Superb Parrot - Nswfmpa.org

Animal Care Studies - Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond11.15 Use of Foster SpeciesEach of the species of Polytelis make good foster parents and are generally safe for crossfostering, although constant monitoring of untried pairs is advisable. Psephotushaematonotus (Red-rumped Parrot) are usually good foster parents for P. swainsonii, thisis providing that there are not too many young in the nest and they do not grow beyondthe capabilities of the smaller foster parents. (Sindel and Gill 2003)11.16 WeaningRefer to the information contained in section 11.8 Diet and Feeding Routine.11.17 Rehabilitation ProceduresRehabilitating hand-reared parrots to be fully independent and to have natural behaviourto be able to fully socialise with their own species, requires several stages for theprocedure to be considered complete as follows:Stage 1To finalise the weaning process it is important that a hand-reared parrot should beallowed to gain independence, condition and fitness by being placed in a weaning cage.The weaning cage is simply any type of wire cage or cabinet in which a young bird canlearn to perch, use its wings properly and begin to more independently eat food. Ideallythe weaning cage should be big enough to allow free movement and exercise of thewings, even short flights, but should be small enough to keep the bird in relatively closecontact with the food supply. An ideal weaning cage is one elevated on legs with wheelsfor ease of movement with a suitably sized access door.During the early stages of introduction to the cage, place the perch on the cage floorsecurely in a position where it will not roll around. Perching itself is a learning processand the young parrot will learn to step on to the perch and grip much quicker this waythan if the perch is suspended. Keeping the perch initially low ensures that the parrot andfood are close together. Gradually raise the perch to encourage the parrot to becomeactive and explore the cage. This final stage of weaning with young P. swainsonii mayonly take a matter of weeks.Stage 2Acclimatisation to outdoor conditions is especially important for young birds that havebeen hand-reared in a controlled environment indoors. This can be achieved by using amobile weaning cage, which can be moved outdoors. The weaning cage must besheltered to give the young birds an area to retreat into if they become frightened for anyreason and for protection from sudden changes in climatic conditions. Young P.swainsonii should have the period’s outdoors gradually extended until they have fullyKeith Naylor 28/3/2005 Version 3 73