Kakariki: what toys and ground activities keep it busy?
A kakariki denied ground-level activities gets bored even in a cage full of standard hanging toys: this New Zealand-native parakeet naturally digs and forages on the ground rather than perching up high, a behaviour that needs to be fed with the right setups rather than ignored.
Why aren't standard toys enough for this species?
A study by Cheryl Meehan, James Millam and Joy Mench, published in 2003 in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, found that foraging opportunities and greater physical complexity in the environment markedly reduced psychogenic feather picking in young Amazon parrots, with prolonged occupation from searching for food playing a key role in that result (study on Google Scholar). The kakariki, a natural ground-digger, gains a particularly strong benefit from this kind of active-search enrichment.
What ground-level setups should you offer?
- Digging tray: filled with a safe substrate (shredded paper, untreated wood shavings) and small hidden seeds, refreshed regularly.
- Low tunnels: made of cardboard or wood, sized for the bird's small frame, placed at the bottom of the cage or play area.
- Ground-level foraging toys: wicker balls filled with vegetables or small boxes to open, rather than toys hung up high.
- A secure out-of-cage floor area: a supervised ground space, with no outdoor access, where the kakariki can explore freely.
Should you also provide toys higher up?
Yes, a kakariki also climbs and flies, and a cage built exclusively around ground activities would leave it incomplete. Balancing a digging tray with regular perches prevents monotony; our guidance on fully setting up the cage is covered in kakariki: digging tray and accessories for a ground parakeet.
How do you keep these activities interesting over time?
Regularly vary what goes in the digging tray and change where you hide things, rather than repeating the same setup every time, since a kakariki quickly loses interest in a static arrangement. Adjust the daily food ration to match this increased activity too, covered in kakariki diet: the daily ration. All our toy guides are in the bird toys and enrichment section.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a risk of the bird eating the substrate in a digging tray?
The risk stays limited with a safe, non-toxic substrate, but avoid scented or chemically treated bedding, and watch for a bird that ingests large amounts of substrate.
How often should you refresh the digging tray?
Once or twice a week is generally enough, making sure to remove any leftover perishable food before it spoils.
Can a kakariki live in a purely ground-level aviary with no height?
No, it also needs perches and height for flying and roosting at night; ground activity complements these needs rather than replacing them.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Birds universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.