Welcome to Kakariki, Care, Breeding, Diet, Health, Aviaries and Conservation!
Ask Questions, Find Answers and DiscussionsKakariki Member Pics, Mutation/Species IdentificationInformation on Permits, Research Papers etcLinks to Other Sites and InformationYour A/C Details, Messages

     GT Modules
· Home
· Forums
· Email Webmaster
Email Webmaster for any problems with Registering, the site and General Enquires
·Link to Us, Details
Set to your default home page· Set Home page


       QuickSearch
Search Forums
for key Words
Advanced Search
 Search  Words

     NZ Conservation            Projects


DoC / NZ Conservation Sites


Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Wellington, NZ
New Zealand Conservation Management Group
The National Wildlife Centre
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
New Zealand Brown Teal (Pateke)


Kakariki, Care, Breeding, Diet, Health, Aviaries and Conservation: Forums

Kakariki, Care, Breeding, Ecology, and Conservation :: View topic - floor of the cage???
 Forum FAQForum FAQ    SearchSearch     Log inLog in/Register  

floor of the cage???
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Kakariki, Care, Breeding, Ecology, and Conservation Forum Index -> Aviaries, Flights and Cages
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 10:09 am    Post subject: floor of the cage???

I have just confirmed that I am getting Jonnys last hen chick from his last clutch....HOORAY.....Thanks Jonny!
Now I need to know...
What does everyone use on the floor of the cage?? I have seen these sandpaper like sheets but seeing as kaks love to scratch around so much I would prefer not to use these. In pet shops I have seen they use a pelleted type thing a bit like cat litter which absorbs the liquid, or of course there is sand which I am sure can be flung far from the cage (not worried about that) or sawdust but I do worry slightly about the tiny particles getting into their respiratory tracts and causing infections etc
Newspaper I have read is good, but do they eat this and does the ink not bother them??

Thanks
Orange <v>

_________________
Back to top
sarah87
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:58 am    Post subject:

hi orange

i wouldnt use sand paper as kikes spend most of there time on the cage floor, and ive heard that sanded perch covers make birds feet sore so i would think sand paper would be the same, ive tried mine with sawdust but they get it every where and im hovering 10 times a day signlol i personaly use news paper [they do nibble at it but it has'nt caused my birds any problems] im thinking of trying the wood chip stuff as i think it would give the birds a bit more intrest but who knows signlol

hope this helps

sarah
Back to top
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:38 pm    Post subject:

Thanks sarah,
I was thinking about that wood chip stuff too. Do you rip your newspaper into strips so they have more to rummage aroubd in or just lay the sheets at the bottom?
Thanks again : )

_________________
Back to top
sarah87
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:31 am    Post subject:

hi again

i put a few sheets in the botton and i rip some up aswell, i also get a few stones and twigs from our local park [washed well] which they enjoy playing with, my pair well mostly the female enjoy bathing a lot i put a heavy bowl with luke warm water in, i didnt no this at first and i found them trying to bath in there water dish signlol they love space mine are in a cage of 4foot tall by 20inches square [i think its a bit small 4 them so im going to get them another 1 asap] i have read somewhere that a cage of 5foot tall 3foot wide 2foot deep is perfect do you have any ideas on toys? at the minute they have a rope hanging 1, a plastic hanging 1[olympic rings], a bead and wood hanging 1, and a swing but they dont bother with them what toys are you going to try yours with? have you got any other birds?

sarah
Back to top
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:12 am    Post subject:

Hiya,

Oddly enough I was reading about zinc poisoning in parrots and found a website with instructions on how to test for zinc in the cage. I decided to do it seeing as it was so simple and found that the cage I had bought was coated in zinc!! So today I went and bought another cage with no zinc this time. Only thing is that this cage has a grill on the bottom of it, so I think I am going to buy or make a tray to go in the bottom of it so that she can scratch around still. I have decided that in the tray I am going to keep it as natural as possible and seeing as I live on a massive heath I can go out and collect leaves, twigs etc from there as well as from my garden. It is a wild heath and I have looked into whether the authorities use any insecticides or pesticides or anything (just in case) and they don't. It will all of course be thoroughly washed before using it and mixed with a little of the wood chip stuff and a bit of newspaper just to bulk it out. My cage I have is a meter long, just under a meter deep and just over a meter and a half high with a play perch on top, I hope she will like it!Do you think that is big enough? Do they play with stones??! Good idea! I would never have thought of that!

I was planning on having a couple of rope toys with fruit flavoured wood blocks on, a mirror, a swing type perch thing, one of those bird buddies (like a fluffy pouch for them to sit in) and I got a twisted rope thingy with plastic bits and a bell hanging off it.Though maybe she won't play with them if yours don't!! Also rolling round the bottom of the cage I will have one of those plastic cat balls with holes in so she can pick it up and fling it about. Thats what I am starting off with and seeing how we go, I don't want to clutter the cage up with toys so she has plenty of room to hop and fly about in although I do plan to have her out all the time that I am at home (obviously with the door ope so that she can go in if she needs to eat or rest). I will have a bathing dish too.

Hehe I am waffling now...sorry! I don't have any other birds and in actual fact she will be my very first bird that I have ever had which is why I have spent soooo much time researching! I have had pretty much everything else though, as a vet nurse I was always bringing something or other home!! At the moment I only have two dogs, one jack russell and a boxer cross german shepherd because all my rats died recently. I had six all from the same litter and they all died of old age at 4 1/2yrs old!
How about you, what other birds and other animals do you have?

Sorry for going on for so long!!! signlol

_________________


Last edited by Orange on Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:45 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
Tatters
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Mar 08, 2006
Posts: 62

PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:24 am    Post subject:

hi orange its nice to know i wasn't that far out with the question sarah 87 asked, as to your question i keep mine in a cage and i use sand paper on the bottom but i cover it with bird sand and oyster shell because they need the sand and oyster shell to grind down the food in the crop, mine go around the floor picking the oystershell up and eating it and the sand paper will keep the claws trimmed as they scrape i also use two pearches that are designed for keeping beaks ans claws trim. As for toys they easily get bored with conventional toys i made a sratch box for mine covered it with leaves and put a small amount of seeds in there so when they are out of the cage they can rummage it will keep them occupied for ages. As for perches be very carefull what you choose i have read that it is not wise to use apricot,cherry,peach,prune,plum or nectarine as these trees belong to the prunus spiecies they contain cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide if ingested i use apple branches they love them and if you want to give them another toy to play with try a kitchen roll tube they will spend hours looking inside. Wink
Back to top
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:43 am    Post subject:

Thanks Tatters...all good advice!! I was planning on giving some bird grit with oyster shell in, in a bowl but maybe now I will put it on the floor instead so she can scratch around and find it herself.
I have read the same thing about those branches and I have already cut and washed a few apple and pear branches. I also have one of those short cement perches too to help keep nails and beak trim but so that she doesn't always have to land on it. I like the idea of having the sandpaper sheets under the scratchy stuff. And I am pleased to hear that they are easily amused with toilet rolls!!!
I just can't wait to go and pick her up!!! I am so excited that I went to our local Notcutts today just to go and watch the kaks they have there!! (what a loser I am!!). Poor little guys had one rope toy in their cage which they obviously weren't impressed with at all and didn't look touched and nothing else but the sawdust to play with!! Made me want to get those ones too but I guess thats the idea...plus they cost £75 each!
Anyway....waffling again!!! signlol

_________________
Back to top
Tatters
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Mar 08, 2006
Posts: 62

PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:14 am    Post subject:

oh one other thing i also have a Manu perch in the cage it contains essential vitimins that birds need. Wink
Back to top
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:29 am    Post subject:

Oh...I've not heard of that before! Are they available from most pet shops?
Do they contain vitamins that they cannot get from a good diet?? Thanks again : )

_________________
Back to top
sarah87
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:58 pm    Post subject:

hi

sorry it took me so long 2 reply ive been re-decorating all day and i left pc on by mistake so it says on page im online wen i havent been, anyway your cage size sounds perfect for 1 bird, i find rough stones out the park im hoping it will keep there claws trim [i wont try cutting them myself as im scared of cutting them to short and making them bleed], i might try cat balls myself i didnt think of that but im sure they will love them or i might try hanging a few on a peice of string, how do you test 4 zinc on cages? i have a lot of pets probably 2 many signlol a staffordshire bull terrier, 5 fish, 7 cats, 4 cockatiels a red rump a amazon parrot and 2 kakarikis[ i only got them about a month ago so i was researching on them and came across this great site]

is there any short courses i can look in to as id love 2 eventually become a vet but im held back due to anxiety [i was bullied at school so i left early and neva done exams] im 19 thanks

sarah
Back to top
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:05 am    Post subject:

Hi Sarah,

http://www.synnovation.com/zinctesting.html

This is a link to the website I used, it explains exactly how to do it. Hope you find it useful!
You do have a lot of pets!! I used to have a staffie too...wonderful dogs!
Erm, short courses...well, it's a long process to become a vet. If you never took any exams at all then you would have to start at A level I think (although I am not sure if you need to have done GCSEs to be able to do A levels) you need to have 3 A levels and have no more than one B (the others A or over) to be able to get into vet school and then its 6 years or something full time to become a qualified vet.

If you meant vet nurse then that is much easier, if you don't have any GCSEs you can do a years (part time) course called the pre-vet nurse course or if you have 6 GCSEs grade c or above including maths, science and english you can go straight onto the vet nursing course. It's done in two years the first being the NVQ2 in vet nursing and the second year being the NVQ3, once you have your NVQ3 you are considered fully qualified. All the time you are doing this part time course you have to be employed in a veterinary surgery so that you can do the practical side of the course (which is extensive!).

But it's all great fun even though its hard work at times, I thoroughly enjoyed being a vet nurse. I have given it up now though....you have to be fully prepared for not being paid much at all, working very long hours plus call outs in the middle of the night and weekends and very hard work on your feet all day with no thanks from anyone without the chance of actually going anywhere in your proffession. Unless you go into zoo animals or something similar (which of course is incredibly competitive as there are only a certain amount of jobs in the country for that sort of thing!) you can only get promoted to head nurse....big whoopee do!!!

Anyway, I have waffled on for far too long again!!! hehehe and not even about kaks...sorry steps! imsry

_________________
Back to top
Tatters
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Mar 08, 2006
Posts: 62

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:22 am    Post subject:

hello orange you can buy Manu perches off the net i got mine from www.forbirds.com/perches small Manu perch £4.68
Back to top
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:38 am    Post subject:

Brilliant thanks Tatters thumb
_________________
Back to top
sarah87
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:54 am    Post subject:

hi orange

thanks 4 the testing 4 zinc address ill check that out as soon as ive posted this thanks for info on being a vet nurse i will look in to doing the pre vet nurse course i think, do all college do the course? and would they find a placement? also as i left school at 14 i didnt get any gcse so would i need to get english maths and science before taking the course? the way my anxity is i cant even get out of the house without having a panick attack but i really love animals thats y ive got so many i will acheve it eventually even if it takes another 10 years dont worry about going on so long i enjoy reading ur replys

sarah
Back to top
Orange
Snr Member
Snr Member


Joined: Apr 17, 2006
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:50 am    Post subject:

Hi,
You don't need GCSEs to get onto the pre vet nurse course at all which is handy! Usually you do it the other way around...find a job in a vets as a trainee and they will put you onto the college course..good thing is that most vet surgerys will pay for your course so it's all free!Not all colleges do it, it's usually agricultural colleges that do it because they have animals around!

Sounds like you could do with doing something like that for your confidence lvls, it helped me no end!It might be worth starting off with a part time or weekend job in your local animal shelter or something like that. To get you into going out and that sort of thing also it'll look good when you do apply for a job in a surgery!
It's a good job really. I do have to tell you though that it can be pretty upsetting at times, not all cases can be helped and some animals get put to sleep for no good reason (ie ex racing greyhounds) and also not all vets do the job because they love animals and I have seen many vets treat animals in a way they shouldn't....just to prepare you! Although I am sure you know that it's not all rosey!! Any more questions, just ask away, I could talk about animals and this sort of thing all day, everyday!
I am actually finding it a bit weird since I started working with kids and realising that not everyone around you cares about animals...in fact a few ppl I work with now think it's strange that I love them so much!
Good luck with it!! : )
<v>

_________________
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Kakariki, Care, Breeding, Ecology, and Conservation Forum Index -> Aviaries, Flights and Cages All times are GMT + 13 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3
Copy Paste Text Here to Translate
Select Language and Translate

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Powered by PHPBulletinBoard © 2001-2008 phpBulletinBoard Group
PHPBulletinBoard port based on Tom Nitzschner's PHPBulletinBoard upgraded to PHPBulletinBoard 2.0.7
Standalone Developed Tested by: ChatServ, mikem,
and Paul Laudanski (aka Zhen-Xjell).

by Nuke Cops © 2004




All Logos and Trademarks in this site are Property of their Respective Owners.
Statements and Views Expressed on this web site Represent the Opinions of the Authors.
Neither this Site or the Publishers of this Site Assume Any Liability for the Information Contained Herein.
ANY CONTENT from this Site can only be DISTRIBUTED/PUBLISHED/USED ELSEWHERE with PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION
ALL COMMENTS/PICTURES/CONTENT are the PROPERTY of the CONTRIBUTORS and © 2004/2023 by WWW.KAKARIKI.NET

Web site engine's code is Copyright © 2003 by NukePortal. All Rights Reserved. NukePortal is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL license.
Page Generation: 1.509 Seconds