NYMPHICUS HOLLANDICUS
Headquarters of Psittacus Catalonia in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor. Nursery facility dedicated to the Foundation's projects.
March 2022
PUBLICATION(pending)
Proposal to be confirmed
Preliminary analysis
Planning & Design
Realization
Analysis and interpretation of the results
Publication of the results
Despite being a very common species in captivity, cockatiels are particularly difficult to hand-rear from a very early age.
Narrowing down the reasons for this difficulty and defining a successful hand-rearing protocol may lead to knowledge applicable to more "valuable" species from the point of view of their degree of protection.
In the same way, the definition of a correct artificial incubation protocol for this species may constitute a source of information applicable to other species, especially cockatoos.
This project aims to define artificial incubation and hand-rearing protocols for this species. In particular, it aims to provide a solution to the difficulty of hand-rearing this species from an early age.
- Maximisation of the percentage of hatching of fertile eggs
- Maximisation of the percentage of the newborn chick viability
- Maximisation of growth rates, feathering quality and final chick size
For this study, eggs are provided by the breeding centre "Ocells.net" and are taken from the nests on the day of laying. The basic tool for the definition of the new artificial incubation protocol is the DISRUPTIVE incubators of Psittacus Catalonia. DISRUPTIVE brooder prototypes are also used for the first stages of chick development. The chicks are fed on the basis of two PSITTACUS hand-feeding formulas: Psittacine Crop Milk during the first days of life and Mini Hand Feeding Formula thereafter.
The data obtained in 2022 is considered insufficient and it is decided to continue the study in 2023.
