Australian Birdkeeper – June-July 2018

C. g. fi tzroyi Sulphur-crested Cockatoo pair
at Stephan Maric’s Melbourne aviaries

C. g. galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

pair at Hayden Dix’s aviaries in south-west

Western Australia

J WELCH

H DIX

H DIX

Sulphur-crested Parrots eat seeding

grasses, shoots, roots and all, in the wild

J WELCH

and meets halfway up and joins the

Colorbond®, which goes to the roof. This

allows for privacy at both the back and the

front of the fl ight. The front section along

the sides is weldmesh, as is the front,

including the roof.

Both breeders utilise sprinklers

but Hayden’s sprinkler system is

fully automated and comes on when

temperatures reach 28-30ºC. It drops

the temperature by a few degrees, and

provides water for the birds to bathe.

Hayden’s design is based on

temperatures that can be as low as zero,

with the occasional minus temperature,

right up to 40-plus degrees on extreme

summer days.

FEEDING

Stephan feeds an austerity diet and a

breeding diet, which he fi nds works well

for his birds. His austerity diet consists

of grey striped sunfl ower, oats, wheat

and green food. The green food includes

weeds found in the paddock, with roots

and dirt left on. If you watch wild Sulphur-

crested Cockatoos, they eat the roots and

all of the plant, which Stephan likes to

replicate in his aviaries.

Leading up to breeding in August, more

sunfl ower seed is added, and increased

amounts of fresh green food are given,

along with apples and other fruits. Stephan

also feeds his birds the occasional chicken

or lamb bone and tree nuts during this

time. He fi nds this diet works well with

pairs leading up to and during breeding.

Hayden feeds his birds a daily portion

of small parrot mix, with the addition of a

little extra grey-striped sunfl ower. He fi nds

they love apple, orange, silverbeet and

other fruits and vegetables. He also feeds

weeds and grasses.

As breeding approaches in August,

the addition of a mix of sprouted pigeon

mix, sprouted grey-striped sunfl ower and

sprouted lupins is provided. Corn on the

cob is also fed and appreciated, especially

when chicks are being reared. It goes

without saying that both men use heavy

dishes to feed and water their birds.

C. g. galerita Sulphur-crested

Cockatoos and nest log