Dutch Law Bans Hand-Rearing Young Parrots

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This month (July, 2014) the Netherlands turned the primary nation to outlaw the hand-rearing of parrots. The legislation covers all Psittacines, together with parakeets, cockatoos and lovebirds, and imposes fines and/or jail time upon violators. Chicken breeders and personal house owners could not take away nestlings from their dad and mom earlier than the younger are feeding on their very own and in any other case unbiased; species-specific time frames are set out within the laws. The method of hand-rearing, lengthy touted as a way of bonding parrots to individuals, has been linked to a bunch of behavioral and well being issues. Whereas a number of international locations prolong comparable protections to younger canine, cats and monkeys, the Dutch legislation is the primary to incorporate birds.

Chicken breeders and house owners worldwide are lining up for and in opposition to this ground-breaking legislation, and discussions have typically change into heated. The place do you stand? Please let me know by posting your ideas and opinions beneath.

Well being Issues (Bodily and Psychological)

Whereas hand-reared parrots initially bond readily to their caretakers and so appear ideally-suited for all times as companion birds, analysis performed on the Netherlands’ Clinic for Birds (please see article beneath) means that issues typically come up because the birds mature. Teams which have lengthy lobbied for this legislation, together with the Dutch Parrot Basis, argue that parent-rearing is important to such clever, social birds. Weakened immune methods, sure ailments, extreme behavioral issues and different issues have been linked to hand-rearing.

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Breeding Failures

Additionally, parrots that bond with people typically refuse to simply accept mates as soon as they mature. All through my profession, I’ve seen this happen in animals as various as Nice Horned Owls and Gorillas, and it’s usually irreversible. This phenomenon even extends to birds fostered by closely-related species. In zoos, the eggs of uncommon birds are typically pulled and positioned beneath a hen of a associated, extra frequent species. This causes the uncommon feminine to provide a second clutch, rising the potential inhabitants. Such chicks typically establish with their foster species…in some instances imitating their name and preferring that species as mates. There are not any set guidelines…Pink Pigeons fostered by Ring-necked Doves did high-quality for us on the Bronx Zoo, however human-reared birds of many species proved to be poor breeders.

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Does Hand-Rearing Perpetuate Dangerous Husbandry?

Whereas critics of the brand new legislation abound, advocates consider that different international locations will comply with the Netherlands’ lead in time. I discovered one level raised by the Dutch Parrot Basis to be significantly fascinating, and in keeping with what I’ve noticed over many a long time of animal-keeping.

When environmental situations and well being should not preferrred, captive animals curtail copy. With only a few exceptions, this holds true for all taxa, from invertebrates to mammals. And when captives do breed, many species will refuse to boost the younger, or could even kill and devour them, if all isn’t effectively (for instance, many first-time hamster keepers be taught the exhausting manner that disturbing a brand new mother by steadily checking her litter invariably results in catastrophe). Unusual as it might sound, such habits makes good sense, from a survival standpoint – dad and mom don’t waste time and sources caring for offspring that won’t seemingly survive.

The identical holds true with parrots. Among the legislation’s opponents declare that hand-rearing saves lives, as a result of so many parrots refuse to incubate eggs or abandon their chicks. Nevertheless, the Dutch Parrot Society maintains {that a} pair’s failure to care for his or her chicks is a transparent indication of dangerous husbandry practices. A poor chick-rearing document ought to be seen as a name for extra analysis and higher residing situations, not as an impetus to take away the chicks from their dad and mom. Seen on this manner, one would possibly say that chick-pulling permits sub-standard husbandry practices to proceed, and does little so as to add to our understanding of sure species’ wants.

In accordance with those that favor the legislation, as soon as parrots are supplied with a correct species-specific food regimen, suitably-sized and designed enclosures and different applicable situations, each breeding frequency and parenting success will enhance. My expertise with the Bronx Zoo’s enormous, various chicken assortment, and with many different animal teams, additionally bears this out. Properly, I’m unsure how this data will probably be obtained, however I’m betting there will probably be sparks! Please put up your ideas beneath.

Additional Studying

Breeding Lovebirds

The Adverse Results of Hand-Rearing (Netherlands’ Clinic for Birds)