early parrot education - stage 3 - fledgling
Post on 09-Aug-2015
56 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Stage 3: Fledgling
Stage
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Educational Focus
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
• Continuation of the weaning process. Crop has significantly regressed. Gregarious nature now awakening
• Increased water consumption is important as the fledgling is eating more dry granules
• Body conditioning and toning• Fledglings leave nursery “cavity” and are now introduced to fledgling
cage and larger flock• Most dramatic desensitization period – caution as regression often
occurs• Complete misting activity followed by basking session to encourage
wing flapping/exercise & self preening• Clumsy-awkward flight must be supervised & guided Flight harness can
be worn more safely as crop has regressed..• Chicks are learning their place within a flock when misting /basking
/foraging• 1st basic command is introduced step up step down out of cage to scale
perch• Cognitive communication is encouraged–vocal communication /body
language & eye contact now has more significance for mentoring• Self-preening education encouraged as mobility and stability increases
…continued
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Educational Focus
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
• Gradual supervised socialization with fledglings of other clutches • Personalities are now beginning to be revealed and slightly challenged
and molded• Foraging through exploration - foraging activities still take place mainly
inside the fledgling cage• Fledglings are observers at this stage , and will become intrigued with
the educational sessions as the older fledglings engage in the classroom atmosphere• More opportunity to advance the towel cradling exercise as crop is
regressing• Desensitization to the nail manicure rotary tool or nail file to prepare
chicks for slight grooming when they are able to perch confidently • Rules of conduct using modeling, mentoring, and gentle handling,
must be established .
TOOLS
NurturingMonitoringSocializationDesensitizatio
nModelingMentoring
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
• Feathers have emerged on approximately 95% of body
• Body weight now resting off hocks
• To the inexperienced eye chicks may even resemble adult birds
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Characteristics of this Stage
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
• Downsizing and firming of the crop continues
• Beak commissures have hardened
• Mobility is increased and chicks are resting off hocks now, using their beaks and wings to climb with more agility
• Chicks are more awake although may still need to nap
• Desensitization to the nail manicure rotary tool or nail file to prepare chicks for slight grooming when they are able to perch confidently
Characteristics of this Stage
The youngest Amazon chick in the clutch is still in stage 2 a pre-fledgling , whereas the 2 oldest clutch mates ( a few days older) have reached the stage 3
1st basic command is introduced:Step up and step down on a scale perch
• Weight is monitored daily, on a scale perch
• A weight loss of up to 10% of the highest weight recorded (the plateau weight) is allowed throughout the stages of weaning provided it is not a dramatic weight loss.
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Characteristics of this Stage
Primary Lessons
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Transition to Weaning/Fledgling Cage
Housing
• is slightly larger than transitional weaning cage
• it offers more mobility and higher perching opportunities
• Paper cage liner to ensure visual inspection of the droppings as these will be essential in monitoring to ensure a healthy and feeding strategy adapted to each individual in the weaning cage
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
• Although fledglings have a stronger grip and are perching with more confidence, slippery perches such as the Java /Manzanita or wooden dowels should still be avoided at this stage
• Perches must not be too small nor too large for the fledglings grip
• Abrasive perches should also be avoided despite the fact they offer excellent grip as the feet of the fledglings are still to delicate
Housing
Java wood perch too slippery and too large for this Jandaya conure fledgling
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Perches must be securely attached to the cage; a fledgling on a perch that falls could loose confidence and be reluctant to attempt to perch again. Larger psittacines such as these green -winged macaws develop their motor skills more slowly than the smaller , less heavy weighted species. They are often in the transitional weaning cage for longer .
Transition to Weaning/Fledgling Cage
Housing
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
The base of the transitional cage can be
integrated within the fledgling cage to be
used as a chick pen. At times, the young
fledglings will take refuge in this pen while some may still use the
chick den.Note: blankets cover up at least 3 sides and top of the fledgling cage.
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Transition to Weaning/Fledgling Cage
Housing
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
• Several food dishes should be added and placed strategically (close to and at approximately the same height as the perches) to ensure the fledglings have food available wherever they are perched. Not enough feeding dishes are installed in this set up
• A water bottle can be added to the fledgling cage in addition to a water dish as the fledglings will soon be educated to drink from such a dispenser
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Housing
100% Weaning Granules is Instrumental to Weaning Success
Feeding Strategy
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Feeding Strategy
• Chicks are offered soaked warm weaning granules at every feeding during the day in their weaning cage.
• Hand feeding formula is offered in the morning if fledglings are too hungry to eat from the soaked granules on their own or when spoon fed, and once again at the last feeding at night
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Feeding Strategy
• The fledgling cage can be covered with the night cover to keep the fledglings concentrated on eating while the soaked granules are warm as they will need to be discarded once they have cooled to prevent spoiling. This will also provide a quieter retreat as they still need to nap at this age
• Chicks are encouraged to drink
more water as they are consuming more dry granules
Fledglings are exposed to other fledglings that have reached more advanced stages of weaning and training exercises for guidance. They are merely observers at this stage, and will become intrigued with the educational sessions as the older fledglings engage in this classroom atmosphere.
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Primary LessonsForaging through exploration:
foraging activities still take place mainly inside the fledgling cage, although training sessions to further educate and desensitize them to slightly more dissimulated food morsels found in accessories of various textures & colors can be performed outside the cage ideally after their exercise time, and most importantly when they are not too hungry…as this activity is not to lure them , it is to make them proud of their discoveries, and reward their gregarious achievements. These foraging items will return with them in their weaning cages were they spend most of the day still at this stage, focusing on eating, preening, toning &conditioning their bodies & sleeping
Feeding Strategy
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
1
2
3
4
Primary Lessons
Towel Cradling Exercises Are More Advanced Due to Regression Of Crop
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Misting and the provision of a basking light will naturally encourage preening activity and exercise through flapping. The light is essential (in cooler weather) to prevent the fledglings from becoming chilled when wet.
Exercise is crucial at this stage prior to any feeding or interaction in order to expend excess energy. This activity also promotes development of pectoral muscles. Ideally exercise sessions should be offered a minimum of 2x/day.
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Misting Activity
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Further desensitization to the nail manicure rotary tool or nail file continues in order to prepare the chicks for slight grooming when they are able to
perch confidently
Step 1: the fledgling is now perched on the caretaker’s finger, while the manicure rotary tool is used on the caretakers nails
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Step 2: the manicure rotary tool is then used on the nails of the bird, to slightly blunt the tips as nails must remain sharp in this stage
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
• The clumsy-awkward flight of the fledgling must be supervised & guided when encouraged in a flight or indoor bird room.
• A flight harness can be worn more safely at this stage for supervised flight outdoors as the crop has regressed considerably for most individuals , although caution must be used not to encourage flight with the harness following feeding of large quantities of food .
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Fledglings can be desensitized to the transport carrier while the fledgling cage is being cleaned
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage
Nurturing but not over indulgence
Primary Lessons
Regrettably this is often when mentor caretakers overindulge in cuddling too much instead of encouraging independence. Fledglings become clingers at this stage if held too close and preened too close to body of caretakers; they then fear everything around them and fail to become independent and successfully find their place within a flock ©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved
top related