Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 9:24 am Post subject: Kakariki's Foraging Question
Hi,
I would just like to say what a great forum you have here!!!
Being a newbie with kakarik's i would just like to ask whether it is advisable to let our kakariki forage in the bottom of the cage? Originally we put wood chippings in the bottome and they seemed to enjoy rummaging about for bits of food that they have thrown out of the food bowl, but then somebody advised us to put the metal rack back in to prevent them doing this as there is the possibility of them coming into contact with their own waste.
The cage would be cleaned out once a week regardless so was just wondering what would be best? Let them forage or put back the rack
By nature Kakariki spend a lot of time on the forest floor digging for grubs and insects. (See section on diet and how Kakariki are different to most other parrots.) Feeding fresh veggies is important, if the veggies fall thru the bottom they then cant get to it. After a while u will get a 'feel' as how much to feed each day without wastage...Also dicing into approx green peas size also reduces wastage...and old material on the cage floor.
In Aviaries, many advise a tray of dirt to scratch around in...
We have pumice sand that is cleaned once a week. Plus leaved branches almost 2 m x 1m Diam go in each we, these also provide a great amount of material for them to scratch around in.
We have a couple of flightless (damaged in the nest) Kakariki in an indoor cage..this has a mesh base...on this we lay fresh news paper, changed every couple days...not cause dirty, but they have shredded it
We have other members far more experienced in keeping Kakariki as a pets, I'm sure they will be able to add far better practical advice later when they wake up or finish work (international times Zones )
Thank you for the complaints on the Site...Its the members and community that make it the way it has evolved.....Something that you r now part of, _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Hi shaun and ...I have the grate in the bottom of my boys cage but he can still reach through with his super long legs and get his left overs.....I also place some newspaper over the top of the gtrate sometimes and yes he shreds it all up...........I have a few scratch trays out side of the cage....under the play trees that he enjoys scratching about in.......I have sand in these and small sticks and some bark.....I will sometimes put some meal worms in which he spots in about 0.5 of a second or some sunflower seeds.......to anwser your question it is really up to you....if you are going to leave the grate out and allow him to forage on the bottom i would clean it out at least twice a week...and also consider using some other material rather than wood shavings like rivers sand.....and worm him regularly.......or you can place the grate back in and build him a scratch tray for when he is out of the cage. it depends on how much mess you want to clean up
Thankyou both for your advice! I think i'll go with the option of making a tray for when she is out of her cage. I did notice today that kikki was trying to reach down through the grate with her legs but they're just not long enough bless her.
She has just found out the joys of taking a bath and soaking the sofa, plug points and carpet... and don't they look delightful after a good soaking!!!
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