Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:03 am Post subject: Getting my first bird
Hello All and thank you for letting me join the forum.
So heres the story. my name is Nick and I'm looking at getting my first Kak at the end of the month when i'm paid. I have looked after budgies n the past and have some knowledge of bird care.
I think i have covered all the obvious topics when it comes to being a first time kak owner but i wanted to open the floor to abnormal queries or expiriences to make sure that i am ready for the task of looking after these beautiful animals.
I don't know if there is any forum member within reasonable distance from your town. Maybe you can take a car ride, or bus, visit the breeder and buy in person.
I suggest you go to a breeder, rather than a pet-shop.
Also, make sure you have a cage/aviary ready, with water, food etc... before you buy the bird.
Let us know about your progress, and of course you are to the forum! _________________ AD ASTRA PER ASPERA
few more:
-Place the cage as close as you can near a window but as far away of any heating source as you can.
- Teflon is poison to them, so not to close to a kitchen either.
- Take the bottom wire out. Kakariki love to forage on the floor.
- Wing clipping is not necessary. Kak's tame very easily.
- Don't buy a hybrid.(cross between red- and yellow fronted)
- Try not to buy a hand fed. Again, kaks tame easily and handfed kaks are not socialised in a birds way. Handfeds become overattached to their care taker. Sounds nice but is a garantee for lots of behaviour problems!
- Unlike most budgies, kak's are not cudly. They come and go as they please
- They need at least 2 or 3 hours free flight per day when kept as an indoor pet.
- Make sure the bird can have a daily bath.
- Have a list of avian vets nearby ready in case of emergency.
- Their diet is way different from what we tend to feed budgies. Make sure to read up on that on here.
Thanks for the replies. The birds will be living in my room and theres plenty of space for them to play in there.
I'm lucky really as there is a fresh fruit/veg shop in my village so I can get plenty of food for kaks and a great variety.
My main question is are there any disadvantages or problems if I keep 2 same sex birds? I'm not really in a position to start breeding so I wanted to avoid having a male and female.
Fortunately my Aunty knows breeders so I should be able to contact a breeder via her (she keeps larger parrots and cares for injured birds).
I keep 4 birds together. All males and they get along GREAT!
Everytime I introduce a newcomer I take it slow.
If I buy another bird I bring it home during the day.. so it can adjust to the new situation during day light.
If it needs quarantine, I keep it seperated in another room.
After some time I place it in a cage close to the rest of the flock. Preferebly a cage with the same hight and the feedingcups near to eachother. Eating together is a way to bond.
First time the flock has free flight with the newcomer still in his cage. See how they react. Than other way round. New comer flies.. flock in cage.
If all seems ok.. they all fly together , supervised.
Up to now I had no problems introducing a new bee. Specially not if the new comer is the youngest. Kakariki are wonderful fosterparents.
My oldest one is pretty attatched to me.. so I try avoid situations that could make him feel jealous.
I'm lucky really as there is a fresh fruit/veg shop in my village so I can get plenty of food for kaks and a great variety.
Eat healthy yourself, and feed the birds the leftovers (peelings, ends, apple cores, 1 or 2 lettuce leaves, a spoonful of sweet corn etc...). If you will keep 2 birds, even 1 apple or a pear or so is too much food for them. When you eat meat with a bone... give them the bone with the leftover meat.
If you have organics or a farmer's market it's fine, otherwise there is no harm in feeding regular groceries.
Cheers / Pablo _________________ AD ASTRA PER ASPERA
Ahh that's really good to hear, I was really concerned that there would be a conflict. I will be getting my cage in about 2 weeks time and then the birds at the end of the month (once I'm paid). Plan on getting wood chips for floor and hiding treats so they have to rummage around haha.
I use a news paper with wood chips on top. They are so messy, easier to clean for me this way.
I keep them busy by cracking a nut just a little so they have to work to get to the goodies. I pin a a slice of apple, half an orange or corn on the cob on a vegie pin ( BBQpin?) and hang top of the cage just out of reach. Makes a nice swing too!
Empty toiletrolls and bright coloured plastic bottle caps are fun foot toys.
They play hide and seek in rabbit tunnels made from straw or willow but a plastic tube works too.
A scratchbox ( shoebox) with some pieces of thick rope, newspaper etc ....
You can wrap goodies in paper or arabic gum.
They are so curious and easy to entertain, it does not have to cost a fortune.
oh.. and don't worry.. 4 kak's tame even easier than 1. Specially if one of them is tamed allready. They copy :)
Pet shops have staff that are paid peanuts and pretend to know about their 'product' and bids sold thru pet shops tend to be of far inferior quality in health and breeding....tend to be the place where breeders sell off substandard stock they cant get good prices for elsewhewre.
A lot of bad stories in these forums
This is the case for most more 'collectable' species of animals...birds dogs whatever. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Id definatley say go to a breeder.... some one who can tell you about the parents and know what they are talking about ... so read loads on here about hybreds (bad) and mutations (not bad) and learn what the different spiecies look like.... (its not as simple as being green or yellow) then you will know when you are being fed BS... also a closed ring on a birds leg will show you the age of the bird and should have a breeder ID on... this can help you know if they know what they are doing.
id also say read loads on here its the best rescorse ive found on the web and there arnt many books dedicated to Kakariki. Good luck _________________ May........
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