Want to learn more about the wonderful little critters called Kiettas? Look no further! All of the information can be found on this post. Something missing that you want to know? Feel free to ask!So What Are Kiettas Exactly?Kiettas are adorable little avian dogs! These creatures are mostly canine in build, along with the added bird-related parts and pieces.
What Do They Look Like?With a sleek canine body and a full array of feather patches and crests, these creatures look like something straight outa the races! Which, they are! With hollow bones and a lightweight system Kiets are made to run like the wind. Typically every Kiet has the siggniture head and rump crest, as well as a fan of feathers on the end of their thin but strong whip-like tail. Their jaws are similar in structure to a rats, with rodent buck teeth and pointed canines on either side. These teeth are made to crunch through bones and other materials with ease. Their claws are also a powerful tool, made retractable like a cats with a hooked tip for grabbing and pulling in prey. They generally have large set eye sockets and slit pupils, as eyesight is their most prominent sense. They almost always have patterns related to various bird species or at least natural colors and patterns from the canine gene pool.
How Big Are They?Kiets have been described as being the size of a large cinerous vulture. They weigh about fifteen to twenty-five pounds, and are around three feet tall. Because of their long tail, they average a length of six to seven feet.
What Do They Eat?Kiettas are mainly carnivorous animals, feeding mostly on either small freshly caught prey or rotting meat. They are equally happy scavenging for leftovers as they are catching their own food, but they will not eat any type of avian prey. Their main protein source is bone marrow, and since most birds have hollow bones this makes them inedible to the Kiettas. Kiets have also been know to eat bitter fruits or berries, but never as a main food source.
What Is Their Social Structure Like?Creating large flocks of up to 50 or more Kiets is usually the norm for this species. They are extreamly social and prefer to live in huge familes, usually led by a single mated alpha pair. Rarely a sibling pair may lead the flock, but these groups are much smaller and less successful.
How Do They Act With Humans?Oddly enough, Kiettas are actually very tame creatures. Feral Kiets may be a bit skittish at first, but this species's overwhelming amount of curiosity will quickly cause them to investigate humans and even learn and copy their actions! Hand-raised Kietkiets can even be taught to talk if trained from a young age, much like parrots. Even ferals have been known to learn differ and whistles and songs taught by their humans.
How Long Do They Live?Much like large parrots, Kiettas can live an upwards of hundred years. They reach sexual maturity at the age of one, and will generally begin taking up responsiblities and searching for a partner as young as a few months. A baby Kietkiet will loose its downy feathers after two weeks, and at that time will begin to look more like an adult Kietta should.
How Do They Breed?A Kietta looking to have young will first start by preparing a nest. These nests are quite large, spanning an estimated range of five feet by five feet square. The nests are place on or around the roots of trees, tucked tightly into and under the roots. A Kiets strong rat-like teeth come quite in handy when gathering pieces for the nest's base, as they are made from various man-made materials such as concrete pieces, sheets of metal, steel beams, and brick. The parent will then prepare a large bundle of softer pieces like yarn, fur, feathers, grasses, and moss. The nest is then 'decorated' with anything shiny the parent can get it's jaws on. It is surmised that Kies do this to ward off predators, as man-made materials are a simple deterrent to cautious wildlife. Once a nest is completed, the two parents will mate by releasing particular pheromones through their saliva. The smaller of the two will then lay the eggs several days later by regurgitating them through a special unisex organ that winds its way around their stomach and up the esophagus. This organ generally lays flat in the Kies body until they are ready to give birth, in which case it swells up uncomfortably, prying the jaws open and refusing the Kie any oxygen until the birth is complete.
Do They Lay Eggs?Yes! Thick, hardy eggs, about two pounds in weight and about the size of your fist, can be laid by any gender of Kietta due to their interestingly built reproductive system. These eggs are cared for by both parents for about a week, until they hatch. The hatchlings are often known as 'Kietkiets', and still need their parents until they are two too three weeks of age. However they will be unable to hunt on their own until they reach full maturity, about a year old, and therefore rely heavily on the rest of the flock to survive.
Where do they live?Kiettas are usually nomadic creatures, only settling in one spot to nest and raise their young for a few weeks. The rest of the flock will continue to travel even if a pair in the group is nesting, unless the Alphas are the ones raising their young, in which case the flock will settle down in the surrounding area help care for the Alphas young. Pairs that are separated from the flock due to nesting will eventually make their way back to their flock, or join another if they happen to find one in the area. In most cases the flock does not travel too quickly, only a mile or two per day, and the separated pair will be able to contact the alphas with a loud screeching howl. Kietta flocks have been found all over the world, but are prominently in continents with warmer climates.
What do they sound like?Kiettas have a wide vocal range and a very distinct body language, much like siberian huskies. They are able to replicate any sound they choose just as many domestic parrots do, and can even be taught to speak by their owners. A mixture of chirps and scratchy yips and whimpers give these creatures a perfect mix of canine and avian tones. When happy, they are known to make light chirps, high pitched wavering yips, and a scratchy crunching sound that signals contentment. When angry or upset they can make a growly screech loud enough to send violent vibrations through the earth. They can also whimper much like dogs, though it tends to have a higher pitched 'coo' undertone. When searching for members of their flock Kiets can create a loud screeching howl which can be heard for over five miles. Kietkiets usually can only create whistle type barks or yips, and adult Kiettas are known to make such sounds during play or when interacting with their young.
