FEATURE


deeply. When the hen accepts the male she throws her neck backwards and the male feeds her, at first sight this is done very roughly and very quickly. After being fed the hen chases the male


away. In the breeding season the cloaca swells in both sexes, although more heavily with males rather than hens. Males even exhibit the sex organ outside the body. Mating can take one to several hours. The breeding process goes very quickly. The incubation time of the eggs takes only fourteen days. The chicks grow very fast and leave the nest at an age of five to six weeks. When they leave the nest their size is almost as big as their parents. At the age of three years the birds are fully grown. What do you mean, dull birds?


Living room Although there are people who keep Vasa Parrots as a pet, in my opinion they are less suitable for that. Vasa Parrots (Lessers as well as Greaters) show very different behaviour compared to other parrots. Except for the fact that they are excellent


flyers, during the day they are active birds that need space. Vasa Parrots are not naturally affectionate


birds. They hardly touch each other and they don’t like to be touched by humans in general. I own several tame birds which like to sit on my hand or shoulder, but every attempt to touch them results in a bite reflex. I am sure this behaviour can be unlearned, but if the birds don’t like to be touched I respect that.


BIRD SCENE 41


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