So, you wanna get a Kakariki but don't know where to start researching? Then this is for you! In this blog, i'll cover the topics of
This is a work in progress and updates will be made nearly everyday.
Kakarikis are a bird in the parakeet family, they are related to the amazon parrot and actually look like a miniurature version of them. They have very large feet made for scratching around in the dirt, their behaviors are similar to chickens. They come in a variety of colors like green, yellow, and blue. Just like amazons, there are different kakariki fronts. Fronts are the feathers on the birds "forehead". There are three different kakariki fronts, red-fronted, yellow-fronted, and orange-fronted. In the beginning, when people first found out about these wonderful birds, they thought the orange fronted kakarikis were a result of hybridizing the red fronted and the yellow fronted, but this was proven false later in time.
Kakaikis come in a variety of color mutations, my personal favorite is a pied turquiose, but anyways onto the first color: Green, aka wild type. Wild type kakarikis are green all around, with a blue flight feather and a red stripe going across its eye. This is the most common color of kakariki, and are the easist to find. The cinnamon color, despite the name they are actually also green, not a brown like you would think. They have pale-colored pink legs, and plum colored eyes aswell as a dulded color. The turquoise, they are a light blue with beige stripes around the eyes, and speaking of the eyes theirs are usually a redish brown or completely black. Pied, this is basically the result of a certain color gene that makes splotches of different color on the bird. Pied is one of my personal favorites, and this can be on any kakariki. The most common is a pied mixture of yellow and green. Goldcheeks, this is a result of combining the genes dominant and recessive pied. They are bright yellow, and has a red stripe by the eye. There are so many color mutations it would take hours going over.
So, here comes the part anyone reading came for, the actual care of the bird. First of all, these tiny birds are extremely active, they love flying and playing and overall just having a fun time, therefore they need a bigger cage then you really thought they would. A cage the dimensions of 64 in L x 21 in W x 65 in H is good, but remember that they need multiple hours a day out of the cage. They should be given lots of natural wood perches, and i've seen that cork wood toys are very benefitial for them. They love chewing, so thats why those toys are great. They need lots of foraging toys, i would suggest buying a foraging wheel for them. You should also get a uvb bird light because these birds need sunlight, it'll benefit them very well and provide them will many vitamins. They really enjoy bathing, so i would suggest getting a bath for them as well.
What i find very unique about these birds is their diet, they eat fruit, seeds, grain, but also bugs. You need to give them a bit of everything, i say you should have them on this feeding schedule:
while parrots can eat a wide variety of veggies and fruits, there are some that are extremely toxic and can kill your birds. Here are some:
NOTE: THESE ARE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES.
This goes for most parrots, not just kakarikis.
poor feather appearence can be one of the biggest giveaways along with not eating, overeating, or just an overall change in their diet. Birds hide their sickness cause they will get kicked out of the flock if the other birds find out, so when a bird starts showing symptoms it might be too late. ( Thats why its important to have vet visits regularily. ) Weakness, drooping of wings, and reluctivity to move are also major give aways, If you notice a change in your birds behavior, its best to get them checked out by a professional.
These birds are unique little souls who will fill your life with joy, i hope you have fun with your little clown with wings!
