Notes on Breeding and Hand-reeding Hooded Parrots

by Fred andLyrae Perry Corona, California

The hooded parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius dissimilisJ) is one of the most outstandingly beautiful member ofthe Psephotus genus. This little bird is actually a subspecies ofthe golden- houldered parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygiusJ. The range of the hooded parrot is quite restricted; from the Macarthur River, west to the Apairofgolden-shoulderedparakeets(Psephotus c. chrysopterygius). This is the nominate species ofwhich the hoodedparakeetis a sub-species. The golden-shouldered is seldom if Arnham Land plateau in the orthern everfound in aviculture. Territory of Australia. The wild popu­ lation is on the decline mo t probably adult female is a oft blue-green overall, this article. In our experience, these due to illegal trapping and variou other with the wing and tail feather being methods have greatly improved the sur­ man-made and natural disasters. For olive green, the central tail feathers are vival rate ofbaby hooded parrots. these reasons, hoodedparrots are quite also tipped in white, and the vent Hooded parrots in the wild nest in rare in collections today. feathers are a lighter shade of red, or termite mounds from May through The adult male i turquoise blue over salmonpink. The young birds resemble January. The babies hatch with a light mo t of the body, rump and cheeks. the females in coloration. down feather, which wear offquickly, The feathers are highly irridescent, The hooded parrot available to leaving them quite naked. A heavy giving the male a jewel-like appearance. aviculturists today are domestically down feathering would actually be a The wingpatches are bright yellow. The raised individuals, and are descendants problem since the termite mound head has a black" hood' , which extends of European stock. Hooded parrots generates enough heat to keep the down the nape and blend into the back have a reputation for being delicate and babies warm, thus freeing the parents to which is greenish-black. The tail and difficult to keep alive, much less breed seek food at greater distances from the flight feather are also greenish-black in captivity. This delicate nature can be nest. The termite mounds p·rovide the central tail feathers are tipped in white. much compensated for by handling the perfect nursery, being constant in tem­ The vent feathers are crimson. The birds according to details outlined in perature and free from drafts.

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Female hooded parakeet

Male hoodedparakeet (Psephotus chrysopterygiusdissimilus).

8 October/ ovember 1985 Hooded parrots have developed a automatically turn on when the microgram ofweight off! A dark towel very interesting survival technique mercury dips below a certain point. over the top ofa brooder will do very when the nest is disturbed by predators. Other breeders have much more nicely and still allow enough fresh air They will "sacrifice" one or all of the elaborate heaters built into specially through. babies. Usually, if disturbed, one baby constructedboxes. We use cardboard boxes, which are will be killed and dragged up to the Ifyou are lucky enough to have a purchased at the post office, as entrance of the nest and left for the good pair of Bourkes on eggs, you brooders. In them, we place ourspecial predator. This deceptive tactic gives the could foster the eggs or babies, "hot-water-bottle heaters." We fill the rest ofthe babies a better chance ofsur­ although the odds are against having old-fashioned half-gallon milk bottles vival, including the parents, since they Bourkes on eggs at that time of year. (somewhat hard to find these days), might not be able to escape ifthe attack There are, of course, those hens that with water. The opening at the top of came when they were in the nest cavity. successfully raise their babies from the milk bottle is about 1-1116", and is The babies feather very slowly in the hatch to maturity with no problems at the perfect size to hold a 100 watt termite mounds, since heat retention is all, and no heat either. aquarium heater steady. The heater is not a problem, they also do not acquire Finally, there is also the alternative of turned up just high enough to keep the an under-coat of down feather. The handfeeding when the babies are about lower halfofthe bottlewarm, although parents are devoted and keep the babies ten days old. This will coincide approx­ the top ofthe bottlewill be quite hot to stuffed throughout the time they are in imately with the time the hen begins the touch. This should be set up in the nest. When they fledge, the parents leaving the nest for extended periods. advance so you will have time to continue to feed the babies and will Pulling the babies in for handfeeding regulate the temperature and make sure gradually wean them. The parents tend has by far been the most successful in the bottom ofthe bottle will not be hot to tolerate the babies being around for terms of survival and increased enough to burn tender skin. The "hot­ longer periods than most other parrots. production. water-bottle heaters" heat the air in the Nature's solutions to the problems of Problem Number Two: How to box and providethe babies with a warm hooded parrots in the wild have created check the progress of the babies (to "mother" to snuggle up to. These have some interesting problems for avicul­ know when to bring them in for hand­ worked out very well for us with other turists who wish to breed them in feeding), and avod the problem of birds besides the hoodeds, although as captivity! Most unfortunate is the fact ,'sacrificing babies' '? Unfortunately, the larger parrotsgrowand become too that the biological clocks in hooded this one is not so easily overcome. Your curious, we have had to remove these parrots do not adjust when they cross experience with birds, knowledge of "hot-water-bottle heaters." The larger theequatorinto the northern latitudes. the specific pair(s), coupled with your birds are strong enough to chew wires, The breedingseason is still May through powers of observation are about the and pull the bottles over, to be either January, and encompasses both our only things to help you here. The scalded by the hot water, orsquashedby hottest and coldest months ofthe year. parents will tolerate only minimal the weight ofthe bottle. Little birds, of The hooded parrots in Southern inspection ofthe eggs, and only ifyou course, are not strongenough to do this, California tend to go to nest around do not drive themoffthe nest to accom­ so there is no problem using them with October or November, with the babies plish this. Using a calendar for a guide, hoodeds. Just be sure that your boxes hatching in December andJanuary­ you will need to estimate the date the are placed on level and stable surfaces if our winter! This is further complicated eggs should hatch. Ideally, you will you decide to use this type of heating by the fact that the hen can't tell the have enough notes and data to judge set-up. difference between a nest box and a about when the last egg should hatch, A word of warning: Do not run an warm termite mound, and she gets off and plan to bring the babies in when aquarium heater in the open air, outside the nest to help collect food with the that last baby is ten days old. However, if ofwater. Aquarium heaters are designed male for most of the day. The naked you make a mistake in your calcula­ to heat water, not air. If the glass tube little babies chill anddie verysoon. tions, and the babies appear too young gets hot, and there is no water to draw Problem Number One: How to keep when you pull them, you should con­ the heat off, it may explode, sending those naked little babies warm while sider bringing them in anyway. It is fiberglass material and glass shards in all "mamma" is out shopping for gro­ possible to handfeed them as young as directions. Additional information ceries? Fortunately, hoodeds do not five days old. Even at ten days old, it is appears on the aquarium heater require large boxes (One type of surprising how tiny the hooded babies package. nestbox which has proved to be very are. Since feathering is so slow in hooded successfulis 6" wide, 6" deep, and 12" H is vitally important to keep them at parrots, and since they do not have pro­ long, with a five inch platform step on a constant, warm temperature while tective down feathering, thebabies will the inside.), and heating the box is not brooding. If the babies are too cold, need to remain on heat even after the only possible, but preferable to they will shiver; iftoo warm, their tiny fledging age. installing active termite mounds in the wings will droop and they will pant or We do not recommend the use of aviaries! Some breeders have used tiny "breathe" rapidly. It is a good idea to shavings or any similar material to resistors, mounted in 8" or 9" dog have the brooderset up well inadvance, absorb the droppings in the brooder. dishes (the plastic type). These bowls and check the temperature at various The babies will pick at and try to ingest are attached to the outside bottom of locations within the brooder, elimi­ anything they can reach. Ifingested, the nest box, and when the power is nating variations as much as possible. shavings may block the opening from turned on, the resistor heats the We have found that the babies do much the crop to the proventriculus, causing underside ofthe boxandconsequently better ifbrooded in the dark. They are death from starvation; or sharp edges raises thetemperature inside the box so active little birds and ifallowed enough may damage the delicate tissues inside the babies don't chill. You may even light to see the interior of the' 'nest," the baby. Additionally, we have noticed consider hooking up a thermostat to they spend a lot oftime running every that babies brooded onshavings tend to

afa WATCHBIRD 9 have bacterial infections more often this cage is wrapped in newspaper on thanbabies which are broodedonother two sides and the back, and part ofthe materials. Disposable diapers also top, with the light fixture overhead as present problems for these babies before. As with the first cage, you will because the tiny toenails pull up need to check about every ten minutes 1985-1986COMMITTEES "strings" from the diapers which wrap to be sure the temperature is com­ around tiny toes-most often this will fortable, and you may want to put a

ALLIED GROUPS LIAISON pinch offa toebefore you canget to the towel over the front for the first day or next feeding. The best material is a so while the birds get used to the new AVIAN RESEARCH terrycloth towel or washcloth. Use the cage. You will probably only need to Dr. Susan Clubb (305) 226-6778 velvet side or one that has very tight feed them three to four times perday at AVIAN TRANSPORTATION loops. Towels canbe washed and disin­ this stage.

AVYAWARDS fected with bleach in the washing Gradually, over a period of many Dale Thompson (805) 252-3441 machine. days, we begin the removal of the BREEDING REGISTRY When the babies are fairly feathered newspaper starting at the sides. Alter­ out and begin flying up to the edge of nately, we decrease the size bulb, until CALIFORNIA LIAISON the box when the towel is lifted, it's the babies have ultimately adjusted to Hal Koontz (805) 872-1063 time to begin weaning them off of the open sides and no heat from the bulb. If CLUB PROMOTION Linda Rubin (617) 469-0557 heat. The first cage is very small, 12" x the babies appear too uncomfortable,

CONSERVATION 12" x 12", and will hold three to four or are inactive for any longer than four Bob Berry (713) 520-3205 babies. These specialfirst cages are con­ hours, or do not eat, go back to the last CONVENTION STEERING structed out of 1/2" xl" welded wire, stage for a while and try again another Phyllis Marlin (813) 839-4751 and have a dooronthe front 7-1/2" x 6". day. You will also begradually weaning CONVENTION 1986 The cage is covered in black and white them off formula and on to seed and Phyllis Martin (813) 839-4751 newspaper on two sides and the back, soft foods during this stage. EDUCATION AND MEDIA SERVICES Dr. valCIear (317) 642-0795 On top we place a clamp-on type light When the hoodedbabies are fully on

ETHICS fixture for heat and light. This light is on their own, they can be moved into a William Maynard (305) 968-4214 twenty-four hours a day, so use only small aviary, a 2' x 6' x 6' is a perfect FINANCE new bulbs-you would not want to choice. Suspended cages are fine too. Hubert Morris (702) 565-7274 have a bulb burn out in the middle of You can expect to spend from four to GOAL MONITORING DaIlasD.Johnson (301) 543-6198 the night and chill the babies. The size six months handfeeding and weaning

HOMEOFFICE bulb you should use will be determined your baby hooded parrots from the RustiC Heinlen (213) 372-2988 by observing the babies' reactions. If time you first bring them in. Patience is LEGAL COUNSEL they appear too cold, change the bulb the key here and, of course, close Gary Lilienthal (617) 542-7070 to the next higher wattage; if too hot, observation. LEGISLATION reduce the wattage used. Check them We have found that many hand­ Lee Phillips (301) 798-1353 about every ten minutes for at least the feeding formulas canbe utilized to raise MEMBERSHIP PROMOTION Joe McLaughlin (503) 538-6323 first hour. Light bulbs heat up small hooded parrots, however, a greater

NOMINATING areas at different paces, largely success has beenachieved by thinninga Janet Lilienthal (617) 542-7070 depending on the surroundingenviron­ normal liquidformula withone-thirdto PARLIAMENTARIAN ment. A 100 watt bulb may heat up the one-halfmore water. We have success­ cage to a comfortable temperature in fully raised many more Princess of PUBLIC RELATIONS about 10 minutes, and then, because of Wales and hooded parrots by increasing Tom MarshaII (703) 759-9431 the restricted airflow on the sides and the water content ofourformula. These PUBLICATIONS DonCavender (619) 745-8697 back ofthe cage, may cause the area to birds' digestive systems draw the water

RAFFLE become overheated, within the next ten content out ofthe formula (whilein the minutes, possibly killing the babies. crop) at a much faster rate than the SPEAKERS Check often, and make all necessary solids pass through. The higher solids DarelCavender (619) 741-3421 adjustments. content in a formula doesn't digest SPECIAL ADVISOR Dr. Richard E. Baer (614) 836-5832 The babies will be skittish at first in completely, leaving a hard, dry ball in

STATE COORDINATOR the new environment. We have found it the crop; this will have to be carefully RayH. Rudisill (314) 645-6757 helpful to put a light towel over the worked through with more liquids. VETERINARY AFFAIRS front ofthe cage for the first day or so. When the solids content is lowered by Geoffrey R. Smith, D.v.M. (619) 726-8918 We continue to put a washcloth on the adding more water, the babies' crops WAYS AND MEANS floor of the cage for the first several will tend to enlarge. Ifthe crop is filled days. This will give the babies a chance completely, it becomespendulous and to get used to gripping wire, and drops lower than the opening to the toughen up the feet. The babies will still proventriculus. Muscle action slows need to be handfed about four to five and eventually stops ... food in the WATCHBIRD STAFF times per day at this stage. When the crop will sour. The problems will seem Sheldon Dingle/Editor (714) 734-7448 M.Jean Hessler/ArtDirector (714) 548-3133 babies begin picking feathers on each to snowball from there, and you may Susan Dingle/AssistanttoEditor (714) 734-7448 other, or appear to really "mean it" end up losing the babies. We strongly when they fight, it's time to move them caution against completely filling the into a larger cage. crop when using a thin formula for The next stage is a 1/2" xl" welded these birds, and recommend that the wire cage that is 18" x 18" x 24", again feedings per day be increased instead. 10 October/November 1985 WHOLESALE BIRDS For the Finest Quality of Exotic Birds At Low - Low Quarantine - Wholesale Prices Importers of Exotic Birds Air Shipments to All Parts of the United States and Overseas Never a Box or Service Charge BABY AMAZONS MOD BABY BmDS EXOTICS INOLUDE 3-6 Months Old African Grey Parrota Troupial. Blue-Front Amazon Timneh Gray Parrots TanageR Yellow-Nape Amazon Blue gnd Gold Macaw Siskin. Red-Lored Amazon Green Wing Macaw Goldfinche. Blue Crown Amazon Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Nightingales Spectacled Amazon - And Many Others - Toucans Parrotlet. Always Canaries and Cockatiels Lorikeets -Others- 't\ Monthly Sale Specials! - Inquire SUPREME EXOTIC BIRDS, INC. 39 North Bond St. • Mt. Vernon, New York 10550, USA (914) 699·4608 Write or Call for Current Price List - Issued Bi-Weekly

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afa WATCHBIRD 11 Anywhere from six to eight small edges are sharp enough to sever not Full color feedings per day will be necessary to only the skin, but the bone too. Hooded begin with. Check to be sure they are parrots have very little tissue and circu­ Art Prints digesting regularly. lation in the legs, and any damage is from original paintings by one of Fortunately, by ten days old, the slow to heal at best. Even when the the top bird artists of our time - babies are old enough to sleep through damaged leg appears to be healed, it the night without being fed. Space the often turns black with gangrene and Eric Peake feedings out evenly between 6:00 a.m. falls off. lfthe bird survives this, it will and 11:00 p.m. As the babies grow, there be useless as a breeder. These birds are will be an increase in the amount of far too rare to take chances with­ formula you will give them at each please, no bands! feeding and you will notice that it will As with most birds, the best insur­ take longer for the crop to empty. This ance afforded the aviculturist is is your cue to adjust the feeding preventative maintenance. Keep all feed schedule by eliminating one feeding, dishes clean, and free of bacterias and again spacing feedings evenly through­ molds by not allowing uneaten food to out the day. Continue this process until remain and spoil. Wet or damp seed is a weaned. We begin introducing soft wonderful medium for growing all foods when the babies go into the first sorts ofnasty''creatures," keep it as dry cage, and you will begin reductions in as possible, especially in winter. We feedings as they eat more and more on have found that the infant mortality rate their own. Here again we stress taking dropped considerably when we treated your time. These little guys look and act the parents for bacterial infections and like they are more mature than they worms prior to breeding season. Most really are. Our experiences have taught avian vets will be happy to provide you us that the extra effort ofstretching out with medications and dosages, based the period ofhandfeeding has made all on test results. the difference in the world. It is advisable not to move hooded The soft foods we begin offering the parrots when they are moulting either. Blue Tanager hooded babies in the first cage is our The stress is enormous and they may regular soft food mix for cockatiels. It die from this. Wait until the moult is consists basically ofcooked brown rice, completely over before changing the ground dog food, frozen corn, beans, environment. and peas (thawed first), sprouts, such as Adjoining aviaries should be double wheat, and lentils, and grated carrot. wired, to prevent hooded parrots from This is mixed up and fed in small dishes, attacking other birds through the wire. approximately one teaspoon per bird. They will defend their aviary space We also offer them toasted' '0" cereal. vehemently all year long, or attack and The soft food is fed daily from this stage chew toes of other male hoodeds if on. By the time the babies are old within reach. enough to go into the next cage, they are The hooded parrots demOnstrate a offered seed, usually a cockatiel mix is great desire to nest and reproduce. They best; however, we like to add extra make excellent aviary subjects as they canary. When they begin to really eat are fairly quiet and do not have the large the seed, take the toasted "0" cereal space requirements some other parrots away and do not offer it again. They like do. A 2' x 6' x 6' aviary is adequate for it too much and it will be much more breeding them. They often become difficult to get them to eat seed if the tame enough to eat right out of your cereal is still available. hand! As the young males begin to mature, With proper care and handling, a pair European Goldfinch they become aggressive toward each of hoodeds should be able to produce other, and you should plan on housing from four to six babies per clutch, two them separately. The male parent may to three times per year. You will, of All 8" x 10" prints, also be very aggressive toward the course, have to pull babies in for hand­ individually signed by the artist young males if the parents are allowed feeding to achieve those kinds of and shipped post paid, to raise their babies. Watch closely for numbers. ready to frame. any signs ofruffled or torn feathers, and This is one bird that desperately Price: $18.00 each separate the birds promptly. needs the close attention of captive $30.00 for two Do not give babies water in a dish breeding to increase its numbers. We Write for free catalog. until they no longer require heat either. hope that more aviculturists will take They love the water and can get chilled up the challenge ofbreeding this special Wildlife Reproductions ifwet. We use tube-type drinkers. little bird to insure its survival. While 9898 Whippoorwill Lane The use of leg bands for identifi­ breeding these birds is not quite as Mason, OH 45040 cation on hooded parrots is definitely simple as raising budgies or cockatiels, Distributor inquiries welcome. not recommended at any time. Even if captive breeding is no longer out of you find a band to fit perfectly, the reach for the aviculturist.• 12 October/November 1985