Reprodução de Psitacídeos

Abstract

Understanding how psittacine reproduction occurs in controlled environments is essential to ensure responsible practices and the well-being of the birds. This process involves delicate steps ranging from the selection of breeders to the care of newborn chicks. This is the theme of the seventh episode of the Psitaflix series, a set of videos produced by the extension project "Knowing, respecting and producing birds: didactic and alternative models in the teaching and learning process," developed by undergraduate, graduate and faculty students from the Laboratory for the Breeding and Incubation of Wild and Exotic Animals (LACRIAS) at the Federal University of Paraná. The video explains that only healthy birds, without close kinship and with sexual maturity can reproduce, with smaller species maturing earlier. Pair formation can occur naturally or through selection, observing interactions and courtship signals. After pairing, suitable nests are offered for each species, and the mating and egg-laying period begins. Each group has a characteristic number of eggs, and light plays a fundamental role in the reproductive cycle, needing to be controlled to avoid excessive egg laying. Incubation can be natural or artificial, allowing for greater environmental control and aiding conservation programs. During the process, candling is performed to monitor embryonic development and discard only eggs that are proven to be unviable. The chicks are altricial, meaning they are dependent on their parents, who feed them by regurgitation until the beginning of weaning, when they gradually begin to ingest solid food.