Page 548 - Hand rearing birds second

Mousebirds 547

­ Introduction­to Captive­Flock

Care must be taken when introducing mousebirds to each other, especially to established individu-
als or flocks. Intraspecific aggression is common and often fatal. Chicks can even be aggressive
with each other once fledged. Typically, juveniles are accepted into flocks faster than adults. Mixing
mousebird species is not recommended for novices because it can be even trickier to establish
harmony. Speckled Mousebirds are typically a more aggressive species.
The best method is to release all the mousebirds into a new environment at the same time. If any
of the established birds are breeding at the time, it is riskier to introduce new birds. Use a “howdy
cage” technique, in which either the new bird or the established birds are placed in a smaller cage
inside the enclosure. Because mousebirds hang on the wire, a cage within a cage in the enclosure
is even better; otherwise, the birds will bite each other’s toes and feet. This “howdy cage” arrange-
ment allows the newcomer a chance to introduce himself to the other birds safely.
Once released, continue to monitor closely for signs of aggression, which include bloody toes, face,
and rump area. Loss of head and tail feathers or a bird hiding on the ground signals problems.

Author’s Note

Previously, little has been documented about this fascinating order of birds in captivity or in the
wild. After years of working with mousebirds herself, and compiling experiences and studies from
zoological institutes and other aviculturists, the author wrote Mousebirds in Aviculture, the only
book written on the subject. The book covers mousebirds’ natural history and all aspects of the
care, diet, housing, and breeding of all species of mousebirds. See https://sites.google.com/site/
birdhousepub for information on ordering a copy.
The author owns Davis Lund Aviaries, which specializes in softbilled birds, and more pictures
and information about mousebirds and other softbill birds can be found on the author’s website,
https://dlaviaries.wordpress.com. She has bred and raised all species of mousebirds except for the
Red-back Mousebird which has never been in U.S. aviculture. Currently, she has the largest flock
of White-back Mousebirds in the country. She would like to make contact with other people that
are working with mousebirds and can be reached at (541) 895–5149 or DLAviaries@aol.com.

­ Acknowledgments

Thank you to all the softbill aviculturists who have shared their experiences throughout the years.

­ Source­for Products­Mentioned

Kaytee products: 521 Clay St, PO Box 230, Chilton, WI 53014, (800) KAYTEE-1, https://www.
kaytee.com.
Mazuri, PMI Nutrition International, LLC, PO Box 66812, St. Louis, MO 63166, www.mazuri.com.

­ Reference

Davis, K.J. (2001). Mousebirds in Aviculture, 140 pp. Creswell, Oregon: Birdhouse Publications.