Philippine Hanging Parrot Captive Breeding Notes

Loriculus philippinensis regulus

The following notes are based on a mature female Loriculus philippinensis regulus, G-8 CUSI and her mate a mature male, G-22 CUSI. The primary aim in posting these notes is to hopefully make the data easily accessible where it was near impossible before, to benefit conservation efforts and aviculture.

Background: G-8 CUSI was bought by former owner from the black market and has been with him for 3 years (unconfirmed) until sold to another owner 05Nov06. Age undetermined. First owner was unable to breed her hence sold her. There was inital concern on G-8 CUSI's conditon since the original owner fed her mostly seeds and minimal fruit. G-22 CUSI is a wild caught specimen.
Subject: G-8 CUSI and mate G-22 CUSI (unconfirmed)

AVIARY/FLIGHT CONDITIONS:

Flight Dimensions: LWH 2.4m X .6m X 1.2m, 1 inch wire mesh, Ga. 16, partially shaded, suspended flight (1.4m from cemented floor). Double walled from other flights of same dimension.

Flight Orientation: West to East, Shaded portion at West end. Communal flight with four other Cusi’s (2 Males, 2 Females). Perches are of Tamarind branches 20-50cm diameter.

Nestbox Dimensions: LWH 230cm X 300cm X 300cm, 12cm plywood, L-Boot type, rear viewing window.

Nestbox Entrance Orientation: Towards North

Nestbox Substrate: Wood shavings, Kapok tree (Duldol) branches.

Feeding Regimen:

Daily: 6:00-7:00 AM Assorted Veggies, Wetmix (Separate plastic dishes, removed at afternoon feeding).
2:00-3:00 PM Fruits, Canary Mix (Separate plastic dishes, removed at morning feeding).

Weekly: Eucalyptus and/or Mulberry leaves and branches.

Occasional: Hibiscus and Coconut flowers, Assorted Palm Fruits, Corn on the Cob.

Diet:

Veggies: Cucumber, Tomatoes, Chilli peppers, Bell peppers, Rice, Mung bean sprouts.

Fruits: Bananas, Papaya, Apples, Pears, Mangoes, Indian Mangoes, Chico, Native Figs, Water Apple (Macopa/Tambis), Java Plum (Duhat/Lomboy).

Wet mix: Refer to recipe or email me at gastonaviaries@gmail.com

Others: Water sprinkler turned on regularly around noon during summer months or at tmperatures around 29-30’C. Feeding dishes cleaned daily, changed twice daily.

(Thanks for the advice and guidance of Pavel Hospodarsky, Tony Vaidl, Helena Zimova, Robert Hererra DVM, Joel Sarmiento)

10Feb09

G-8 CUSI observed copulating with adult male

03Aug08
Palm leaves offered to flight. G-8 CUSI was again exhibiting leaf tucking behavior but was not seen to enter the nestbox.

16Jul08
G-8 CUSI observed to enter same nestbox. Pair continues to be in near proximity of each other, aloepreening and mutual feeding.

7Jul08
Pair continues to be in near proximity of each other, aloepreening. G-8 CUSI not seen inside the nestbox.

23Jun08
Weather allowed inspection of nestbox. Chick found dead. Possibly died 19Jun08. Second egg unhatched and upon candling, chick dead in shell, not completely formed. G-8 CUSI might not have been able to maintain proper incubating temperature inside nestbox due to foul weather or due to inexperience. Female continues to beg from male G-22 CUSI (confirmed primary mate). Nestbox almost had equal amounts of shavings and leaves cut by the female. Nestbox was completely dry inside. Both nestboxes cleaned and treated with pyrethrin. Substrate replaced with new shavings. Unhatched egg dimensions: 17mm x 19.5mm

22Jun08
Female G-8 CUSI seen staying outside of the nestbox.

19Jun08
Typhoon Fengshen hits Bacolod. Heavy rains and strong winds. Temperatures at 21-25’C

18Jun08
Boiled chicken egg offered since 14Jun08 but feeding dish attracted large red ants. Boiled egg blended with wetmix and Yakult instead. One wetmix dish left inside aviary to be removed the next day to ensure adequate food for chick feeding. Female G-8 CUSI being fed from nestbox hole and was not seen outside the nestbox.

17Jun08:
HATCH! Upon inspection of nestbox just after afternoon feeding at 2:30 PM, first chick was observed. Incubation 20 days from 28May08. Female came out earlier to be fed by male than previous days which gave me a chance to peek into nestbox. Second egg still un-hatched, due 20June08.

14Jun08
Started daily offering of boiled chicken egg. G-8 CUSI did the same behavior pattern as the previous afternoon: came out of the nestbox around 4:30 PM and asked for food from mate as he would regurgitate food for her, when ignored she would do somersaults hanging from the wire mesh, while male fed on fruit again after. Then proceeded on cutting small pieces of Java plum leaves and tucking them to her rump after feeding while male kept close to her. Went back into the nestbox at around 4:45 PM.

13Jun08
Nestbox inspection at 11:30 AM showed two eggs. G-8 CUSI came out of the nestbox to be fed by mate. Given Java plum leaves and fruit at 4:30PM. G-8 CUSI immediately cut off small pieces and tucked them to her rump to bring into the nestbox.

08Jun08:
G-8 CUSI continually incubating eggs. Hardly seen outside the nestbox. G-22 CUSI constantly near the nestbox entrance.

05Jun08:
Nestbox inspection discontinued to avoid possibility of G-8 CUSI abandoning eggs from constant disturbance.

03Jun08:
Nestbox inspection at 8:00 AM showed only two eggs.

02Jun08:
Given Java Plum (Lomboy) fruit, leaves and branches. Female came out to chew on leaves. Also given palm flowers. Female increasingly spending more time in the nestbox and coming out mostly to be fed by male. Also sleeping in the nestbox in the evening.

01Jun08:
Mealworms were ignored, minimal consumption of boiled egg.

31May08:
Second egg was observed upon inspection of nestbox at 2:30 PM. Small sized mealworms and chopped boiled chicken egg was offered.

30May08:
Sprinkler turned on. Inspection of nestbox at 11:00 AM still showed only one egg.

29May08:
Started laying eggs. Stayed most of the day inside the large nestbox, upon inspection first egg was seen, laid 28may08.