Early Parrot Education - Stage 1 - Introductory

Stage 1:

Introductory Stage

©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Early desensitization to awaken senses to taste, textures & various consistencies of the weaning extruded morsels.

Preening education onto other clutch mates encouraged

Socialization with clutch mates Elementary foraging opportunities offered to

reward curiosity Nurturing includes visual and verbal communication

Educational FocusStage One of Early Parrot Education

Introductory Stage


TOOLS

Nurturing

Monitoring

Socialization

Desensitization

Stage One of Early Parrot Education

Introductory Stage


Body weight still rests on hocks


Introductory StageCharacteristics of this Stage

Feathers are emerging from the pin feathers, especially head & wing coverts for the larger parrot species.

Tail and primaries are barely 10 % out of shaft


Body weight still rests on hocks, although light-weight species will raise from resting on hocks more quickly through the stages than the larger psittacines.


Introductory StageCharacteristics of this Stage

Feathers are emerging from the pin feathers, especially wing coverts more quickly for the smaller psittacines species .

Tail and primaries are barely 10 % out of shaft


Characteristics of this StageStage One of Early Parrot Education

Introductory Stage

Crop is at its maximum size

Plateau stage reached on the logarithmic growth curve for the smaller psittacines & almost reached for the larger species


Beak commissures are still soft. Commissures are still touched to trigger a healthy feeding response which is still expected at each feeding. Lunging or prolonged feeding response onto other clutch mates between feedings should be noted, as this could indicate chicks are not reaching satiety or may be suffering from a crop disorder.


Introductory Stage


Chicks are:

• starting to move around yet with very little coordination, agility or stability

• sleeping approx. 90% of the day

• Exploring substrate

• beginning to vocalize

• beginning to preen clutch mates


Introductory Stage



Introductory Stage

Motor Skills

Motor skills are not refined,

as this is reflected in their

lack of coordination and

agility. Yet there are starting

to try to move around,

exploring the weight

disposition of their heavy

bodies, starting to lift their

rump and stretch their legs a

little , as well as extent their

wings. They are discovering

the potential strength of their

bodies. Smaller species

acquire motor skills more

quickly


Chicks should be kept close together to promote elementary preening activity. Sides of the chick pen must not be too low; chicks might try to climb over the

rims & consequently aspirate due to their large crops.

Stage 1

Prior to Stage 1

HousingStage One of Early Parrot Education

Introductory Stage



Introductory Stage

Catalina Macaw housed with two Green-winged Macaws. Bin is large & stable enough to allow for full wing extension, some movement wobbling about, and safe height to prevent pre-fledgling to climb out of bin. Macaws are assured to be in close proximity to each other to promote elementary preening and socialization, as well as support to lean onto each other



Introductory Stage

As well as increasing the risk of aspiration if the chicks attempt to climb over the side, chick pens that are too small can result in:

• the bin flipping over if a large chick attempts to climb out (especially if there is not enough substrate to weigh it down)

• damaged wing and tail feathers

• wing injuries, since chicks at this stage are beginning to flap to develop their pectoral muscles ©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved


Introductory Stage

• Chicks that have outgrown their chick pens should be transferred to larger ones which will accommodate for their size and level of activity, yet we recommend these bins not be large, as the focus needs to be on other clutch mates to ensure socialization and elementary preening

• Should you unfortunately be raising a single chick from a clutch in your nursery, this is a critical age to consider adding chicks from other clutches to the chick pen, provided there is compatibility and no suspected health concerns.



Introductory Stage

50/50 mix of aspen shavings ( that does not contain aromatic phenols) and

recycled newspaper pellets is used at the HARI nursery, after their neonatal stage

when chicks are not suspected of suffering from crop disorders ( Note: increasing the

likelihood of ingesting substrate)

The chick pen should also have a good clean substrate that is dust free and absorbent for

chicks to nestle. The thickness of the substrate should ensure the chicks legs will not splay.

Optimal husbandry must ensure hygienic conditions are provided. Feces should not soil the

chicks. Feces that stick to the feet of the chicks could lead to future pododermatitis, feces that

adhere to the rump can cause irritation, constipation, and bacterial infections. Feather damage

can also result from unhygienic conditions in the nests or chick pens. Aromatic phenols, yeast

and soiled substrate can also contribute to respiratory health concerns. Some aviculturist

prefer to use material or paper towels or absorbent pads instead of substrate to prevent

possible ingestion. This will usually require a more diligent monitoring of the hygiene of the

chicks to ensure feces do not soil the body of the chicks, especially as they mature from the

neonatal stages.

Considerations for use of Substrates



Introductory Stage

Avoid :

•all substrates should the species or individuals be

predisposed to ingesting the substrate

• All substrate should a crop disorder be suspected, or optimal

feeding schedule can not be ensured

• corn cob as it is an excellent breeding ground for mould and

can be easily ingested, furthermore it resembles the extruded

morsels chicks in this stage start to forage for.

• clay based substrates

• substrates that can cause serious implications such as

impaction or GI perforation should they be ingested

• pine or cedar especially if the environment is not well

ventilated, as there is a potential health concern when

housing chicks on substrates that contain aromatic phenols

• substrate that can get entangled and potentially cause

constriction

Consult with your avian veterinarian to explore the best

and safest substrates to use for your particular needs.

Considerations for use of Substrates



Introductory Stage

Quiet nursery environment with dim lights

and chick pen partially covered with a

lightweight blanket for most of the time

during this stage to minimize disturbances

and shadows, which instinctively chicks

recognize as a potential threat-(predator) in

the wild nest cavities. A stress free

environment promoting quality sleep is

essential at this stage as the chicks still

spend most of their time sleeping between

feedings.


Housing

Missed opportunity!


Introductory Stage

The older fledgling on the side of the chick pen should be placed in the pen with supervision to interact with the

younger chicks.

Mentorship from well educated older

fledglings can be used successfully

especially while caring for numerous chicks

at once as is often encountered with the

smaller psittacine species that age and evolve

much more quickly through the EPE stages.



Introductory Stage

Based on our weaning strategy we do not give toys to chicks at this stage. The awakening of the senses should be concentrated on feeding activity, with the chicks’ increasing curiosity rewarded by finding extruded morsels on the bottom of the chick pen. Time awake should be spent engaged in this foraging activity as well as preening other chicks.

Housing


Feeding StrategyStage One of Early Parrot Education

Introductory Stage

Nutritional guidance: Nutritional guidance will be constant in the

EPE and Weaning Program to benefit the chick as he continues to

develop physically as well as serve his cognitive growth. He has

much to learn in the next few weeks and a nutritionally deprived

chick will be unable to focus on his upcoming lessons. In

comparison to his wild bird counterpart, it’s the same course of

action when a parent bird brings food to the nest. The particular

food brought to the chick becomes a familiar flavor to him and he

will learn by familiarity that once he leaves the nest, this is the food

that is safe and OK to eat. It would without argument, be

detrimental to his survivorship if the parent bird began these

lessons after the chick leaves the nest and starts to an

independent search of his own. This is a lesson in nutrition that

stays with the chick for his lifetime. ..knowing what food is good for

him to eat.



Introductory Stage

Regrettably some breeders decrease the number of feedings per

day at this age to 3 feedings of larger quantities of hand feeding

formula because their crop has expanded to its maximum size.

Some chicks may become winey and they often display lunging or

aggressive behavior when the nursery caretaker appears with a

syringe full of hand feeding formula. Additionally, they are also

often difficult to wean due to prolonged periods of overextended

crops from being fed huge amounts of amounts of hand feeding

formula. Well, those problems could all be avoided if the nutritional

guidance were approached with a different attitude and strategy

implemented at this stage of the chick’s life.


Elementary Foraging Skills


Introductory Stage

The crop, once fully extended by volumes of food will soon

downsize a bit. It’s imperative for the chick’s long term

digestive health to keep the crop motility in good shape. This

can be achieved with assisted feeding strategies with softened

extruded diet morsels mixed with the hand feeding formula on

a spoon as well as a the placement of shallow dish with

moistened extruded diet in the chick pen. The idea behind this

implementation is not to start forcing the chick to eat on his

own, but to play into his natural instincts of picking up and

mouthing objects within his reach, which, at this age, might

otherwise be the substrate. It is better to provide nutritious and

familiar flavor to satisfy his natural tendencies for foraging

behavior.


As the chick matures throughout this stage the crop will

regress

It is crucial to gradually encourage

the crop to downsize and gain tonus at this stage; prolonged feeding of large quantities of hand-feeding formula will prevent the natural regression of the crop and may cause the GI tract to remain lazy.

end of stage 1


Introductory Stage


1st complimentary spoon feeding of weaning granules soaked in

warm water

Feeding Strategy

• Chicks are fed 4 times per day and gradually as the crop regresses a 5th feeding can be added

• Hand-feeding formula is still syringe or spoon fed during most feeding sessions

• Complimentary spoon feeding of weaning granules soaked in warm water will be introduced at this stage, as thicker consistency along with harder morsels will encourage the crop to regress, gain tonus and prevent the GI tract from getting lazy


Introductory Stage


Elementary Foraging Skills

This stage provides the perfect

opportunity to introduce dry

weaning granules in the nursery

chick pen as it is the age of

curiosity. This introduction

provides elementary foraging

skills.


Introductory Stage

The weaning granules should be of a larger

size, such as sticks or biscuits

The large morsels can be placed on the floor of

the chick pen in clean substrate or in a

shallow dish

The larger size of the granules will encourage

foraging and will discourage ingestion of the

substrate.


Weight Monitoring


Introductory StageFeeding Strategy

Sometimes it’s awkward to manage a chick and gram scale, especially when

it comes to a heavy bodied species such as a macaw. However, we want to

stress the importance of this routine of daily weighing as it will be part of this

chick’s everyday routine in the nursery and hopefully, throughout his life as

companion bird.


Weight Monitoring



For proper monitoring of the chicks throughout the Early Parrot Education

stages, chick identification bands can be used to differentiate between chicks

that are housed together.

This daily monitoring is crucial to caretaker as the growth pattern will indicate the

advancements to the next stage. Once the “plateau stage” is reached in this 1st stage of EPE

the chicks growth chart can be replaced with the weaning growth chart to record the weight

as no more increase should be expected. It should be said that negative growth patterns

(not associated with the expected gradual weaning weight loss) can also indicate a possible

medical or nutritional problem. If such is the case, the nursery caretaker can be more

proactive in making corrective changes.


Weight Monitoring & Handling Considerations



Handling chicks at this age can be challenging as nails are very sharp; these

must not, however, be groomed for the caretakers convenience! Furthermore,

chicks are awkward to pick up due to their large crops, clumsy bodies lacking

muscle and strength, resting most of their weight on the upper part of their

bodies and so handling can be potentially dangerous for the chicks unless a

proper technique is used. Pressure should never be applied to the chicks

abdomen or upper body region when handling .Chicks should never be rested

on slippery surfaces during weighing, physical exam or feeding. Handling

should be strategic to minimize handling when crop is not empty. Ex: chicks

should be weighed when crop empty in the morning then transferred to a clean

chick bin and then fed in this respective bin to prevent handling with full crop .


Weight Monitoring & Handling Considerations



Pressure should be applied to the top of the foot (with thumbs) while supporting the back of the leg with the index fingers and the foot pad with middle fingers. The head should be supported should it lean forward while chicks is being lifted.

Handling chicks at this age can be

challenging as nails are very sharp;

these must not, however, be groomed!

Furthermore, chicks are awkward to

pick up due to their large crops and

that they are not standing upright,

resting most of their weight on the

upper part of their bodies and so

handling can be potentially dangerous

for the chicks unless a proper

technique is used. Pressure should

never be applied to the chicks

abdomen or upper body region when

handling .


Weight Monitoring



Healthy chicks thriving under optimal conditions should have empty

crops ( ideal for accurate weight assessment) prior to the morning

feeding, whereas the crop although expected to digest its content

may not be left to completely empty during the rest of the day prior

to another feeding session. Emptying a chick’s crop for weighing

purposes should be done only if you immediately require an

accurate weight for a health assessment or chicks require their crops

to be emptied due to a crop disorder. Techniques used to empty the

crop content safely should only be performed by a skilled avian

nursery caretaker or avian health professional.


Primary LessonsStage One of Early Parrot Education

Introductory Stage

Socialization at this age is important for the chicks’ development, whether they are socialized with chicks of the same or different species. Skills such as preening and elementary foraging will be acquired faster if the chicks are not housed alone.

Socialization



Introductory Stage

Desensitization to the Physical Exam

As the nursery caretaker performs a daily head to toe health check with desensitization

methods, the chick will quickly learn that a little light used to check his choanal papillae and

a touch to areas normally considered off limits in older parrots such as under the wing and

foot inspection, will be ok. This mastered lesson will be most valuable throughout the

chick’s life regardless of who is checking, as this inspection will give indication of nutrient

assimilation and provide an opportunity for general health check by his future avian

caretaker. Parrot owners are encouraged to check these areas of their adult pets or

breeders as these areas that can signify necessary changes in the bird’s lifestyle.



Introductory Stage

Desensitization to the Physical Exam: Inspection of the Choanal Region

In this photo, an appropriate technique is being used to desensitize the chick to inspection of the choanal region. The inspection should be gentle and not forcefully apply pressure to the upper or lower mandible. Gently scratching the feathers around the ears will usually trigger a yawning response form the chicks which can facilitate the inspection of the choanal region and oral cavity.



Introductory Stage

Desensitization to the Physical Exam: Inspection of the Choanal Region

Contrary to the technique demonstrated in the prior slide, this technique is too forceful for desensitization purposes and visual inspection on the choanal region and oral cavity. It may be necessary to remove substrate that may have regrettably been inadvertently ingested when it is still visible in the oral cavity , or be used by an avian health professional to collect a choanal swab, but should not be used by an inexperienced caretaker for the mere routine inspection and desensitization purpose ©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved


Introductory Stage

• The eyes of chicks at this stage should still not be exposed to full light radically nor for prolonged periods.

• Ear opening should also be inspected visually by the caretaker, for any signs of redness, flaky skin, abnormal ear opening.

Desensitization to the Physical Exam: Inspection of Eyes and Ear Openings



Introductory Stage

Desensitization to the Physical Exam:

The use of a stethoscope applied to various parts of the body especially where air sacs are located can both desensitize the chick to this procedure and also familiarize

the nursery caretaker to recognizing normal and abnormal sounds. Your avian veterinarian can also play a crucial role in educating you to be able to recognize

potentially abnormal sounds associated with health concerns that would need their immediate expertise for a professional evaluation.



Introductory Stage

Desensitization to the Physical Exam

Any slight beak deviations should be noticed during the visual exam as these can be corrected easily.

Slight pressure applied to the tip of the beak following feeding will trigger a feeding response reaction but should also correct the deviation if performed several times within the next few days.



Introductory Stage

Preening with wet warm towel around the neck & back.

A warm wet towel can be placed on the chick’s nape and back prior to

a preening session. This soothing ritual softens the feather shafts by

humidifying the emerging feathers and promotes easier preening, a

skill that is taught by the parent bird. Preening can also be done

through the towel, to further desensitize the chick to this material.

A basking light should be provided after the session to prevent the

chick from getting chilled and encourage elementary preening on

other clutch mates



Introductory Stage

Preening with wet warm towel around the neck & back.

The importance of desensitizing the chick to a towel is to get the bird

accustomed to the future lesson of cradling as this too will become a part

of his lessons as he progresses though his primary education process. It

will be expected that sometime during this bird’s life, he will have to be

toweled. Birds that are not accustomed to towel cradling, are stressed

unnecessarily more so in the event of an emergency such as a broken

blood feather or even a simple veterinarian exam. And, stressed birds also

show a much higher white blood cell count, which could be misinterpreted

in diagnostic procedure.

Pin feather preening & Towel desensitization go hand in hand!


Early Parrot Education - Stage 1 - Introductory

Education

Transcript of Early Parrot Education - Stage 1 - Introductory