How Can I Tell My Birds Sex?

 

You can tell your birds sex by the size of the beak. Cocks usually have long wide beaks, Hens usually have shorter narrower beaks. Sometimes you may also notice that Hens have a flatter head than males. It’s not as fool proof as some will have you believe as sometimes both sexes will have long beaks although it’s not the length that is used to sex, it’s the width. It can cause some confusion sometimes and especially if you’re asking for it to be done by a picture, the best way is always to compare your birds if you have more than one you will always see the difference yourself that way.

 

What Size Should The Cage Be?

 

The cage should be as big as you can afford or fit in your room a lot of people use parrot cages. Although these birds are small they are extremely active birds and even if you are around a lot of the day to allow the bird plenty of time out the cage, which these need, there will always be times when this is just not possible, so the bigger the cage the better. BUDGIE cages and COCKATIEL cages are not suitable. Please also be aware of the bar spacing as these little buggers will stick their heads through if they can.   

 

What Nesting Material Do I Use?

 

A lot use many different materials but most common is wood chippings or shavings and peat. I’ve seen some use tea towels and towels as they say they can wash them, please these are birds!!! Nest boxes can easily be emptied and cleaned there's just no need to use them and also there’s the danger of threads wrapping around toes and necks.

 

 

 

What Size Nest Box Do I Use?

 

A cockatiel nest box is a suitable box these are usually around 12x8 in size. 

 

 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I Check The Nest Box? Will This Disturb The Hen Off The Eggs Or Chicks?

 

It is possible that you may disturb the hen off the chicks or eggs. However, I believe that all boxes need regular inspection for a number of reasons: to clean out the box because of mites and poo also to ensure the hen is not egg bound and to remove any dead chicks. It’s a very controversial subject, but, I’ve had 30 years’ experience keeping Budgies and Kakariki’s and I’ve only ever had 1 hen that refused to return to them after inspection and that was a Budgie. Take time to get to know your bird’s actions and reactions and this should not then be a problem.

 

How Many Eggs Do They Lay? How Often? When Do They Hatch?

 

They can lay up to 13 eggs, although, between 6 -9 is more common. They lay them every other day and take 21 days to hatch, the hen normally won’t sit until at least the 3rd egg has been laid so count 21 days from the 3rd egg this means your first 3 eggs will hatch on roughly the same

day. You can tell if the eggs are viable by candling them with a torch which in fertile eggs from about a week you should see veins. You can with experience see the difference in the colour of an egg, fertile eggs will become a lovely gloss white in colour, infertile eggs stay a matt white almost see through and dead in shell turn a grey black in colour.  

 

 

What Fruit And Veg Can I Feed My Kakariki?

 

Carrot, Chives, Cress, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme, Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Eggs Hard boiled, Basil, Dill, Lovage, Marjoram, Oregano, Sage, Tarragon, Spinach, Sweet, potato, Squash, Raspberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Apple, Pear, Banana, Grapes, Kiwi, Pomegranate, Tomato, Peppers, and the seeds, Dandelions, Corn, Cucumber, and Celery. And lots more:

NEVER feed avocado or chocolate, rhubarb, asparagus, they are toxic. Also avoid any type of drug (even the legal kind). NO alcohol. NO caffeine. Even decaf coffee contains some caffeine. Don't let your birds have any. While we're on the subject of drugs, Mammal bacteria is also dangerous. Do not allow your birds to share food with the dog/cat or drink from their water bowls. Likewise, do not allow your birds to take food from your own mouth. If you are going to share food give them their own plate or at least don't offer them anything your mouth has touched. Also NO dairy products what so ever NO Milk & NO Cheese.

 

PLEASE NOTE - Spinach contains a chemical which binds to calcium, making it unable to be absorbed by the body. It is healthy BUT should be fed sparingly.

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

My Bird Looks Like A Plucked Chicken What’s Wrong With It?

 

The chances are there is nothing wrong with your bird, captive Kakariki for some unknown reason tend to have very heavy moult’s especially yellows or buttercups. They can lose an alarming amount of feathers at once giving the appearance of an infection of mites or some dire Illness, some have even mentioned French moult, although to my knowledge this only appears in Budgies and occasionally Lovebirds, I’ve never heard of any documented evidence of French moult in Kakariki. In captive Kakariki it’s a common problem and should be treated with vitamins I recommend Guardian Angel but it’s your choice, if you know a good one I’m sure it will do the job and good diet as these can last for quite some weeks if not months. I will also say that treating your bird for mites should be a regular practice so it would not hurt to treat for mites too just in case. Ivermectin Drops 0.1% is as far as I'm concerned the domestos of the bird world for any bugs like: lice, worms and mites it will kill anything dead with a few treatments depending on how contaminated the bird is.

 

Since writing this document I have found that they have a mite that’s virtually all their own and therefore have made another document about them called Kakariki mites so it is also worth a good read.

 

Can I Breed A Red Crested And Yellow Crested Kakariki?

 

These will breed together, however its not something that’s recommended as they are different species of Kakariki. Again this is a very controversial subject that seems to upset a lot of people, while it’s not a practice I would purposely do myself they are your birds and what you do is your choice I'm not here to tell you what to do. Try to be as upfront and honest as you can regarding it's genes, sometimes you may not even be aware you have crossed birds until they breed.

 

 

My Male Kakariki Has Become Aggressive And Attacks Me?

 

Again this seems to be quite common from the research I’ve done and my experience. This is due to hormones which start to kick in at around 4 months of age, not all turn but it seems most do, not a lot can be done about this other than telling the bird off and putting him away. Do not wag your finger at him this will only induce more attacks. DO NOT EVER FLICK A BIRD ON THE BEAK. The best solution we have found is to make a fist and then present the fist to him when he attacks there are limited area's he can grip that will hurt with a tight fist. Most important DON'T back down you need to maintain dominance. I’ve found that introducing a female can also help calm him down but not guaranteed. It does pass, but you could have a good few months of a stroppy teenage bird on your hands. The attacks you will get when he is in the cage, although seem the same they are not these are over you entering his territory to change food water etc. and the best way to deal with these are by distraction techniques.

 

How Do I Tame My Kakariki He Won’t Come Near Me?

 

Patience is first and foremost try never to grab your bird to put him, away train them with sticks and hands to go back to the cage if they are left out long enough they will go back for food on their own, but again try not to shut the cage each time they go in, as they will get to know you’re putting them away. Taming these birds is not the easiest task as there so active, but they're suckers for food, so maybe try their favorite food next to you, then on you etc. until the bird is happy to come to you, it does work but takes time and patience. Remember though you have not bought a big parrot like a grey or a budgie or cockatiel that like to sit and look pretty on your hand, these birds will do just what they want, when they want and to get them to sit still and be stroked, touched and talked to is not always going to happen. 

 

What Toys Can I Put In The Cage?

 

You can put toys in the cage with a Kakariki but I would limit the amount, don’t over fill the cage, ropes should be checked and replaced regularly as Kakariki claws are long and can often snag, which if you’re not around could lead to broken legs etc. It might be best to have little to no toys in the cage and plenty outside for their adventures, that way the bird is safe. Please, Please don’t put snuggle huts in your cage these are extremely dangerous as the stitching and material can wrap itself around your birds legs and toes, necks and injure if not kill your bird. Look at getting either cardboard tubes or plastic piping like the one shown and attach carefully with cable ties, they love to roost in the items.