REASONS FOR HAND-REARING

Yet, many breeders remove the clutches from the nests as a matter of course, even when the parents would take care of their offspring perfectly. This is done for two main purposes:

To supply very tame birds as pets (Low, 1987; Wagner, 1999; Reinschmidt, 2000; Munkes, 2003).

In order to increase the production of clutches of the breeding pairs. Females whose eggs or chicks have been removed usually lay eggs again within a few weeks (Wagner, 1999; Reinschmidt, 2000). Besides, the parrots that have been hand-reared can be sold at higher prices than wild-caught and parent-reared birds, as hand-rearing is time-consuming for the breeder (Lantermann, 1995; Munkes, 2003).

Other reasons why the breeders choose to rear the chicks by hand are:

Birds that are slightly crippled, stunted or weak and would not have been able to survive in normal conditions can be saved and sold as pets (Wagner, 1999).

To increase the number of rare and endangered species in captivity as quickly as possible; the female lays again, mostly within three weeks (Low, 1987).

Another potential problem that might occur, but seldom does, is the death or illness of the parent(s) (Low, 1987; Reinschmidt, 2000).

In tropical and sub-tropical climates, predators and biting insects (e.g. snakes and ants) can also cause the death of chicks in the nest (Low, 1987).

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