Kakariki

• ExerciseVery high

  A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment15–20 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Respiratory issues · Feather plucking · Obesity

The kakariki is New Zealand's tireless little parakeet, famous for running and scatter-foraging on the cage floor like a wind-up roadrunner. Bursting with curiosity and energy, it is one of the busiest small parrots, so it needs a large flight cage or aviary, constant foraging opportunities and a rotating supply of toys — a bored kakariki becomes destructive and frustrated. It is more independent than cuddly, prizing activity over lap time, and can be nippy, but it is endlessly entertaining to watch. Because it is so active, its diet should be generous and varied: mostly pellets and a wide range of fresh vegetables, fruit and sprouted seeds, with some seed, to fuel that high metabolism. A specific health note comes from its floor-foraging habit: kakarikis are more prone than most parrots to intestinal parasites (worms and coccidia), so scrupulous cage hygiene and routine parasite checks matter. Watch also for obesity if activity is limited, feather plucking and respiratory disease, and keep the air free of the non-stick fumes, aerosols and smoke that are lethal to birds. Give a kakariki space, enrichment, a varied diet and clean housing, and it will be a lively, exploring companion for fifteen to twenty years.

• How much activity does a Kakariki need?

  Very high. A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• How much feather care does a Kakariki need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Kakariki need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Kakariki a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Kakariki live?

  15–20 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Kakariki?

  Keep an eye out for Respiratory issues, Feather plucking, Obesity. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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