I’ve kept birds for over 30 years since I was 13, back in the bad old days there was no Facebook, no internet, just the library and local clubs, If you were lucky and your face fitted you were helped and guided by the older members, but as a shy 13 year old kid that could sometimes be difficult. Eventually I was taken under the wing of a local budgie breeder who spent hours of his time helping me understand and care correctly for my birds and to him I will be eternally grateful.

 

About 4 years ago I got my first pair of Kak’s and quickly fell in love with their characters and charm to the point of after 30 year’s breeding budgies I swapped over to Kak’s and sold all my budgies.

I have scoured the internet now for almost 4 years and joined Facebook groups for information, which for Kak’s seemed to be a bit hit and miss, with very mixed messages about their care. I must say at this point that conservation of the species seems very well covered though on the net and I applaud those sites for their fantastic efforts. But everyday simple care seemed very mixed up and haphazard, which many members of the group seemed to experience on their journey through the net.

 

I joined loads of Facebook pages and saw argument after argument, over personal feelings of the right and wrongs of bird keeping, I’ll be honest some I got involved in on reflection I was wrong to have done so, but we live and learn, I’m human like the rest of you and I do make mistakes, and it’s the learning that brought me to gather the information I had found and share it with likeminded others in place safe, secure and free of ridicule. To do this I decided to start my own Facebook page were we have very strict rules which I and the rest of my superb admin team ensure all members adhere to. We only allow UK members, simply because it makes it easier regarding the sales of birds.

In almost 2 years of running the group I can only remember having one scammer that’s how closely we scrutinise those asking to join we accept no rudeness to admin or other members what so ever, Instead we encourage thoughtfulness and some tolerance of other people’s ideas and practices what suits you may not suit me and vice a versa. We try to ensure that one’s opinion can be expressed, but not at the cost of the recipient’s feelings and by that I mean no arguments, name calling and an all-out slanging match. However i will not tolerate deliberate abuse or advice that sugests abuse to a bird to control hormones, this will get you banned. I will not look for evidence that this has been done if im informed by members that that advice was offerd to them i will remove you without argument no matter how much you sulk, bully, or threaten me.

 

I do have strong feelings about some things like most people and therefore have requested in my rules that this is not done or at least not spoke of or posted about on my page. I accept no cruelty to the birds what so ever, or members consistently giving out bad advice like for example flicking the birds beak for biting or feeding a chick milk because you have no formula when mums abandoned it. Birds are not mammals and their certainly not punch bags, if you don’t know!!!! Don’t give advice, sit, watch, learn and listen and that’s common sense. I don’t know it all I don't proclaim to, no one does! There is much more knowledgeable and experienced people than me and thanks to them I learn more every day.

 

We try to apply a common sense approach to bird keeping along with facts and personal experiences, with a touch of light humour and a friendliness that feels more like a community than just a Facebook page, with weekly competitions and always someone on hand to lend an ear or answer a question, I can honestly say I regard many members as not just acquaintances but close friends.

I sincerely hope that my web page helps you out. Again I'd like to point out that not all documents were wrote by myself some I’ve copied, amalgamated with others and added or subtracted information to give you what I feel is the some of the best advice off the net. I hope if you’re in the UK you will join us on our Facebook page and continue your Kakariki journey with us, either to learn more or share you own experience and knowledge and as long as you can do that with courtesy, respect and most of all the Kakariki best interests at heart you will be made to feel most welcome on our group.