Gang Gang Cockatoo: Breeding Feeding Advice
Gang Gang Cockatoo – Callocephalon fimbriatum
Gang-gang Cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum) are distinctive Australian parrots known for their unique appearance and charming personalities. Breeding these cockatoos can be challenging and requires specific care and attention. Here’s some detailed advice on breeding and feeding Gang-gang Cockatoos:
Gang Gang Cockatoo Breeding Advice
- Age and Compatibility:
- Gang-gang Cockatoos typically reach sexual maturity at around 3-4 years of age.
- It’s crucial to select a compatible pair that gets along well. Observing their interactions for signs of bonding, such as mutual preening and feeding, can help ensure compatibility.
- Breeding Environment:
- Provide a large aviary with plenty of space for flight and exercise. The aviary should be well-sheltered and protected from extreme weather conditions.
- Place the aviary in a quiet, secure area to minimize stress.
- Nesting Box:
- Use a sturdy nesting box that measures approximately 12 x 12 x 36 inches, with a 4-inch entrance hole. Ensure the box is securely mounted and protected from predators.
- Line the nesting box with non-toxic wood shavings or other suitable nesting materials to provide insulation and comfort.
- Breeding Behavior:
- Watch for signs of breeding behavior, such as courtship displays, increased vocalization, and mating.
- The female usually lays 2-3 eggs, which she will incubate for about 24-30 days.
- Chick Care:
- After hatching, both parents will typically share the responsibility of feeding the chicks.
- Ensure the parents have access to plenty of nutritious food to support the growth and development of the chicks.
- Regularly monitor the chicks’ health and development, but minimize handling to avoid stress.
- Post-Breeding:
- Allow the breeding pair to rest after raising a clutch before attempting another breeding cycle. This helps prevent stress and exhaustion.
Feeding Advice
- Balanced Diet:
- Offer a balanced diet that includes high-quality pellets, a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and a limited amount of seeds.
- Fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, leafy greens, berries, and sweet potatoes should be included in their diet.
- Increased Protein:
- During the breeding season, increase the protein intake by providing foods like cooked eggs, legumes, and soaked or sprouted seeds.
- Calcium and Minerals:
- Ensure adequate calcium intake to support egg production and chick development. Cuttlebone, mineral blocks, or calcium supplements can be provided.
- Consider a vitamin and mineral supplement, especially during breeding and molting periods, to support overall health.
- Fresh Water:
- Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Regularly check and change the water to prevent contamination.
- Avoid Toxic Foods:
- Do not feed avocados, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onions, and garlic, as these can be toxic to cockatoos.
Conclusion
Breeding Gang-gang Cockatoos requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a commitment to providing optimal care. Ensuring a suitable environment, a balanced diet, and proper management can help facilitate successful breeding and chick rearing. If you’re new to breeding or have specific concerns, consulting with an experienced breeder or avian veterinarian can provide valuable guidance and support.
By Rolf Dennison
Gang Gang Cockatoos are without a doubt one of the more unique and unusual-looking cockatoos. With the male’s bright red head and flimsy, untidy crest they are sure to catch the eye of any bird lover.
This delightful cockatoo also has an unmistakable call, one that has been compared to opening a gate with rusty hinges or removing a cork from a wine bottle! At present these cockatoos are well established in Australian aviaries but are not widely kept in South African aviculture, and little is known about them. In this article we will discuss everything you need to know about Gang Gangs.
Gang Gang Cockatoos are small cockatoos only reaching an average length of 35cm and an average weight of 250 grams.
They are sexually dimorphic, with the female lacking the red-coloured head of the male. Immature cock birds will look similar to the hens, except that they will have some orange-yellow edging in their head feathers. This orange-yellow edging may be seen even when the birds are still in the nest. Males will develop their full red head and crest at the age of around 3 years. Older cocks have a fuller and more developed crest. Immature birds will also have a darker mandible with dark grey-brown patches, as they mature it will lighten to a horn-like colour.
With mature pairs you will also notice that the hen is always larger in size than the cock bords. Gang Gang Cockatoos used to be most allied with the white cockatoos of the genus Cacatua. This has always been controversial due to the Gang Gang’s unusual appearance and colouration. New research has finally resolve the matter, with the Gang Gang Cockatoo being recognized as a distinctive early off-shoot of the Calyptorhynchine (black) cockatoos.
Distribution
Gang Gang Cockatoos occur naturally in South-eastern Australia and are still quite plentiful in the wild. It is thought that this species is strongly monogamous (paired for life) and may return to the same breeding sites in successive years.
Loss of older, hollow trees and loss of habitat from land clearing has led to a reduction of numbers in this species. Bushfires can also be detrimental to this species because of the excessive damage it can cause to the trees and natural vegetation. Due to this, the Gang Gang Cockatoo has been listed as vulnerable in New South Wales, Australia. Fortunately, much of the Gang Gang Cockatoo’s natural range is very remote, rugged and mountainous, offering some of the best protection nature can provide.
Gang Gang Cockatoo Housing
Success with Gang Gang Cockatoos comes down to good aviary design. In captivity, these cockatoos will need to be kept in a stress-free environment. Make sure that the aviary is placed in a suitable area without excessive heat and that no predators or vermin can access or come near the aviary to upset your birds.
Do not place your Gang Gangs near neighbouring birds that would pose a threat to these cockatoos or are too loud and screechy.
Gang Gangs enjoy open aviaries with lots of light, so try to make sure that you position your aviaries in order to maximise the hours of sunlight the aviary receives. With regards to aviary size, the larger the better, but the minimum aviary size for a breeding pair is 2.5m long x 1m wide x 2m high. Larger aviaries will be beneficial not only to the birds but also the owner, as watching these cockatoos fly about in their aviaries is a joy!
Make sure that the nesting log is hung vertically and is secured to a solid base. Cut into the side of the log approximately 20cm above the base, as this will allow for an entrance hole to inspect the nest or remove eggs or chicks. An entrance hole measuring 10cm in diameter is cut near the top of the log. A thick slab of pine, preferably Oregon, is fixed into the top of the log.
Behaviour
One of the biggest problems with Gag Gangs is feather plucking. There have been countless methods tried in order to prevent the problem. One of the best things to do is to make sure that you provide your cockatoos with plenty of fresh branches and other chewable items in order to stimulate and keep them busy.
These cockatoos are very inquisitive and will love to chew any object in their surroundings. Their beaks are designed for chewing trees and they can have a very powerful bite. Split logs are great to add to the aviary and also provide a great place to hide food items, which will help to stimulate these active birds.
The most important feature of the aviary is the nesting log. The nesting log plays an important role in encouraging these birds to breed, and it is important that the aviculturist makes sure that the nest is suitable for these birds. An ideal nesting log is a natural hollow log that measures 80 – 120cm with an internal diameter of around 25 – 35cm.
The pair will spend countless hours chewing this, allowing sufficient amounts to drop into the log which will create a nest bed. Another alternative is to use pine tree logs that are around 90cm long. Place this log vertically on a stand in the aviary, and with a bit of time the pair will discover that the soft center will give way. The pair will then hollow out the log themselves and are happy to lay their eggs therein.
Gang Gang Cockatoo Diet
The diet of the Gang Gang Cockatoo will need to be varied, balanced and interesting. These cockatoos will try almost anything, making them a pleasure to cater for. Offer them a variety of seeds such as sunflower, canary and white millet.
Also add nuts such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts. Also provide sprouted sunflower and maize. Along with these seeds and nuts, offer them a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
In the wild, the Gang Gang Cockatoo has been known to hunt down sparrows and devour them! Although not necessary, many aviculturists will offer them mealworms, as well as chicken and lamb chop bones. Fresh water must be provided at all times.
Breeding
Gang Gang Cockatoos may come into breeding condition and successfully reproduce at three years of age. This in not very common and most will breed at around five years or older. These cockatoos do not enjoy the heat so much, and effort must be made to provide them with a cool aviary during the summer months.
These birds have a reputation for being late breeders and may not lay until December.
They may also come into breeding condition in the cooler weather during September. Although the average clutch size is two eggs, every now and then they will lay only one egg, and on very rare occasions they may lay a clutch of a maximum of 3 eggs. Incubation duties are shared by both parents and the incubation period is 26 – 28 days.
Chicks hatch with a creamy yellow down. At around 50 days the chicks can be seen at the top of the nest and a few days later they will take their first flight. Make sure to supply the female with calcium during this rearing period and again for the hen prior to the following breeding season.
Final words
In conclusion, the Gang Gang Cockatoo is a unique cockatoo that stands out amongst the rest. If provided with the correct requirements these birds will do well in our aviaries. Hopefully with more and more successful breeding we will see these delightful cockatoos becoming more readily available.
Where to Adopt or Buy a Gang Gang Cockatoo
Online rescues, adoption organizations, and breeders where you can find Gang Gang Cockatoos include:
We have a wide range of bird products available on Boegie Store.
