Page 464 - Hand rearing birds second

458 Hand-Rearing Birds

The Houston Zoo in Texas, U.S. has been a leader in turaco husbandry for years. The green tura-
cos are the most commonly kept turacos in the U.S., followed by the purples and then the grays.
The most popular avicultural species in the U.S. are White Cheek (Tauraco leucotis), Red Crest
(Tauraco erythrolophus), Green (Tauraco persa), and Violet (Musophaga violacea) Turacos.
The Great Blue Turaco is extremely rare in captivity in the U.S. The Houston Zoo has had success
with raising this species, and a few pairs and individuals are in private hands due to small groups
imported into the U.S. around 2015.
Hand-rearing of turacos is done usually to increase the productivity of a pair, for the safety of the
chick, or to have a tame adult. Hand-rearing for household pet quality is becoming more popular
despite the fact that turacos do not make the greatest pets in the average home.

­ Record­Keeping

At this time, no federal permits are required to keep and raise turacos. However, state laws vary and
should be checked before attaining turacos.
Record keeping varies with each aviculturist but should include the basics, such as date hatched,
parents and bloodline, sexing information, and any medical issues. Leg bands or microchipping is
recommended to identify and track individuals. Traditionally in aviculture, the gender of sexed
birds can be visually marked by bands placed on the right leg for a male and left for a female.
Tattoos are used on the appropriately sided wingweb.

­ Incubation­of Eggs

In addition to cases of rescuing eggs that would be destroyed, turaco eggs are sometimes removed
and artificially incubated to induce a pair of birds to lay again within a couple of weeks. It is much
better for the parents to be able to raise the chicks on their own, but in certain cases, such as rare
species, this is a valid technique as long as it is not overused and the female’s health put at risk from
excessive egg production.
Turaco eggs can be artificially incubated at a temperature of 99–100 °F (37.2–37.8 °C) and 45%
relative humidity in a standard incubator unit. They should be turned 180° in opposite directions
every 1–5 hours. Evidence of fertility can be seen by candling methods around days 7–10. See
Chapter 3 for greater detail.
Incubation times vary between species and even individuals. Green turacos hatch in 19–23 days,
and Great Blues take 31 days. Purple and gray turacos fall between these values. Hatching can take
up to 48 hours.
Since turaco eggs are relatively easy to artificially incubate, it is often done if a pet bird and hand-
rearing from day 1 is desired.

­ Initial­Care­and Stabilization

Turaco chicks are semi-precocial, opening their eyes soon after hatching, and are very alert to their
environment. Chicks in the nest will hiss, threaten an intruder with an open mouth, and defecate
when handled. When incubator hatched, they will imprint on the human caregiver immediately
and not show these reactions unless frightened.