Effect of four eggshell repair materials on weight loss during incubation of white leghorn chicken eggs.

Egg weight loss during incubation is a key indicator used to monitor successful egg development and is closely related to hatchability and chick survival. Artificial incubation is one of the most important captive breeding techniques used in conservation efforts to bolster avian populations. To repair damage to the eggshell and ensure embryonic viability during incubation, a variety of repair coverings can be applied.

Breeding history and husbandry of the Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana).

The Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana) has been held by the San Diego Zoo for more than 50 years, but the population remained in low numbers until the mid-1990s. A previous article published in 1997 documented the beginning of the rise in the population; however, no new information has been published since that time. Over the past 25 years, behavioral observations by animal staff have led to improvements in husbandry techniques, which includes artificial incubation of eggs and hand-rearing of chicks.

Artificial incubation and hand-rearing of Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba).

Since first brought into zoos in 1964, the captive population of Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba) has remained relatively small. Several decades of artificial incubation and hand-rearing of this species at the Avian Propagation Center (APC) at the San Diego Zoo has allowed the population to increase and maintain some stability. Successful artificial incubation techniques lead to healthy neonates and allow females to reproductively recycle and produce more offspring in a season.

Breeding history and husbandry of the Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba).

The Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba) has been bred in captivity for more than 50 years but has not been well documented. San Diego Zoo began efforts to breed the Superb Bird-of-paradise in the late 1960s. Through the years, behavioral observations by animal staff have led to improvements in husbandry techniques which have led to increased reproductive success.