Keeping, Breeding & Hand-Rearing the Forest Red-Tail Black Cockatoo

Calyptrohyncus Banksii Naso

By Geoff D’Cruz

Background ~ Geoff D’Cruz

Geoff was born in India and from age 4 has always had a love of birds and after having worked as a social worker and a human resource management consultant for 16 years, he chose to revert to his childhood love ...“the love of birds”.

Westy: Geoff’s very first Naso hatched July 1995, who started his passion for this stunning species.

Jarrah: Westy’s mate who is a real show

pony.

Jackson: Coco’s mate who just likes to muck around,

but does the deed.

Coco: The most casual but reliable Mum.

Gumnut: Also Westy’s offspring and baby of the flock.

Nero: One of Coco’s many chicks.

Getting Started ~ The Naso

• “Westy” brought to ‘Birds ‘n’ All’ for sale • Intimidating but lovable• New owner found for Westy, “ME” - to this very day!!• Much persistence with CALM resulted in the bird’s being registered as “Naso’s”

(manually of course!)• All birds (2 breeding pairs, hand reared)

Housing, Diet & Care

Housing:

Aviary construction

• 4mm gauge wire essential

• Minimum dimensions 4 metres long x 2.4 height and 2 metres wide.

• Perches extremely hard wood – minimum 15 cm diameter at both ends of aviary.

• Nest log: approximately 700mm deep x 500 wide with nesting substrate comprising crushed termite mound and wood chips.

Housing, Diet & Care

Diet:

• Cockatoo mix: comprising grey striped sunflower, black sunflower, hulled oats, plain canary, blanched peanuts & white millet.

• Soft mix: sprouted mung beans, sunflower and a good quality pigeon mix which is soaked overnight.

• Nuts: almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, peanuts & gum nuts when available.

• Bird muffins: a variety of natural, wholesome ingredients, combined with eggs, including shell and baked to perfection (YUMMY).

Housing, Diet & Care

Care:

• Water changed daily

• Wormed at least once each year

• Good aviary hygiene maintained

• Good record keeping maintained

Parent Reared Naso ~Parents ~ Jackson & Coco

Parent Reared Naso ~Parents ~ Coco & Jackson

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Parent Raised Bird Day 1: Hatched

Week 1

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Week 2

Note black spots appearing on the skin –

development of feathers

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Week 3

Eyes open and feather protruding through skin

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Week 4

Note feather development and pattern

Week 5 : Note absence of down and presence of down in nest

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Week 6: Note absence of down and sheen of feathers

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Week 7

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Week 8

Weeks 9 & 10

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Week 11: What a gorgeous looking chick!!

Parent Reared Naso ~Stages of Development

Hand Reared Naso ~ Cock“Jackson”

Hand Rearing the Naso ~

• Knowledge from others• Know how• Books• Notes• Contact with others that

have done it before• A good avian vet

Hand Rearing the Naso ~ Equipment

• Incubators• Thermometers• Egg candlers• Crop needles• Spoons

• Tissues• Towels• Disinfecting Agents• Table lamps• Notes

Hand Reared Naso Pair ~ Parents ~ Westy & Jarrah

Hand Reared Naso ~ Gumnut ~

44 Days

Hand Reared Naso ~ Weight Chart ~ Gumnut