CAS Avian Reproduction & Breeding 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the approximate incubation period for a Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) egg?
- 12 days
- 18 days (Correct answer)
- 21 days
- 28 days
Correct answer: 18 days
Budgerigar eggs typically hatch after approximately 18 days of incubation under normal conditions.
Question 2: Which term describes the featherless, highly vascularized area of skin that develops in many birds during breeding season to transfer heat directly to eggs?
- Gape response
- Brood patch (Correct answer)
- Uropygial activation
- Cloacal pad
Correct answer: Brood patch
The brood patch is a vascularized, featherless area of abdominal skin that develops hormonally during breeding to provide direct heat transfer to eggs.
Question 3: What is the typical clutch size for a Double Yellow-headed Amazon parrot (Amazona oratrix)?
- 1–2 eggs
- 2–4 eggs (Correct answer)
- 5–7 eggs
- 8–10 eggs
Correct answer: 2–4 eggs
Double Yellow-headed Amazons typically lay 2–4 eggs per clutch, consistent with most Amazon parrot species.
Question 4: During egg candling, what should a fertile egg display at approximately day 7 of incubation?
- A clear, translucent appearance
- A dark opaque mass filling the egg
- A visible network of blood vessels (Correct answer)
- An air cell occupying half the egg
Correct answer: A visible network of blood vessels
At day 7 of incubation, a fertile egg will show a visible network of blood vessels when candled, indicating active embryonic development.
Question 5: What temperature range is generally recommended for artificially incubating most parrot eggs?
- 95–96°F (35–35.5°C)
- 98–99°F (36.7–37.2°C) (Correct answer)
- 101–102°F (38.3–38.9°C)
- 103–105°F (39.4–40.6°C)
Correct answer: 98–99°F (36.7–37.2°C)
Most parrot eggs are artificially incubated at 98–99°F (36.7–37.2°C) to simulate the natural heat maintained by the sitting parent.
Question 6: Egg binding in breeding hens is most commonly associated with a deficiency of which nutrient?
- Vitamin A
- Calcium (Correct answer)
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
Correct answer: Calcium
Calcium deficiency is a primary cause of egg binding because calcium is essential for proper uterine muscle contractions needed to expel the egg.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes an altricial chick at the time of hatching?
- Fully feathered and immediately mobile
- Eyes open, self-feeding within hours
- Naked, eyes closed, and entirely dependent on parents (Correct answer)
- Partially feathered with limited self-thermoregulation
Correct answer: Naked, eyes closed, and entirely dependent on parents
Altricial chicks hatch in a completely helpless state — naked, blind, and entirely dependent on parental care for warmth, feeding, and protection.
CAS Avian Reproduction & Breeding 1
What is the approximate incubation period for a Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) egg?