Early Parrot Education - Stage 1 - Introductory

Stage 1:
Introductory Stage
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

 Early desensitization to awaken senses to
taste, textures & various consistencies of the
weaning extruded morsels.
 Preening education onto other clutch
mates encouraged
 Socialization with clutch mates
 Elementary foraging opportunities offered to
reward curiosity
 Nurturing includes visual and verbal
communication
Educational FocusStage One of Early Parrot Education
Introductory Stage

TOOLS
Nurturing
Monitoring
Socialization
Desensitization
Stage One of Early Parrot Education
Introductory Stage

Body weight still rests on hocks
Introductory Stage
Characteristics of this Stage
Feathers are emerging
from the pin feathers,
especially head & wing
coverts for the larger
parrot species.
Tail and primaries are
barely 10 % out of shaft

Body weight still rests on hocks, although
light-weight species will raise from resting
on hocks more quickly through the stages
than the larger psittacines.
Introductory Stage
Characteristics of this Stage
Feathers are
emerging from the
pin feathers,
especially wing
coverts more quickly
for the smaller
psittacines species .
Tail and primaries are
barely 10 % out of shaft

Characteristics of this StageStage One of Early Parrot Education
Introductory Stage
Crop is at its maximum
size
Plateau stage reached on
the logarithmic growth
curve for the smaller
psittacines & almost
reached for the larger
species

Beak commissures are
still soft.
Commissures are still
touched to trigger a
healthy feeding
response which is still
expected at each
feeding. Lunging or
prolonged feeding
response onto other
clutch mates between
feedings should be
noted, as this could
indicate chicks are
not reaching satiety or
may be suffering from
a crop disorder.
Introductory Stage

Chicks are:
• starting to move
around yet with very
little coordination,
agility or stability
• sleeping approx. 90% of
the day
• Exploring substrate
• beginning to vocalize
• beginning to preen
clutch mates
Introductory Stage

Introductory Stage
Motor Skills
Motor skills are not refined,
as this is reflected in their
lack of coordination and
agility. Yet there are starting
to try to move around,
exploring the weight
disposition of their heavy
bodies, starting to lift their
rump and stretch their legs a
little , as well as extent their
wings. They are discovering
the potential strength of their
bodies. Smaller species
acquire motor skills more
quickly

Chicks should be kept close together to promote elementary preening activity.
Sides of the chick pen must not be too low; chicks might try to climb over the
rims & consequently aspirate due to their large crops.
Stage 1
Prior to
Stage 1
HousingStage One of Early Parrot Education
Introductory Stage

Introductory Stage
Catalina Macaw housed with two
Green-winged Macaws. Bin is large
& stable enough to allow for full
wing extension, some movement
wobbling about, and safe height to
prevent pre-fledgling to climb out
of bin. Macaws are assured to be in
close proximity to each other to
promote elementary preening and
socialization, as well as support to
lean onto each other

Introductory Stage
As well as increasing the risk of aspiration if the chicks attempt to climb over the
side, chick pens that are too small can result in:
• the bin flipping over if a large chick attempts to climb out (especially if there is
not enough substrate to weigh it down)
• damaged wing and tail feathers
• wing injuries, since chicks at this stage are beginning to flap to develop their
pectoral muscles ©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Introductory Stage
• Chicks that have outgrown their
chick pens should be transferred to
larger ones which will accommodate
for their size and level of activity, yet
we recommend these bins not be
large, as the focus needs to be on
other clutch mates to ensure
socialization and elementary
preening
• Should you unfortunately be
raising a single chick from a clutch
in your nursery, this is a critical age
to consider adding chicks from
other clutches to the chick pen,
provided there is compatibility and
no suspected health concerns.

Introductory Stage
50/50 mix of aspen shavings ( that does
not contain aromatic phenols) and
recycled newspaper pellets is used at the
HARI nursery, after their neonatal stage
when chicks are not suspected of suffering
from crop disorders ( Note: increasing the
likelihood of ingesting substrate)
The chick pen should also have a good clean substrate that is dust free and absorbent for
chicks to nestle. The thickness of the substrate should ensure the chicks legs will not splay.
Optimal husbandry must ensure hygienic conditions are provided. Feces should not soil the
chicks. Feces that stick to the feet of the chicks could lead to future pododermatitis, feces that
adhere to the rump can cause irritation, constipation, and bacterial infections. Feather damage
can also result from unhygienic conditions in the nests or chick pens. Aromatic phenols, yeast
and soiled substrate can also contribute to respiratory health concerns. Some aviculturist
prefer to use material or paper towels or absorbent pads instead of substrate to prevent
possible ingestion. This will usually require a more diligent monitoring of the hygiene of the
chicks to ensure feces do not soil the body of the chicks, especially as they mature from the
neonatal stages.
Considerations for use of Substrates

Introductory Stage
Avoid :
•all substrates should the species or individuals be
predisposed to ingesting the substrate
• All substrate should a crop disorder be suspected, or optimal
feeding schedule can not be ensured
• corn cob as it is an excellent breeding ground for mould and
can be easily ingested, furthermore it resembles the extruded
morsels chicks in this stage start to forage for.
• clay based substrates
• substrates that can cause serious implications such as
impaction or GI perforation should they be ingested
• pine or cedar especially if the environment is not well
ventilated, as there is a potential health concern when
housing chicks on substrates that contain aromatic phenols
• substrate that can get entangled and potentially cause
constriction
Consult with your avian veterinarian to explore the best
and safest substrates to use for your particular needs.
Considerations for use of Substrates

Introductory Stage
Quiet nursery environment with dim lights
and chick pen partially covered with a
lightweight blanket for most of the time
during this stage to minimize disturbances
and shadows, which instinctively chicks
recognize as a potential threat-(predator) in
the wild nest cavities. A stress free
environment promoting quality sleep is
essential at this stage as the chicks still
spend most of their time sleeping between
feedings.

Housing
Missed opportunity!
Introductory Stage
The older fledgling on the side of the
chick pen should be placed in the pen
with supervision to interact with the
younger chicks.
Mentorship from well educated older
fledglings can be used successfully
especially while caring for numerous chicks
at once as is often encountered with the
smaller psittacine species that age and evolve
much more quickly through the EPE stages.

Introductory Stage
Based on our weaning
strategy we do not give toys to
chicks at this stage. The
awakening of the senses
should be concentrated on
feeding activity, with the
chicks’ increasing curiosity
rewarded by finding
extruded morsels on the
bottom of the chick pen.
Time awake should be spent
engaged in this foraging
activity as well as preening
other chicks.
Housing

Feeding StrategyStage One of Early Parrot Education
Introductory Stage
Nutritional guidance: Nutritional guidance will be constant in the
EPE and Weaning Program to benefit the chick as he continues to
develop physically as well as serve his cognitive growth. He has
much to learn in the next few weeks and a nutritionally deprived
chick will be unable to focus on his upcoming lessons. In
comparison to his wild bird counterpart, it’s the same course of
action when a parent bird brings food to the nest. The particular
food brought to the chick becomes a familiar flavor to him and he
will learn by familiarity that once he leaves the nest, this is the food
that is safe and OK to eat. It would without argument, be
detrimental to his survivorship if the parent bird began these
lessons after the chick leaves the nest and starts to an
independent search of his own. This is a lesson in nutrition that
stays with the chick for his lifetime. ..knowing what food is good for
him to eat.

Introductory Stage
Regrettably some breeders decrease the number of feedings per
day at this age to 3 feedings of larger quantities of hand feeding
formula because their crop has expanded to its maximum size.
Some chicks may become winey and they often display lunging or
aggressive behavior when the nursery caretaker appears with a
syringe full of hand feeding formula. Additionally, they are also
often difficult to wean due to prolonged periods of overextended
crops from being fed huge amounts of amounts of hand feeding
formula. Well, those problems could all be avoided if the nutritional
guidance were approached with a different attitude and strategy
implemented at this stage of the chick’s life.

Elementary Foraging Skills
Introductory Stage
The crop, once fully extended by volumes of food will soon
downsize a bit. It’s imperative for the chick’s long term
digestive health to keep the crop motility in good shape. This
can be achieved with assisted feeding strategies with softened
extruded diet morsels mixed with the hand feeding formula on
a spoon as well as a the placement of shallow dish with
moistened extruded diet in the chick pen. The idea behind this
implementation is not to start forcing the chick to eat on his
own, but to play into his natural instincts of picking up and
mouthing objects within his reach, which, at this age, might
otherwise be the substrate. It is better to provide nutritious and
familiar flavor to satisfy his natural tendencies for foraging
behavior.

As the chick matures throughout this stage the crop will
regress
It is crucial to gradually encourage
the crop to downsize and gain
tonus at this stage; prolonged
feeding of large quantities of
hand-feeding formula will prevent
the natural regression of the crop
and may cause the GI tract to
remain lazy.
end of
stage 1
Introductory Stage

1st complimentary spoon feeding of weaning granules soaked in
warm water
Feeding Strategy
• Chicks are fed 4 times per day and
gradually as the crop regresses a 5th feeding
can be added
• Hand-feeding formula is still syringe or
spoon fed during most feeding sessions
• Complimentary spoon feeding of weaning
granules soaked in warm water will be
introduced at this stage, as thicker
consistency along with harder morsels will
encourage the crop to regress, gain tonus
and prevent the GI tract from getting lazy
Introductory Stage

Elementary Foraging Skills
This stage provides the perfect
opportunity to introduce dry
weaning granules in the nursery
chick pen as it is the age of
curiosity. This introduction
provides elementary foraging
skills.
Introductory Stage
The weaning granules should be of a larger
size, such as sticks or biscuits
The large morsels can be placed on the floor of
the chick pen in clean substrate or in a
shallow dish
The larger size of the granules will encourage
foraging and will discourage ingestion of the
substrate.

Weight Monitoring
Introductory Stage
Feeding Strategy
Sometimes it’s awkward to manage a chick and gram scale, especially when
it comes to a heavy bodied species such as a macaw. However, we want to
stress the importance of this routine of daily weighing as it will be part of this
chick’s everyday routine in the nursery and hopefully, throughout his life as
companion bird.

Weight Monitoring
Introductory Stage
Feeding Strategy
For proper monitoring of the chicks throughout the Early Parrot Education
stages, chick identification bands can be used to differentiate between chicks
that are housed together.
This daily monitoring is crucial to caretaker as the growth pattern will indicate the
advancements to the next stage. Once the “plateau stage” is reached in this 1st stage of EPE
the chicks growth chart can be replaced with the weaning growth chart to record the weight
as no more increase should be expected. It should be said that negative growth patterns
(not associated with the expected gradual weaning weight loss) can also indicate a possible
medical or nutritional problem. If such is the case, the nursery caretaker can be more
proactive in making corrective changes.

Weight Monitoring & Handling Considerations
Introductory Stage
Feeding Strategy
Handling chicks at this age can be challenging as nails are very sharp; these
must not, however, be groomed for the caretakers convenience! Furthermore,
chicks are awkward to pick up due to their large crops, clumsy bodies lacking
muscle and strength, resting most of their weight on the upper part of their
bodies and so handling can be potentially dangerous for the chicks unless a
proper technique is used. Pressure should never be applied to the chicks
abdomen or upper body region when handling .Chicks should never be rested
on slippery surfaces during weighing, physical exam or feeding. Handling
should be strategic to minimize handling when crop is not empty. Ex: chicks
should be weighed when crop empty in the morning then transferred to a clean
chick bin and then fed in this respective bin to prevent handling with full crop .

Weight Monitoring & Handling Considerations
Introductory Stage
Feeding Strategy
Pressure should be applied to the top of
the foot (with thumbs) while
supporting the back of the leg with the
index fingers and the foot pad with
middle fingers. The head should be
supported should it lean forward while
Handling chicks at this age can be
challenging as nails are very sharp;
these must not, however, be groomed!
Furthermore, chicks are awkward to
pick up due to their large crops and
that they are not standing upright,
resting most of their weight on the
upper part of their bodies and so
handling can be potentially dangerous
for the chicks unless a proper
technique is used. Pressure should
never be applied to the chicks
abdomen or upper body region when
handling .

Weight Monitoring
Introductory Stage
Feeding Strategy
Healthy chicks thriving under optimal conditions should have empty
crops ( ideal for accurate weight assessment) prior to the morning
feeding, whereas the crop although expected to digest its content
may not be left to completely empty during the rest of the day prior
to another feeding session. Emptying a chick’s crop for weighing
purposes should be done only if you immediately require an
accurate weight for a health assessment or chicks require their crops
to be emptied due to a crop disorder. Techniques used to empty the
crop content safely should only be performed by a skilled avian
nursery caretaker or avian health professional.

Primary LessonsStage One of Early Parrot Education
Introductory Stage
Socialization at this age is
important for the chicks’
development, whether they
are socialized with chicks of
the same or different species.
Skills such as preening and
elementary foraging will be
acquired faster if the chicks
are not housed alone.
Socialization

Introductory Stage
Desensitization to the Physical Exam
As the nursery caretaker performs a daily head to toe health check with desensitization
methods, the chick will quickly learn that a little light used to check his choanal papillae an
a touch to areas normally considered off limits in older parrots such as under the wing an
foot inspection, will be ok. This mastered lesson will be most valuable throughout the
chick’s life regardless of who is checking, as this inspection will give indication of nutrient
assimilation and provide an opportunity for general health check by his future avian
caretaker. Parrot owners are encouraged to check these areas of their adult pets or
breeders as these areas that can signify necessary changes in the bird’s lifestyle.

Introductory Stage
Desensitization to the Physical Exam:
Inspection of the Choanal Region
In this photo, an appropriate
technique is being used to
desensitize the chick to
inspection of the choanal
region. The inspection should
be gentle and not forcefully
apply pressure to the upper or
lower mandible. Gently
scratching the feathers around
the ears will usually trigger a
yawning response form the
chicks which can facilitate the
inspection of the choanal region
and oral cavity.

Introductory Stage
Inspection of the Choanal Region
Contrary to the technique
demonstrated in the prior slide, this
technique is too forceful for
desensitization purposes and visual
inspection on the choanal region and
oral cavity. It may be necessary to
remove substrate that may have
regrettably been inadvertently ingested
when it is still visible in the oral cavity ,
or be used by an avian health
professional to collect a choanal swab,
but should not be used by an
inexperienced caretaker for the mere
routine inspection and desensitization
purpose ©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Introductory Stage
• The eyes of chicks at this stage should
still not be exposed to full light
radically nor for prolonged periods.
• Ear opening should also be inspected
visually by the caretaker, for any
signs of redness, flaky skin, abnormal
ear opening.
Inspection of Eyes and Ear Openings

Introductory Stage
The use of a stethoscope applied to various parts of the body especially where air
sacs are located can both desensitize the chick to this procedure and also familiarize
the nursery caretaker to recognizing normal and abnormal sounds. Your avian
veterinarian can also play a crucial role in educating you to be able to recognize
potentially abnormal sounds associated with health concerns that would need their
immediate expertise for a professional evaluation.

Introductory Stage
Desensitization to the Physical Exam
Any slight beak deviations
should be noticed during the
visual exam as these can be
corrected easily.
Slight pressure applied to the
tip of the beak following
feeding will trigger a feeding
response reaction but should
also correct the deviation if
performed several times
within the next few days.

Introductory Stage
Preening with wet warm towel around the neck & back.
A warm wet towel can be placed on the chick’s nape and back prior to
a preening session. This soothing ritual softens the feather shafts by
humidifying the emerging feathers and promotes easier preening, a
skill that is taught by the parent bird. Preening can also be done
through the towel, to further desensitize the chick to this material.
A basking light should be provided after the session to prevent the
chick from getting chilled and encourage elementary preening on
other clutch mates

Introductory Stage
Preening with wet warm towel around the neck & back.
The importance of desensitizing the chick to a towel is to get the bird
accustomed to the future lesson of cradling as this too will become a part
of his lessons as he progresses though his primary education process. It
will be expected that sometime during this bird’s life, he will have to be
toweled. Birds that are not accustomed to towel cradling, are stressed
unnecessarily more so in the event of an emergency such as a broken
blood feather or even a simple veterinarian exam. And, stressed birds also
show a much higher white blood cell count, which could be misinterpreted
in diagnostic procedure.
Pin feather preening & Towel desensitization go hand in hand!

Early Parrot Education - Stage 1 - Introductory

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