Tell me about African Crowned cranes............ Pics P-2

[birdman123]

Quote:
wow them things are awesome.
congrats
how they doin?

 

[Sumatra503]

Those sure are ugly when they are babies. Good thing they're so beautiful when they grow up.

Did you already pinion, cause you could always just feather clip. It is much kinder and causes less stress. I've seen birds die from bad pinions. You could always keep them in a covered pen instead of pasturing them.

Are they tame or are they pretty flighty? Just curious.

 

[chickenzoo]

They were raised up by mom until she started picking out feathers ( her first hatch), so then they were separated, but right up against the main pen so they could still interact with each other. They are wary of people and can peck/pinch at you when handled longer than they like... hehe, but they are settling in. I've moved them into a covered 6ft X 12ft kennel with shade cloth around 3.5 sides so they can settle down more. I've pinioned them and are waiting on the DNA tests to come back, where we are I can not risk one flying off. They would get shot or worse, so I pinion. I really rather pinion when they are first born as their is very little anything.... but I did not have an option with these.

My friend will probably be selling her's, she doesn't keep things like I do, hehe......... but mine are here to stay, unless I can swap one for a different bloodline, then that will be an exception.

 

[Sumatra503]

I assume you pasture raise your cranes then if you worry they'll fly off?

Just curious, I've never raised them before.

I've seen them in giant covered aviaries before and also in pasture.

 

[chickenzoo]

Here in Florida, hurricanes and high winds can play havoc on even the best built pens, so i pinion incase a tree, wind, flying car..... hehe hits the pen and lets one out..... they will be easier to catch, aswell as most of my flying ducks and Egyptian geese & swans. When I get more property I will be making them a natural type habitat and depending on temperament let them roam some.

 

[chickenzoo]

Man they are growing.... have to get pics. they are all legs and necks..... hehe. Getting more use to me and not as scared. No one carries turkey starter etc.. here, so for now they are on Flock raiser with some dog food added, then they have a bowl of lettuces and seedless grapes which they devour...

 

[awesomefowl]

Can you tell me about these African Crowned Cranes? Are they nice? They are beautiful, but why would you keep them? Thanks! I was just wondering.

 

[Dr. Todd]

Crowned cranes are ornamental birds. Well cared for, they can live and breed for decades. They are not winter hardy and need some sort of frost proof enclosure if you live in the north. They should be kept in large enclosures as they are active foragers and enjoy jumping and dancing around. They should be pinioned if not kept in netted areas (sorry sumatrakid) as they have an asynchronous molt and are hard to keep clipped.

For those of you planning on keeping them, my advice would be to not coddle the chicks. Friendly chicks usually become nasty and downright dangerous birds when breeding.

Dr. Todd

 

[chickenzoo]

These were raised up by their parents until she started picking out their feathers, then they were put in a cage right next to the parents so they could still interact but not get picked on, so they luckily still know they are cranes... hehe