Emerald Dove Husbandry Manual - Nswfmpa.org

Jennifer Brown ● Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica ● Husbandry manual
• Expected number of days till hatching
• Humidity
• Temperature
Once the chick has hatch the following should initially be recorded:
• Date
• Weight
• Chick condition
Once the chick has hatched the following should be recorded at every feeding:
• Date
• Time
• Condition of crop –full empty
• Formula being fed
• How much fed
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Pin feathers developing?
11.12 Identification Methods:
If two chicks are hand raised together in the same container, one can be marked with
a dark high lighter to tell them apart. Due to chicks colouration the highlighter mark will
need to be near the chicks’ beak to be able to see i t, when the chick reaches 7 days
old the mark can be on the top of the head and it will be visible. As the chick ages and
becomes larger a temporary plastic leg ring can be attached for identification until the
chick is we aned. It is at this p oint that a p ermanent l eg b and c an b e att ached o r a
microchip inserted into the bird for adult identification.
11.13 Hygiene:
While the c hick i s i n t he brooder hygiene i s v ery important, warm boiled st erile wa ter
should b e us ed for all washing a nd formula ma king. Once the p in f eathers h ave
appeared tap water can be used for washing but still warmed boiled water should be
used for making formula. This is because it is at this point you want to introduce bacteria
and bugs that the animal will face in eth real world slowly into its system.
Gloves should be worn when preparing food and once any formula has been made it
should not be reheated and fed out again. Left over formula should be fed out to adult
birds or other animals.
11.14 Behavioural Considerations:
Imprinting is al ways a n issue wi th any h and rai sed an imal, but if b irds are raised with
other birds and then weaned successfully with birds of similar ages, imprinting can be
avoided.
11.15 Use of Foster Species:
Cross fostering has proven quite successful with this species (Brown, D 1995). The most
often used species for cross fostering are:
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