Breeding yellow-headeds (A. oratrix) has been a challenge and defeat for most of us. Subscribers Neil and Linda Elkins of Union Bridge, Md., are two with a measure of success. They had stripped a mobile home, put in a linoleum floor and insulated it, put cages 4' wide in the middle with an aisle on each side, one for servicing, the other for the nest box. The cages are 2' deep, nested against each other about 6" apart, but with a sheet metal partition between the cages. The cages are 3' high, and suspended on a rack 22 1/2 high. The mobile home has 13 cages down the middle from back to front.
| Birds prone to be overweight. Limit seed and other foods high in fat. Cage may be too small, birds can't exercise. | Stimulates breeding: Increased food supply in spring. So does increased length of daylight (gradually to 14-16 hrs.). Changes in weather: Increase of night temperatures. Lights above feeding area, away from nest enterance. |
| Normal clutch size: 1-4 eggs, average 2. Two-three clutches per yr. Only one egg if bird's first clutch. | Very aggressive during breeding season.Prevent parent killing: protect from human interference. Lengthen box to 30", reduce size of hole to accommodate one bird only. |
| * Gleaned at an AFA Convention. Thompson is from Canyon County, Calif., was director of Behavioral Study of Birds, Ltd., with a large breeding facility,called the Avicultural Institute, north of L.A. for manyyears. He's an editor of AFA WATCHBIRD |
The yellow-headeds are interspersed among other Amazons, actually alternated. All the birds were surgically sexed, Linda says. The male gets the box ready, stays in for long periods, and displays with tail flairings, and calling.
They once used a 12x12x24 box, but have changed to a 10x10x24 ("the birds like it better"). they create a replaceable front. The hole is made small, 3 1/2", on purpose so that the bird can chew it bigger to fit his body, and to become ready for breeding. Neil glues (non-toxic) a block of wood inside the nest box for the hen to chew on while sitting on the eggs.
The oratrix is 14", the Tres Marias, 15" and the Magna is larger. Rosemary Low says that when the yellow extends well into the upper breast, it's probably a Magna.
Rosemary Low's recommendation is for a 12' by 4' cage 6' high, though she admits breeding can take place in smaller cages. Eggs laid in January or February. When anyone is present, the hen would not leave the next. Young are out in April or May. Rearing food, she says, includes soaked sunflower seed, fruit sprinkled with bone meal, cheese, and hard boiled egg, the latter especially during the early days of feeding babies.
Since so many Yellow heads are being hatched, why isn't there more information about successful breeding? We know the answer, but still not enough birds are being provided to satisfy the pet demand. Thanks to the Elkins for sharing their observations.
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In 1989, more Yellow heads were weaned in the U. S. than any other Amazon. The survey, while not getting perfect, showed 196 babies weaned from 290 breeding pairs. About twice the number were wild-caughts. No birds are being imported into the country from Mexico, so new Yellow-heads may be smuggled. Know your source. Don't take a chance with a Yellow head time bomb that'll go off in your aviary months after now.
