We have some eggs-cellent news to share! It’s that time of the year again, and our Zoo’s aviary recently welcomed 22 new cockatiel chicks!  

The chicks were hatched across various dates beginning in April, and there are still more to come. Born pink with downy feathers and their eyes closed, they actually won’t start to grow pin feathers until around 2 to 3 weeks of age!  

Right now, the chicks are cozied up in their nest boxes in the aviary until they’re ready to fledge (leave their nest) at about a month old. Once they leave the nest, guests may hear some high-pitched chirps around the aviary, which is likely the little ones asking for food.  

This isn’t our first rodeo with cockatiel chicks at our Zoo, so our Lands of Change team is well-versed when it comes to monitoring the babies. The birds’ nest boxes are checked throughout the day to ensure the chicks are doing well, and all the chicks are banded and preventatively dewormed before they take on the big world. 

Sometimes, a few chicks need a little extra care. These chicks, and any others that are struggling on their own, are taken to a cozy behind-the scenes location to get some one-on-one time with our animal care team. Depending on their size and condition, some chicks may even go home with a staff member to ensure they’re fed every two hours, as newly hatched chicks need frequent feedings.  

The hand-reared chicks are raised in a carefully monitored, temperature-controlled environment by our animal care team.

As they grow, the amount of formula is reduced, and solid food is introduced. Once they are eating only solids, keepers will also get them used to eating from seed sticks. Once these select few reach fledging age, keepers will shift them back to the aviary and slowly acclimate them to their new environment, said Curator of Animals Michelle Johnston. 

The next time you’re strolling through our Lands of Change aviary, look out for the new chicks on the block! 

Special thanks to Flammio Financial Group, Stifel-Garvin Wealth Management Group, Artemis IT, and Jim and Darleen Barfield. Their generosity makes our work possible! 

Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.