The First Captive B Eeding of the Hoffman's Conure by Chris Rowley
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The First Captive B eeding of the Hoffman's Conure by Chris Rowley Hoffman's conures range from southern Costa Rica to northern Panama. The nominate race (pyrrhura ho1fmanniho1fmannVisconfinedto Costa Rica, and P. h. gaudens is restricted to Panama. The subject of this paper shall be the first breeding of the sub-species P. h. gaudens. The breeding stock was acquired in Panama by Dr. athan B. Gale in 1980. The first two Hoffman's conures raised in captivity. I received thepair inquestioninearly 1981 and had them surgically sexed. In were removed andfound tobe infertile. maize, 5% whole corn, 5% oat groats, May the weather was cool with highs in In 1982 the male was seenfeeding the and 5% dried peas. In addition to the the upper60s andrainy. May 5, 1981 the hen in early February. Copulation was mix and a variety of greens, the birds hen laid her first egg and three more observed starting mid-February and by were fed apples and otherfresh fruits in followed. The eggs were laid in a the end of the month the time spent season including peaches, mulberries, plywood nestbox that measured mating increased in length from less pomegranates, tangerines, and pyra 18"x9"x9", with three inches of than a minute up to 15 minutes. By this cantha berries. No other supplements material in the bottom. The boxes are time thehenfrequently enteredthe nest were added to food orwater. Bothfood checked periodically, often twice a day box for short periods. and water are offered in 8" crocks. in the breeding season. The hen began The eggs were laid on March 5, 7, 9, A baby was seen peering out of the sitting immediately and was very 11, 13, and 15 totalling six eggs. The nest for the first time on May 17th, and diligent. She remained tight on the nest eggs were incubatedby the hen. Inspec on the 19th the oldest satperchedinthe for a full 30 days at which time the eggs tion ofthe eggs revealed that they were nest boxdoorway for anhour. The next usually partially buried in the dirt and day it left the nest. wood compost nesting material. On the 20th both youngsters were All ofthe eggs were fertile but two of out but spent the next several nights in the babies died in the shell at early the box. By the 27th both appeared to stages. Incubation is estimated to be 24 be completely weaned. days. The first hatching was on March This breeding took place in one of 12 29th, the next on the 31st and then welded wire cages measuring 3'x3'x3', nothing else hatched until April 6th. made of lxl wire and sitting on a steel The last one to pip was putting up a framework 2' off the ground. These good struggle early in the day but in the small cages are all enclosed in a large afternoonitbecame very weak. As a last aviary measuring 24'x24' by 12' tall ditch effort I felt it necessary to assist with a halfshadedlath roof. Foggers are the youngster out ofthe shell, but in his used in the summer to keep the high weakened condition he did notsurvive. temperature down. Natural perches are On April 20th the youngest ofthe three provided using eucalyptus, mulberry Two u.s. Fir t Breeding Awards missed remaining babies, being substantially and mesquite. The pair is in clear view the Ii ting in the Oct/ ov '84 i sue, Avy smaller than his siblings, died leaving of many other pairs of parrots, includ Award Winner, 1984, page 48. Ourapol his two elders fat and healthy. ing several other pairs ofPyrrhura and ogies to the accomplished breeder/winner: By the end ofApril the twowerefully one other pair ofho1fmani. Visitors are Tom Ireland t. Thoma Conure pin-feathered and brooding was done allowed to tour the aviary throughout Aratingap. pertinar by both parents. The parents' food the year, but very few during breeding December 30, 1982 intake had tripled during the feeding season. Tom Ireland process. The diet consisted of a seed After being separated from their Yellow-faced Mountain Parakeet mixture of 20% safflower, 10% white parents, the young Hoffman's conures Bolborhynchus aurifrons millet, 10% sunflower, 10% horse were housed with two maroon-bellied ovember 4 1982 pellets, 7% Wayne monkey diet, 7% conures of the same age where they red millet, 5% canary seed, 5% milo have done well so far.• 52 MADAGASCAR LOVEBIRDS bred in my aviary. RED SIDED ECLECTUS for sale $2,400 per pair, Unrelated pair, reasonably priced. Call (503) 628-1166 males $900, females $1,600. Grand Eclectus $2,500 CLASSIFIED Oregon: 5:30-7:00 a.m. or 4:30-10:30 p.m. (PST) per pair, males $1,000, females $1,700. Other parrots and toucans also available. Write or call for price list. BEE POLLEN - Powder (birds only) $3.50 per lb. Jerry Jennings, P.O. Box 6393, Woodland Hills, CA ADS Nuggets (birds & people) $4.50 per lb. UPS prepaid. Add 1 91365. Phone (818) 884-5476. CLASSIFIED RATES - $6.00 minimum lb. for shipping container. Bulk rates avail. Other Bee charge for 4 lines of type (average 7 Products also. Ask us. Steve Sullivant, 2349 First Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92405, (714) 887-1455. WAXBILL CARE AND BREEDING - Vol. I& II, words per line). Additional charge of 12¢ covers complete care and breeding of Cordons, per word for ad running over 28 words. LADY GOULDIAN FINCHES, red heads raised outdoors Strawberrys, Goldbreasteds, etc., section on (28 words to include name, address and by their own parents, fully colored yearlings. Mike Beat, fostering waxbills, housing, and nutrition Com phone.) All copy to be RECEIVED BY 1st 9639 Belcher Street, Downey, CA 90242. Phone plete set $12.95 postpaid in U.S.A. GREEN SING day of month preceding publication. One (213) 803-6389. ING FINCH, complete care and breeding, $7.50 postpaid in U.S.A. Gretchen Barker, 7837 inch boxed ad - 58 word maximum Gladstone, White City, Oregon 97503 $15.00. SCARLET MACAW CHICKS: I have two Scarlet Macaw chicks born January, 1984, that were hand raised in our aviaries. They're a little spoiled but tame and a lot of fun I DOMESTIC HANDFED BABY YELLOW NAPES, Congo SCARLET CHESTED PARAKEETS $75, Split Yellow Will sell them toa good home for$1500each.lnterested greys, Blue & gold, scarlet, and Hahn's macaws, um Bourkes sexed $75, Yellow Bourkes $225, Rosey parties call Lisa Volk in Kansas City, MO at brella, Moluccan, Goffin's, bare-eyed, and greater Bourkes $500, Blue Rosellas $125, Rock Pebblars $450 (816) 753-1976. sulphur crested cockatoos. Bill Bennett, (703) 382-4741, pr., RINGNECKS - Lutino hens $300, unsexed $350, Christiansburg, VA. :we. Green split lutino cocks $150. '84 White Crown Pionus HAND RAISED BABIES: We are now taking cock $250, HANDFED'S - Umbrella Cockatoos $800, '84 FEMALE LUTINO INDIAN RINGNECKS, cockatiels: reservations for our 1985 domestic babies. We Timneh African Grey Parrots $350. LOVE BIRDS lutino pearl, cinnamon pied, greens, buttercups and specialize in macaws and parrots: Hyacinth, Cherrys $25, Lutinos $65. Olive & Jacarina Finch. Hen others. '82 male crimson wing parakeet. Peach faced Blue and gold, Catalina, Green-winged, Red Cuban Melodius. D. Cavender - MOCTEZUMA BIRD lovebirds. Will ship. Helen Forsythe, 1325 Loma Vista, fronted, African grey, Yellow naped, Tucuman, GARDENS, PO. Box 1973, Escondido, CA 92025. Will Napa Valley, CA 94558. Call (707) 226-8671. ship, trades considered. (619) 741-3421 anytime. SASE Alexandrine ring neck parakeet. Send SASE for our price list. SANDY CREEK FARM, Rt. 2, Box please. ECLECTUS PARROTS - red-sided, Solomon Islands, 350-H, Sarasota, FL 34240. Call (813) 322-2006. and Vosmaeri. Domestic handfed, tame and some talk GLOBAL REPTILE & ANIMAL EXCHANGE, ing. 3 month 01d-1 year old. Males $800, females$1 ,500. monthly newspaper which caters to owners and INCUBATOR HATCHED, handfed from day one. Totally Pairs $2000 - $2300. Unrelated pairs available. San enthusiasts of all birds, reptiles, fish and other loving baby cockatoos and macaws. Tritons, rose Francisco area, (415) 826-2977. animals. Informative articles on care, breeding, breasted, and cockatoo hybrids. Prices start at $1500. and the keeping of your pets. Book reviews on Macaw babies available; scarlets, hyacinth, candide, CITRON COCKATOOS - breeding stock, fully ac current books as well as the classics. Money paid and many different hybrids. Prices start at $1500. Los climated, excellent condition. $800 a pair. (805) to you for your informative articles. Free Angeles area (805) 496-2379. 526-5859. Simi Valley, CA area. classified advertising to paid subscribers. Send stamp for free sample and information. Global HANDBOOKS, Leaflets for pet owners and breeders on BABY PARROTS AND COCKATOOS - The finest in Reptile & Animal Exchange, PO. Box 7011 BW, specifics of feeding, breeding, accommodations for Domestic raised babies. Handfed by me from day one, York, PA 17404. cockatiels, lovebirds, psittacines. SASE for order form people imprinted, extremely tame and loveable, weaned to Jo Hall, Rt. 4,11 Sandy Lane, Taylor, Texas 76574. or unweaned. African Greys, Greater Sulphurs, Um brellas, Citrons, Eclectus, Macaws and others. Birth cer BLUE RINGNECKS - Indian ringnecked parakeets. BABIES: Blue & gold macaws and Congo greys. Hatch tificate with time, day and date included. Ann Nothaft, Blue and split-for-blue. Early '84 hatch. SL Dingle, P.O. ed in our aviary and handfed with extra attention and 110 Jamaica Ave., Medford, N.Y. 11763, (516)289-1413. Box 340, Norco, CA 91760. Phone (714) 734-7448. care to assure you a totally superior pet. John Gibson, Hilltop Aviary, Oregon, (503) 825-3230. TABLE-TOP PERCH. Your pet bird can sit next to WANTED - BIRDS OFALLTYPES and bird-related prod you on his own stand.