Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:20 am Post subject: forum/kak noob
hello peeps, I'm new to all this, in fact I've never been on a forum(of any kind)in my life so here goes.
I'm from the uk and recently bought a kakariki lutino from a pet store after the loss of my best bud Bobby(a cockatiel). I fancied something different, maybe a bit more of a challenge than my beloved tiel (who I hand tamed and trained myself), but of a similar size. Anyway after 10 wks its still a bit one step forward and two steps back as far as trust is concerned. She's quite a fickle little thing(I'm only assuming shes female, i dont know for sure) most days she will venture out of the cage and hop on my hand if i'm holding some sunflower seed hearts(but only for a few seconds) and some days she'll just ignore me. Out of the cage she is very reluctant to step up but with patience eventually she will but as soon as she sees my other hand she just scatters usually ending up on the curtains. I dont understand it, why is she so afraid of me, Bobby was so brave and tough , I'm just at loss. Over the past week or so she has started shedding feathers theyre all over her cage and she scratches herself on her head so vigorously that a small bald patch has appeared. Is it stress, is it mites or does she just plain hate me. I know her cage is a bit on the small side so I've ordered a much MUCH larger one, other than that i'm stuck and dont see how can develop any kind of relationship with her.
She's quite a fickle little thing(I'm only assuming shes female, i dont know for sure) most days she will venture out of the cage and hop on my hand if i'm holding some sunflower seed hearts(but only for a few seconds) and some days she'll just ignore me. Out of the cage she is very reluctant to step up but with patience eventually she will but as soon as she sees my other hand she just scatters usually ending up on the curtains. I dont understand it, why is she so afraid of me,
The 1st thing u have to understand is the uniqueness of the kakariki... unlike any other parrot... they are full of energy and have a very independent nature....basically u co habit with a friend rather than have a cuddly pet..
They do what they want to do when they want to... which means its up to to supply the right incentive at that particular time for them to do what u want then.
As to the feather loss.... mites combines with most proberly poor diet over a long period..
on the left is a "quick search" block...
invermectin apple cider vinegar diet taming
search each independent and read a lot, being forums u will also learn a lot of other stuff
And look for a thread called "what do u feed...." _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Thanx for the feedback, will certainly take it on board. From what I've been reading elsewhere on the site I don't think I'm far off as far as her diet goes. She gets a good quality parrot mix supplemented with apples, grapes, oranges,nectarines, the odd strawberry, carrots, peas and broccoli. I use the sunflower seed hearts as a treat/training aid cos she loves them. Pretty much the same as my tiel. The protein thing is a bit radical, my son has a bearded dragon, I spose I could steal a few meal worms- would that be ok u think? And dandelions?? I assume that means just the greens??
Really? , I suppose only to those who keep pets and never bother to find out what they eat in the wild... or read what is on the packets ingredients of artificial processed pet foods they feed them.
Even grass parrots like budgies cockeils will get into a bit of protein, iron and the calcium in the cartilage of a chicken breast bone and leg joints. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Well that's me told. Dumbass pet owners eh. Thanx for the info, I'll defo try the meal worms maybe even worms from the garden (and next time I go to KFC I know where to dump the leftovers.)
Hey, don't be too hard on yourself, this forum is for everyone to chat and exchange ideas, and for people to get new ideas and information. That's what you did, you sought new info and now you know about the protein. Just another idea, my guys love a little hard boiled egg, some peanut butter, a little salmon or tuna if I'm making a sandwich and I do give a meal worm too. I usually pull meal worm head off first so they don't get a chance to crawl away or wiggle too much when they get picked up by birds. My guys will often eat a little portion of whatever I am having for dinner, they hop over to my plate and beg or steal a bite or two.
Have fun with your new feathered friend.
Mine was very aloof at first too, they are not the type of parrot that likes a lot of handling and will sit on your shoulder while you walk around, they seem like they can take us or leave us. After 8 months with mine, he will tolerate me scratching under chin and chest area. He also likes it if I hold him like a sandwich in my hands, turn him upside down on his back in the palm of hand, and give him a tummy tickle. They are not the cuddly type of parrot you may be used to from other pets. They do make lovely companions though. They tilt head and listen to you, do acrobatics that will make you cry with laughter, and talk to you with their chirps as if in reply to your conversation. You just need to get used to a different type of relationship with this unique little bird. They do make great pets/companions.
Enjoy your new friend.
Sandra and Nibbles + Pepper.
Im not a person who is exactly the most diplomatic....tend to say it without frills... occasionally over sensitive ppl who need to get a life outside Facebook and Twitter BS, take offense...
Glad u took it in the way it was meant and with added humour
Its rewarding to have ppl like u guys along....
Cheers
Steps _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Hey, just an update, I tried my guys with a chicken leg bone & cartilage for the first time today.....they looked at me like "are you kidding" and flew away. I tried a few more times and couldn't get them interested. I'll try several more times, but they took to the egg and other proteins with no fuss at all.
Keep us updated how things are progressing.
Nibbles & Pepper
Some ppl .. older posts , have kakariki raised only on junk food seed and have found it take months to even get them started on good diets..
We have also seen it with birds we have sourced.. and not just kakariki
So be patient....
lots thing like this... eg once one gets to the 2nd or 3rd generation of hand raised parrots, the then loose the 'instinct' to raise the chicks... we see this in other species as well, including humans _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Hi peeps, thanx for the input, some good ideas, stuff I wouldn't have thought of. Got some wax worms, she was a bit scared of them so i imagine mealworms would frighten the life out of her so thats a bit of a non starter. Put a few spare rib bones in her cage with a bit of meat an gristle on them, she just looked at me as if to say "wots up, have you forgot where the bin is". I already know she doesn't like peanuts because she painstakingly removes them from the parrot mix i give her but I'll persevere (she's fussier than my kids)
So Kura's new cage arrived, at least ten times the space she had before and I started treating her for mites the stuff is called "anti-mite extra" by Johnson's, it was recommended by a member of staff at the pet store I bought Kura from, she was very helpful and seemed quite knowledgeable. The active ingredient is "permethrin". I'll keep you guys posted on her progress. Cheers.
Fusser than your kids ?
Hmmmm When our children where growing up,, either eat what is in front of u or go hungry.. we didnt have fussy children ? And /I ws not going to have the fresh veggie I grew in the garden wasted in preference to processed / paged junk food.
My problem was kept unaccountably running out of the parrot chopped veggies.. When your children grow up these mysteries this become apparent... our children used to make sandwiches out of them after school Or would simply grab a handful to munch on.
Got some wax worms, she was a bit scared of them so i imagine mealworms would frighten the life out of her so thats a bit of a non starter. [/quote]
Put them in, I dont believe if u do she will stay scared for ever... there is no way a bird can hang off the top of a cage for a lifetime....
Eventually they get used to them , test them , play with them and learn they are good for them... including bones etc _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
ha, when I say my kids are fussy eaters that doesn't mean they always get thier own way OMG that would be inviting chaos to rule, like you i'm not one for wasting good grub. Which is why I followed your advice and put the wax worms in Kura's cage anyway... and guess what... curiosity got the better of her and she had a nibble, she wasn't too sure but I think thats progress. Also left a bit of scrambled egg for her from my breakfast this morning, next time i looked it was gone (would never have thought of that before coming on here)
.
oh and I think shes stopped scratching
Hey good job!! You're getting her used to the new things. My guys were tentative about the mealworms at first but I cut the heads off so they don't wriggle around so much and now they just grab them and gobble them up right away. Still trying the chicken bones, but no luck yet.....I will keep trying. I have always given some source of protein but like you, I need to work them up to trying different varieties.
Glad the mite remedy is helping. She must be so happy with her new cage space!!
Keep up the good work.
Sandra, Nibbles & Pepper.
99% of our birds protein is left over meats/ bones from roasts / casseroles, BBQ whatever, chicken, lamb, beef, pork, fish whatever.. then chopped up into pea size with knife , cleaver.
For the community aviary , after cooking a sheep on a spit over open fire, (Robin Hood style except electric motor) whats left of the rib cage simply gets thrown in....looks a little like an old elephant grave yard
The legs bones etc , guests take those home for their cats/ dogs... _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
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