them all.
We were told she is a cinnamon cross buttercup.
She has stood & even eaten out of my hand today, which I'm very suprized about so quickly.
I've read about "clipping" wings to help while training. Is this something you would reccomend doing?
All the best,, Dave
 
Wing clipping in my honest opinion is barbaric and should be banned.
If you put the time and effort in to win the trust and learn to understand a bird - each s an individual just like us we have our own quirks, then a far better bond and friendship can be attained. :) Glad you have made the decision to not do it from your understanding of reading about it.
I collect the flight feathers when they are moulted of my flock and send them to vets that do imping which is putting back the flight feathers of birds so that they can fly.
Sounds like you and your feathered companion are already well on the way to gaining that special friendship bond.
 
Welcome dave. I have a few kaks they all seem to completely love their fruit and veg which is brilliant as this is important for their health. Dandelions,carrots, chillies and peppers are my kaks complete favourite. They are so fast at flying so be careful about windows when they are out.
 
Hello again, could anyone tell me if it's safe to put Apple branches in with the leaves & flowers still on? Or should I strip them off?
Mainy thanks,,, Dave
 
I would spray with parrot safe disinfectant like f10, then let it dry and wash the branch with water including the leaves and flowers, then give it to your bird
 
@Dave Smith I use apple branches with leaf and flower on I do not disinfect them just give a gentle wash off with water to make sure there is no wild bird poop on them. I use heaps of them in my aviary and also for my house flock. I wouldn't bother with the f10 in this instance just make sure any obvious wild bird poop is gone. Your birdie is going to love those! And put them in straight away the fresher the better when it comes to flower and leaf
 
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