results, but in recent times he has opted
for 60L metal drums which he fi nds are
easy to handle and maintain. He positions
these in the rear of the aviary. He uses
wood dust mixed with a little cleaned dirt
for nesting material. He also adds wood
blocks for the birds to chew, thus naturally
creating more nesting material.
Hayden only uses hollow logs. They have
an internal diameter of 40–50cm and are
usually 90cm–1m high. They have open
tops and, like Stephan’s, are kept in the
rear of the aviary under shelter.
Hayden uses 5mm karri wood chip
because it breaks down well without
excess dust. He said it is also benefi cial in
that ‘the eggs seem to stay afl oat and not
sink through nest substrate’.
Both breeders’ pairs lay clutches of 1–2
eggs, with 28–30 days of incubation being
performed by the parents. One of Hayden’s
pairs is odd in that they will lay three
clutches of infertile eggs before laying
fertile eggs in the fourth clutch. He fi nds
this pattern occurs with the pair almost
every year.
Both Stephan and Hayden allow their
pairs to parent-rear for a number of weeks
before removing chicks for handrearing.
This, they both explain, is due to the lack
of interest in parent-reared birds, although
both would like to allow their birds to
complete parent-rearing. Stephan said,
‘I dream of the day that someone in the
avicultural world decides to obtain pure,
unrelated aviary-bred Sulphurs’.
Stephan keeps his young back till they
are approximately 20 weeks of age before
letting them go to their new home. Hayden
adds that he fi nds chicks wean at 12–14
weeks but may take longer, particularly
if there is only one Sulphur-crested being
reared at a time.
PET BIRDS
Stephan and Hayden fi nd these birds to
be fantastic pets for those that can cater
and care for them. Hayden said, ‘apart
from the occasional scream, they are
perfect as pets—10/10’. Stephan adds
that in his opinion and experience they
are ‘probably one of the most loyal and
affectionate species’.
It goes without saying that pet Sulphur-
cresteds deserve a quality diet and require
a spacious cage or aviary to live in. They
are also a loud species—particularly in the
morning and late afternoon—and, as such,
not ideal for areas where noise complaints
may arise. Socialisation is also vitally
important and, where possible, as young
birds they should be able to interact with
birds of other species or individuals of the
same species.ADVICE
When asked if either had advice for those
wanting to keep this species, Stephan said,
‘my advice to fellow aviculturists would be
to obtain a pair and grow old together in
this wonderful journey that aviculture is,
and learn from them the meaning of birds’.
Hayden added, ‘They do need a large
fl ight to really be appreciated, and to
see them in fl ight, with the yellow crest
rising up when landing on the perch, is
magnifi cent’.CONCLUSION
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo may be
a daily sight for many of us in Australia
but this should not deter those wanting
to keep and/or breed this iconic species.
They offer the potential keeper as much, if
not more, than many of the exotic species
available today. For those wanting to keep
this species, do your research and enjoy
your birds.THANKS
With thanks to Stephan Maric and Hayden
Dix—two dedicated aviculturists who are
always willing to share their experiences
with others around
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07 5568 0011Young handreared by Stephan Maric