The pellets we provide are from Vetafarm™ and we mix all
three varieties (South American Mix, Nutriblend Breeders and
Paradise) together in equal portions. This is also fed twice a week
at 3–4 day intervals using the same quantities.
Obviously when leaving the pairs to incubate and raise their
own young, the quantities of all these foods increase dramatically
depending on the number of young each pair is rearing.
Filtered water is supplied through a computerised multi-station
controller that also controls the overhead sprinklers necessary
during the hot summer months when temperatures can rise
well into the mid-40°C. The gardens are also plumbed into this
controller and, like the water bowls and sprinklers, can be set
to water at specifi c times for a predetermined period or simply
operated manually. All water bowls are the large, highly glazed
earthenware variety, measuring 32cm in diameter and 6–7cm
deep. These help to keep the water cooler during those long, hot
summer days, and are easier to clean when scrubbed each week.
BREEDING
Starting with young birds, we did not experience immediate
success breeding Illiger’s Macaws, although we did have a few
infertile eggs initially. This, we assume, was simply because the
males had not reached sexual maturity yet, even though the pairs
appeared well-bonded and their breeding activities normal.
Our nest boxes were hung on the outside of the aviaries, at
the rear, with an entrance faceplate and landing platform on the
inside. They are of the vertical type and constructed of 2cm thick
solid pine board, and measure 1m high x 30cm x 28cm, with
a 25mm square mesh wire ladder on the inside entrance face.
Approximately 20cm of untreated pine mulch nesting substrate,
slightly dampened, is added. Pieces of 7.5cm x 5cm pine are
attached to the sides around the inside base, providing something
for the female to chew while preparing the nest and incubating.
An inspection hole is also cut into the back side, allowing
inspections of the breeding progress.
Finally, we were blessed with fertile eggs. Then the dilemma
was, do we leave them or incubate? Incubation and handrearing
from day one did not scare us as we had been pioneers of this
many years earlier, well before commercial handrearing formulas
had even been thought of. Due to the relatively low numbers of
Illiger’s Macaws in Australia at the time, it was decided we should
make every effort to breed as many as possible, so the long and
sometimes arduous task began.
Illiger’s Macaw chicks in the nestINCUBATION AND HANDREARING
During the years we incubated this species, we found they
hatched at 24–28 days, depending on the natural humidity
infl uence on the incubator and the outside temperatures. It was
near-impossible to maintain a constant for each of these in our
incubator room, nevertheless our hatch rates were always very
good. Once hatched, we treated the little ones no differently
to any other species we had reared over the years and they
progressed through to weaning as expected.
Illiger’s Macaws are a lovely species to handrear. When they
get to the feathering stage their real character begins to show.
They are friendly and calm, and we imagine they would make the
most affectionate companion birds if so desired. Weaning was
relatively easy as it is with most macaws, as their intelligence and
inquisitiveness assists the process. Providing an assortment of
foods and colours, and the addition of a trainer bird (older bird
already weaned) speeds up the process, but one should always
check all the chicks to ensure the odd one does not regress. This
can mean the whole weaning process has to be undertaken again,
right from handfeeding through to self-feeding.
Having more than one pair breeding, we had produced quite
a few birds through incubation, so began to allow the females
to incubate and hatch their own chicks and feed them for a few
weeks, then removed them and handreared them until weaned.
However, the past couple of breeding seasons we have not turned
on an incubator or brooder and have allowed the pairs to do
everything themselves.
They have proven to be very capable. Females incubate very
well. The eggs hatch like clockwork and the males are very
protective, spending a lot of time in the nest box with the female
while incubating, then helping with the feeding once the chicks
have hatched. We don’t inspect the nest box too regularly,
preferring to watch the parents and their activities to work out
just what is happening inside. It’s not diffi cult to tell when the
eggs have hatched as the birds’ food disappears at a much quicker
rate, and each morning feed you are greeted by the pair waiting
for their food. From that time on it’s crucial that you provide
as much food as necessary, depending on the number of chicks
hatched and their rate of growth.Young Illiger’s Macaws in the nurseryIlliger’s Macaw pair