Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:36 am Post subject: New Kakariki owner
I got my first Kakariki 2 weeks ago. I called him Billy. I had a nymph and parakeets before him. Because this is my first Kakariki, I have some questions:
1. Billy won't eat anything but his seed mix. I tried to mix about 10 vegetables, but he only takes couple bites. I've also tried to give him some vegetables separately, but nothing. What should I do to make him like vegetables?
2. I talk to him as much as I can. I really want to make him trust me. How to train him to climb on my finger, or to come to me? And what to give him as a treat?
Getting onto a good diet can take months, or pateince than hard work thu.
You are on the right track about trust, but must also establish and maintian your alpha male statis.
There is a sticky thread "what do u feed..."
And many threads on taming
On the left is a "quick search" block words like taming and diet, veggies, treats etc
But realise that a kakariki is not a cuddly bird....by nature they are very active (not boring and just stit on a perch looking pretty most of the day) and very independant...do what they want when they want.
So it is very much a matter of giving them a reason to do what u want at the time and hope it works.
Personally, our cats, birds we prefer to co habit with them rather than have a cuddly toy.....they keep their natural instincts behavours (with reason)
Feel free to ask more questions if u cant find the answers
Cheers
Steps _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
I don't want cuddly bird. My nymph Teo was too cuddly, and it was boring. Billy is very interesting. I would just like him to come to me from time to time, to come on my shoulder and "speak" with me or something like that. I would also like him to come on command. That is all I want. To "speak" and sometimes plays with me. And I have another question: His nails are really big, I was wondering should I take him sometime to vet to cut them? I have thick branches in his cage, is that enough?
That is high expectaions for the independant nature of kakriki, but give him a reason is another story....
OH and because of the independant nature of kakariki they do not suffer the pscological issues other birds /animals as to plucking because bored or the owner gone on holiday.
Quote:
His nails are really big, I was wondering should I take him sometime to vet to cut them?
A vet will cut them because when compared to other species they are long.
We have never had to cut nails, and when have considered with resuced birds from bad enviroments/degelect, before we get around to it, they have nibbled and trimed the nails themselves..sort of break off well like a craft knife does.
The reasonthey have long nails is because in the wild they spend a lot of time ripping rotten logs to get at grubs and in the forest floor multch..
Considering this ....Protein....chopped up chicken bones/cooked caracss.
There is a reason for him to come down to you....once he knows what it is.
Capsuim seeds....mint leaves
Quote:
I have thick branches in his cage, is that enough?
Well thats what is needed rather than the dowels from a pet shop to devalope and keep good grip.....and if have bars in the bottom of the cage, get rid of them..remove cover with newspaper... they love ripping up newspapers and shoe boxes. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
OK, thanks, you've helped me a lot. I'm sure in time he will learn to come to me, I just have to be patient. Actually, this morning he came to me on the table to try my breakfast, but the bowl was already empty
Give him time, and he will come to you. I've had my Teo and Iwa since last August. At first they were a bit reserved, but now I'm used as an all purpose climbing tree. Why fly when there's a human elevator available?
Dietwise I use Steptoes brilliant advice as a guideline, but add local vegetables to the menu as well. My boys have always eaten well, they probably got used to a varied vegetable diet at their breeders. I keep a staple diet according to Steptoes menu, but I try to add something mnew every week, to introduce new foods to them. So far, everything goes, the favourite at the moment being dry Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica) I got sent from Iceland for Christmas. The only thing they have not eaten are very expensive organic grapes bought especially as a treat for them .
Yeah, I made that vegetables mix from Steptoe topic. I used everything I could find here, and I added something. He ate, but he still likes seeds better, but we give him vegetables every day. Billy is still afraid of us, but he is getting used to us.
I too am new to having a kakariki and would love to build up his trust in me. I have only had him for 5 days and already he will eat food from my had. my problem is knowing how to coax him out of his cage so he can have a fly about. The first time i tried it by leaving the cage door open he would not come out so eventually ni put my hand in the cage and he put one claw onto my finger but would not sit fully on it so i could carry him out of the cage. I managed to hold him but think this frightened him. Anyway after about half an hour of flying/hopping and sitting on the bed with me he made his way back to his cage, eventually finding his way in through the open door. Today though he seemed very frightened to come out of his cage and would not go back in. I eventueally netted him and put him back in his cage but obviously i do not want to do this everytime as it is just going to make him wary of me so any help would be very appreciated. Thanks.
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