MY NEW FAMILY MEMBERS

[Karen]

I use CALCIYUM and use 35ml per litre, the birds tend to like the taste (caramel).
$75 for 2L will last me well over a year.

[avinet]

I would just use cuttlebone for most of the year and start calcium supplement in the water (any of the usual brands are OK) when it looks like they are getting serious about breeding. It is possible to over-suppplement with calcium which is why I don't use a water supplement outside of breeding season.

cheers,

Mike

[Karen]

Little red chillies kaks go absolutely ape over.

[meandem]

So now my next question, Avical - from the Petshop maybe? CALCIYUM from the Petshop too? Because I live 40kms out of the nearest town, I don't get to town a great deal. I'm only in there every 2-3 weeks. And to add further, the town of Inverell has only about 10,000 people. We have only one petshop, and supplies are limited. But the lady that owns it, is very helpful and always willing to oblige. I might drop in next time I go to town.

Another question........So when do yours breed? Same time as all the other birds - meaning October through to Feb? My Hooded Parrots breed in March/April and they are the only ones that do go down at that time of the year. At the moment, the only birds I have nests in with are the Quakers, because they sleep in the nest. We generally give all the others their nests in about August/September (depending on how cold it still is) and let them go and investigate and start fresh. They seem to like the challenge.

So many questions.......The little red chillies? Please explain. You mean like the ones in the supermarket? I have never given my birds chillies, mostly becuase I am not sure which ones to give. I have heard of it and was unsure, but now I have all you new found friends to ask my dumb questions too, it is so helpful.

[avinet]

Any calcium supplement for birds that the shop sells is OK. We sell ones by Vetafarm, Aristopet and Avian Science. Others are around as well.

Kakarikis breed at similar times to other parrots - mainly spring and early summer. I have had clutches from August through to November, and I have known local breeders even have nests in the austumn here - coastal SE QLD. I always used a standard cockatiel nest box for them.

cheers,

Mike

[summit]

I have one pair of Kakariki with eggs due to hatch any day now, and another pair just started laying.

I use a much larger than usual size box for them. I like the "L" shape boxes, only because they can regularly have 8 - 9 chicks at a time and it gets very tight with a smaller box. This is particularly dangerous if it gets warm out.

Kaks like the cooler weather and don't tolerate heat very well I have found, especially the young.

That is just my experience.

I think Mike made a very good point about the calcium with not using it all year. I agree 100%, but I am giving it to my Kaks now as they are breeding.

[silvercloud]

You can give your birds any chillies, don't worry about the heat factor as they don't taste the hotness the way we do. Try different ones ie large green, small red etc they may like one type more than another.

[Jane]

Jun 29, 2008 8:28:41 GMT 10 meandem said:

So now my next question, Avical - from the Petshop maybe? CALCIYUM from the Petshop too?

Don't forget to try the produce/stockfeed too

[Karen]

The little red ones are good because the kaks will take one up to the perch with them and eat it there.
Can also order calcivet direct from Vetafarm www.vetafarm.com.au/index2.asp

[meandem]

:DThanks again everyone :Dfor all the valuable advice, I am now chasing up the calcium. Mick put in the nest box today for the Kaks, and they were so inquisitive, as soon as he put it in they were both looking in it. With the chillies do you give the chillies whole to the birds or do you take the seeds out?



****I use a much larger than usual size box for them. I like the "L" shape boxes, only because they can regularly have 8 - 9 chicks at a time and it gets very tight with a smaller box. This is particularly dangerous if it gets warm out.****

L shaped box? Do you have a pic? I have given them a rosella sized box, do you think this will be big enough?

[summit]

meandem I have no doubt the Kakariki will nest in that size box. Mine had their first clutch in a lorikeet box wich is roughly the same size. The hen had 7 chicks hatch and by the time they were fledglings it was very crowded. That is the only reason I up-sized the base area of the nest.

I am about to make a new box within a day or two and will snap a pic of that for you. I find making my own nest boxes is 1) cheaper, 2) more rewarding and 3) I can make it to the size I like and put in inspection hatches. They may not be the prettiest, but they work lol.

If you, or anyone else likes I can take pics along the way as a sort of "how to".

[meandem]

We make all our own boxes for that reason, it is cheaper, and totally rewarding. And of course the inspection hole is a must! My husband has been fiddling the last few days, and started to make some nests made out of PVC pipe. I'm not totally sold on the PVC pipe, but have seen a lot of nests made out of these. People that use them, rave about the PVC pipe.

[pinkdevil]

Oh goodie another "how to" instructions lol

Remember to make it "Tasha" friendly.

Hey maybe you should video it all & put it on DVD summit!

[Karen]

Leave the seeds in the chillies.

[silvercloud]

You can give them the seeds. Try whole and cut up and see which they prefer. The little ones can be given whole ;D

[meandem]

Cool, I can't wait to go and buy some chillies now. The Kaks are settling in real well. They both are so comfortable - they look like I have owned them forever! They have such an air of confiedence about them.

[Karen]

Buy yourself a chillie plant, we did and it lasted a couple years.
My father and I learnt the hard way just how hot those chillies are to humans, never seen a man cry so much! lmao!!

[silvercloud]

Hahaha yeah there are some pretty hot chillis. ALWAYS remember to wash hands, knives and chopping boards after chopping chillis cos if you dont and you touch your eyes with your fingers well........

[Karen]

or go to the toilet without soap washing your hands . . .

[meandem]

I must remember all these rules when handling chillies. So which Chilli plant do you suggest I buy? Red? Green? I know there are a few varieties. Also, can I give chillies to all the other birds?