Baby Green Aracari on the way...enclosure questions...first post...hello!

[DeanArrlack]

Hey Everyone

I've already made an introduction post on AA but I'll mostly be checking the ramphastid page so I'd like to introduce myself again...I'm Dean.

Anyhow, I am currently in talks with a breeder about a baby green aracari and I'm getting super excited. I wanted to hear what the general consensus was with all of you on the type of enclosure. I currently have a very large flight cage available but I was also looking at the idea of an indoor chicken coop or a rabbit hutch, something of that sort.

What do you all recommend as a basic size? The resources online are really quite limited.

Also, I have an indoor jungle gym of sorts for my white capped pionus which I am always expanding and this will also be available to my aracari. Of course, they will not be meeting one another for awhile as I want as much non-face to face acclimation as possible.

Thanks for any and all help regarding enclosures!

PS: I had the idea of putting one of those small, automatic waterers in the cage for use with dogs or cats for the aracari so he has a place to bathe/drink etc instead of using a water bowl. What do you all think of that? I am talking about the ones that work with gravity not with electricity.

Thanks!

 

[waterfaller1]

Hello Dean, welcome to Avian Avenue. I don't want to sound like I am just squashing all of your ideas, but I see some points you may have not considered.
Chicken wire-not good. It is not a safe wire for companion birds, and the fine wire could cut his soft feet. Green aracaris have feet much softer than a parrot. I found this out the one time we attempted to clip his toenails. They do not need it. He bled for a while.
Same with a rabbit hutch, it would be treated, stained, or painted-not safe.
He needs as big of a powder coated or stainless steel cage/enclosure as you can afford.
At the very least, the size of a macaw cage.
Next, I would never allow him out with a parrot, particularly one as small as a wc pionus. He may grab hold of your bird by the neck, and bash his head against a perch or something. It's what they do. The wild and instinctual predatory nature is still a part of aracaris. Don't underestimate him.
Last, aracaris get sticky and full of fruit. Having an automatic waterer is a bad idea in my opinion. One time jumping in it, and it would be fouled to drink. I give Pico a large kitchen type ceramic bowl, and change it several times a day.
Good luck with your new baby. And photos are a must.

 

[DeanArrlack]

@waterfaller1 please do squash! I want the feedback from experienced Aracari keepers.

The flight cage should work then...right? It's 5 feet long, 2.5 wide, and about 4 feet tall.

I had a feeling the waterer might not be the best idea but I figured why not. I got the idea actually because at the Bronx zoo they had something similar for their aracari's.

Now on to the major point of my concern:

I'm amazed that even a WC Pionus would be considered too small to keep around an aracari! It's no problem keeping them separated and never out at the same time but what I am concerned with is, would the aracari pursue my white cap pionus? As in, would the predatory nature lead him to try getting at my WC even when he's in his cage? Again, I wouldn't even keep the aracari or any bird out without supervision, but I am very curious about this!

 

[waterfaller1]

The flight cage sounds good. Make an area for him to play as you are able, around his cage. With items like boings, ropes, playstands, atoms, etc.
I keep Yuna, who has only one foot, in my office along with Pico. He has learned he must respect the fact she is in here. We sort of have an agreement. I keep a sheet on the very top of her cage folded just to keep them from seeing each other or clashing. There is also a boing up there strung sideways as part of the area he is allowed to hop. He has a few times tried to poke his beak in, but my correction taught him that is not allowed. He is good with her now, but I would never allow them out together. He would go right after her I am certain. He is pretty fond of me too, so that could be part of what drives him as well.
I have a friend who had a female aracari at one time, that took my Gryphon by the neck twice.
If your aracari was out, and the pionus was in the same room caged, he could harass him. They are capable of grabbing with the tip of the beak. If the pionus was in a cage with 1/2" bar spacing, the likelihood of him getting hold of the pionus would be greatly reduced. Just be cautious and sensible with them, that's all I am saying.

 

[DeanArrlack]

I appreciate it I am a worry wort when it comes to my white capped. The bar spacing is closer to 3/4 of an inch on my white caps cage.

I love aracaris and one of my main lines of interest for them was also to get non hook bill experience.

I've also considered starlings as I know a breeder who raises hand fed starlings and they do make lovely pets...but I'm likely still leaning towards an aracari.

Any opinions on starlings? I've been throwing Aracari VS European Starling's around in my head back and forth for a few months now. The starling is a heck of a lot cheaper but thankfully I've a decent bird budget and I can also afford the care and etc for an aracari...it helps when your uncle is an avian vet and you know a few ornithologists

 

[waterfaller1]

Starlings are very cool and can talk. I think I would have to stick with my Pico given a choice.
The curl crested aracaris are very nice as well. But command a much heftier price tag.

 

[Sadieladie1994]

Carol answered everything as I would. Mine did grab my white bellied caique by the neck but the cake hopped back and thought about that approach and I was right there to intervene. She never bothered the keet or the sugargliders but those critters were in cages with small bar spacing. She loved sitting at the desk with me and loved me feeding her blueberries by hand or tossing them to her.

They are wonderful birds and playful. The mannerisms are so much different than a parrot. Once you get use to them though it is easy to read their body language. Mine loved crawling inside my shirt and taking a nap there. Be aware of sun bathing by aracari...looks like they are dead or dieing but they are really just enjoying the sun and taking a sun bath. They also take sand/dirt bathes. I stuck with water though. I always kept a couple of dishes of water in the cage and that worked out fine.

Where will your bird be coming from? Look forward to hearing about your new one.

 

[DeanArrlack]

Yeah...I'm certainly leaning towards an Aracari. Thanks for all of your input!

One final question!

What would you say the minimum cage size for an aracari is? I want to assemble a list for a project I'm doing.

 

[DeanArrlack]

I am in talks with Jason McCrean for my aracari. Thanks for the reply @Sadieladie1994

 

[waterfaller1]

I like the idea of 48X36..I think that's a fair size. Bigger is always better...of course.

 

[Sadieladie1994]

I don't know the life span of the starling. Aracari live about 15 to 20 years at the most. The diets are not hard (I don't think) but you do need to know what is hi in iron and avoid that due to the build up of iron in aracari (and they can't get rid of it) The iron storage is something researchers are looking at as iron storage disease is not seen in the wild.

 

[Sadieladie1994]

Jason has wonderful well socialized birds and you will be very pleased.

 

[waterfaller1]

Iron storage disease/hemachromatosis, is also an issue with starlings.

 

[waterfaller1]

The iron storage is something researchers are looking at as iron storage disease is not seen in the wild.

And that would make perfect sense. Because it is the caretaker offering the wrong food in captivity. In the wild they know exactly what to eat. Mystery solved...

 

[DeanArrlack]

My uncles Starling is 24 years old...he gives it quite the varied diet...surprising amount of protein (meal worms) and low iron pellets.

I agree with 48X36

 

[DeanArrlack]

I should clarify what I mean by the diet....he gets really a little of everything with an air of caution on the iron front, a lot of meal worms and low iron pellets.

 

[waterfaller1]

For the aracari, it is mostly fruit, small amount of vegetable, low iron pellets. I feed mazuri.
I use Jason's list of fruits and veggies as a guideline. My Pico does not like banana however. Gryphon my mousebird loves banana, and otherwise has the same diet.