Breeding Hand-Reeding Hooded Parrots
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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. ~"""""'....-~----------.c c .3' .3' ci rI > > .0 .0 o o (5 o ..c ..c 0... 0... 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.