Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject: Self plucking male - question in here somewhere...
We have a 5 month old male red-crowned Kakariki "Kiwi" since June (we completed the handfeeding on him). He has been wonderful for us - sitting on our shoulders, talking all that we have taught him - a real joy.
We wanted a friend for Kiwi and understand that he is too young to mate - we don't want any mating until he is at least 1 year old (next summer).
7 days ago we brought home an 8 month old female lutino red-crowned Kakariki "Tiki" and put her in a separate cage right beside Kiwi's cage. She was parent raised and is molting. During the past 7 days when we let Kiwi out of his cage, he would go over to Tiki's cage and climb all over the outside of it and they would chatter back and forth in Kakariki language. Kiwi still speaks all we have taught him too of course.
Yesterday we joined the two of them into the same cage as the breeder said it would be fine. We will NOT add any breeding boxes until next summer. Well they seem to have hit it off like a pair of lovesick cows! Within 10 minutes of being in the same cage, Kiwi began actually feeding Tiki!! We couldn't believe our eyes. It's like something out of a romance movie. Tonight they are perched/sleeping right beside each other on a 6" perch (althought there is a much larger perch for them if they want it).
Kiwi has not molted yet. But since yesterday we've been finding small grey/green feathers around the cage - about 10 so far (the first we've ever seen from him). And today we saw him pluck one out - so we assume he is plucking himself suddenly. WHY would he be doing this all of a sudden? Is he trying to impress Tiki? Does he want to give feathers to line a non-exsistant nest?
We are thrilled that this couple seem to get along so well together, but I don't want a naked boy . Any ideas on why he may be plucking himself? Is there anything else we should be prepared for that he may do?
Apologies for the length of this post.
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This plucking is not a normal behavour for Kakarki
Im wondering if mites have been introduced with the new bird...this is not uncommon and the reason isolation periods should be given, where worming/ miting is done before introducing new birds. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
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