Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:54 am Post subject: New - thinking of getting a kakariki
I'm new here, new to kakarikis, too. I have a greencheek conure and recently lost a beloved little budgie.
A breeder about an hour's drive away from me has a female baby kakariki for sale.
I just keep reading a lot of mixed things about kakarikis. Some places describe them as being like big budgies - sweet, friendly, hyper, non-cuddly - which sounds great. The breeder says she keeps her pair of kaks with some rosiefrons conures and they get along.
But then I also sometimes read about them being aggressive to people or other birds as well. The most disturbing was someone claiming they'd seen one kill and start to eat a cockatiel.
I guess I'm just looking for more peoples' experiences with adult kakrikis as pets. I don't mind a bird that nips a little, but wouldn't want to consider one that could be a danger to my sweet conure.
Also, are there any significant differences in males and females in personality. I've read males can be better talkers but that's about all I can find.
Kakariki make great pets.. or rather co habit/ flat mate.
They have a very independent nature, do what they want when they want, combine that with always on the ball, active.
So ifd intending to 'train', they respond ver well, so long as you make what they want to do in their interest.
As to biting...generally bitting, in any birds, animals is because unintentional trained that way...
IE they start of testing a finger if eatable, finger gets pulled away, then returned , pulled away... now we have a 'game' going. There becomes no point in the game where the degree of limitation how hard to bite (nibble) is also trained in...
The other situation , also applies to cats dogs etc.. a female pet will 'take' to the male member of the family.. even if it is a female family member how ALWAYS feeds it. This also has possession/ jelious issues .
And visa versa
Combine this with previous paragraph on biting and one has a 'situation' be it a cat dog or bird etc.
Aggression.. kakariki ARE NOT AGGRESSIVE... but if paired off , gone to nest, unlike lot other birds.. love birds, red rumps etc.. which normally are good pets.. THEY become very aggressive to the extent to find other birds in the flight dead one morning...
Kakariki, become INTIMIDATING when go to nest around the nest to strangers, and other birds.
As to eating a carcass.. doubt very much if the perpetrators of the death.. considering kakariki spend much of their time on the ground and digging rotten logs for protein.. grubs etc.. will feed on dead fish on the beach.. would not be surprising the check out a bit fresh meat on a flight floor...but not the cause of the death.
Talking.. they are not great talkers, depends on the individual bird, rather than gender.
Best to have as a pet.. as paragraphs re bonding but over all , a male bird. They tend to be more interactive, active and independent.
They mix well with other birds.. from budgies, cockatiels to sulphur crested, crimson wing, burkes, turqs, king parrots dogs cats and children.
Intelligence.. kakariki are far more intelligent than other birds their size.. they use tools, learn quick, count, use feet to eat
Their independent nature and intelligence means they dont get into feather plucking type psychological issue as many other birds do... But does mean they are not a small cage bird.. they need space flight etc.
It is one species not a good idea to trim feathers.. they rem a long time how and who did it..
Trimming feathers is done by pet owners too lazy and dont have the responsibility to look after their pets well.. the pet is a moving ornament altitude rather than a living animal/ friend.
Noise, they have a very unique, sort of subdued machine gun chatter, so make them an ideal urban/ apartment bird.
Make use of the "Quick Search" block on the left.
All your questions are covered in real detail by real pet owners over several decades... and top breeders around the world.
Get your 1st kakariki, and you will never turn back. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Thanks for the reply.
So it sounds like females don't bond as well as males?
Also, I don't like to cage my birds - they have cages but aren't locked in them.
The reason I'm mentioning this is that I know from experience that it's almost impossible to keep birds from finding or seeking out nest sites in the house. I used to have a male linnie who would try to defend the space under a pillow on the sofa or under a jacket hanging on a chair - to the point where we finally gave him a dresser drawer as his nest just for his own safety.
So I'm concerned if a kakariki could become aggressive enough around a perceived nest site to be dangerous to another bird.
So it sounds like females don't bond as well as males?
No.. the males just tend to be more 'out going' interactive
Quote:
The reason I'm mentioning this is that I know from experience that it's almost impossible to keep birds from finding or seeking out nest sites in the house.
No female around to approve of a possible nesting place chosen by the male, no defence.
The thing with house parrots, free to fly at will 24/7.. it to 'train' them that their cage is where they roost, feel secure, feed in or next to, bath in etc.
Quote:
So I'm concerned if a kakariki could become aggressive enough around a perceived nest site to be dangerous to another bird.
As I said, unlike red rumps . lovebirds that you will wake up with dead birds on the aviary floor, at most kakariki will intimidate.. even larger birds like crimsons and kings.And for that to happen you need a pair and a couple nesting boxes that they have taken a liking to.. and actually gone to nest.[/quote] _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
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