Boy or Girl?

Nally · Member Joined: Apr 21, 2007 Posts: 7

Help! I have two Kakarikis but I dont know if boys or girls! Could someone please help me? Dont blame me for Pumbas poor condition. Sadly that is how we discovered him in our local pet shop. We are trying to get him better.

Kaka-riki · Site Admin Joined: May 30, 2005 Posts: 363

They appear from the photo's to be both males. The bird in the first picture has an overgrown beak and poor feather. My guess would be that it has seen very little sunlight and is lacking in calcium. There are some very good perches available that have a rough surface. Something like that would enable the bird to grind the beak back to it;s correct length. A calcium supplement would also help.

Nally · Member Joined: Apr 21, 2007 Posts: 7

Thanks heaps! Poor pumba was stuck near the back of the shop in a cage that was far too small for a kakariki, no climbing space, not even a cuttlefish to help his beak. He was eating cockatiel seed and nothing else. Since coming to me he has a new food (fruit Parrot mix) lots of fresh fruit offered (as yet none taken but its early days) a big cage with lots to climb on and all the family talking to him. Hes alot brighter in himself and has even started to chirp.

Would he be able to get the beak back into shape on his own or would it be better to get it trimmed by the vet?

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Im not a fan of sand paper perches....
Rather, make sure she has cuttlefish, and If you can get it, a pumice stone.. a type of volanic rock that when dry floats on water...also sold for rubbing hard skin of your feet in the bath.
Use branches they can chew for perches, and a large rock, granite or something like that in the bottom of the cage.

Feed chop/ chicken bones with fat removed, and a little pumice sand in the bottom of the cage...

The over weight, exercise (flight) as much as possible...
A calcium jab /supliment as Kaka-riki suggests...

I agree with Kaka-riki, just treat the same, but different approah.

PS sry about the loss of your orginal post, had a major hack yesterday.

Nally · Member Joined: Apr 21, 2007 Posts: 7

already got cuttlefish. put an apple tree branch thats just started to sprout baby leaves and theres plenty of wooden toys to "chew" on. Pumbas been with me for three days now and is so much happier in himself. Hopefully its just a matter of time before he looks like a Kakariki should.

I would like to thank you for all the advice I've received so far. I know I will be asking many questions in the future because there isn't anyone around my area that knows much about kakarikis, even the vet doesnt know! This is a great site, thank you.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550