Superb Parrot - Nswfmpa.org

Animal Care Studies - Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond11.13 HygieneIf attention is paid to good hygiene through out the period of hand-rearing there should bevery few problems experienced. General hygiene should be the cleaning of hands beforeand after handling and feeding young birds, using an iodophor or chlorhexidine wash.Hands should be scrubbed for at least five minutes, as most disinfectants need 5-10minutes of contact to effectively clean hands.All feeding utensils should be cleaned with disinfectant after each feed. To stop anypossible infection spreading feeding utensils should be cleaned between feeding eachindividual chick if several chicks are being hand-reared at the same time.Incubators, brooders, holding containers and weaning cages should be disinfected before,during and after use. If paper is used to cover surfaces it should be changed daily. Anytissues or any other material used to provide warmth and pack out holding containersshould be changed regularly if soiled by the chicks. During the entire hand-feeding periodthe chicks must be wiped clean of any excess food after each feeding with tissues or toiletpaper.Effective disinfectants that are safe to use by humans and with young birds are;chlorhexidine sold as Aviclens, Hibiclens, Hibitane or Nolvosan, chloramines sold asHalamid or Halasept and sodium hypochlorite a common form of chlorine used at a 5%dilution rate. (Cannon 1996) (Low 2004) (Sindel and Gill 2003)11.14 Behavioural ConsiderationsHyperactivity and blood flecking have been recorded as problems with P. swainsoniichicks from about five to ten days old in brooders. The first indications are constantmovement of the chick and fine blood flecks on the paper lining of the brooders. Thebleeding is the result of constant movement of the chick on abrasive paper such as papertowel and toilet paper. Confining the chick in a container lined with several thicknessesof tissue paper, with some tissue paper screwed up, seems to comfort and settle the chickas it huddles up to or under the tissue similarly as it would a brooding hen. Thisbehaviour may be temperature related as adjusting the brooder temperature until the chickappears more settled and comfortable tends to resolve the problem. Alteration to the dietand increased food input is also indicated as being of benefit to this type of problem.Generally hand-reared P. swainsonii do not have any behavioural problems stillremaining friendly once placed into an aviary situation with other similar birds.Occasionally P. swainsonii have been known to be flighty when first released into a largeaviary, tending to fly directly into the ends of aviaries. Young P. swainsonii will quietendown after a short period of time during an initial release period if hessian or cutbranches can be fixed at the ends of aviaries to prevent the young birds injuringthemselves. (Low 2004) (Sindel and Gill 2003) (Wilson 1990)Keith Naylor 28/3/2005 Version 3 72