Abstract
There arc probably a-, many di ffcrcru diet'> fed Lo crane' a' there arc collection' \\ ith cranes. Some reeding programs arc quite different from other' but many have been succcss ful in maintaining and breeding \Ol11e '>PCCiC'> of crane'>. ;\losl diets consi-: or a mixed grain ration or a commercial grain-based pelleted ration. These diets usually vary in protein from 20% - 40° o for the breeder diet. Some or these reeding program'> may also be '>UPplerncrued '' ilh Iivh or meat.
The International Crane loundaiion in Baraboo, Wixconxin maintain'> a captive propagat ion program w i: h 14 0 f l he world's 15 vpccics otcranc-. BeG\U'>C oi L he large number or crane' in the collection and the cmphasi-, on reproduction, a feeding program ''as established that i-, economical, ca'>~ to handle. and prov idc-, for the nutritional needs or the bird-. This feeding program is based on four diets, each developed specifically for a certain time in the bird's fife and Ior the changing season. of a temperate climate.
The Breeder diet is a 20.5°'0 protein rat ion wii h 2.450/o calcium and .890"0 phosphorous. This diet is cu st o m manufactured in a 3/16" pellet and is fed to all adult bird 3 year'> old and older during the breeding season. The Breeder diet i-, start ed the first of September. No fish or meat i'> added Lo the diet although the ration doc'> contain fish and meat meal. The only supplement given during the breeding season is ground oystershell. The oystershell i<i mailable at all times in a separate container. Studies at !CF have sho« n that some birds eat very little oysiershcll while those that do, generally eat more towards the end of the laying season. In some individuals the daily oystershell consumption peaks approximately .+8 hours prior to egg laying.
When the breeding season encl'> the birds arc placed on the i\ laintenance diet for the fall and winter. This diet is a 19 . .+% protein ration with I OJo calcium and .86% phosphorous. Like the Breeder diet it is custom made in a 3116" pellet. During the cold weather of a Wisconsin winter the birds are given a small amount or whole corn dailv for additional carbohydrates.
The vlainrcnancc diet i-, led yctu round 10 unmaturc bird-, lor ihcit t"ir..,1 three vcar-.
Nc11 ly hatched chick' arc -rartcd on a 2311 u protein ration in a I x" pellet. The pellet ..,i;c i-, not di Ificult Ior 1 he bird-, Lo Gil and <ccm-, 1 o aid i 111 each i ng 1 hem 1 o accept food from a <poon during their f"ir'>l k\1 dav-, Thc chick'v growth rutc mu-t bc watchcd closely Lo a\ oid O\ c111 eight bird, and subsequent leg problcm-, '>UCh a> <lipped 1c1Klo11., on the hod joint. Gcncrallv , a crane chick 11 ill lo-.c weigh: for the Iirvt day' before beginning Lo gain weigh]. AL about I() dayv to 2 II l'Ck' or age [he chick ', daily \I eight gain \1 ill approach 20° o. ·\! thi-, lime the chick'> arc '-II itched form the Si an er diet 10 1 he Grow er diet 11 hich i-, the va me basic Iorrnu la a' 1 he\ lai 111 cnancc ra- 1 ion. The only difference in ration' i'> ihat the Grower i-, made in the I 8" relict. The 19..f0"o protein otrhc Grn11c1 ration -,Jm11, dow 11 weight gain allow ing 1 he chick\ kg'> 10 -,1 rcngthcn to accommodate the increase in weight a., it grow-. When abou1611cck-, old l he chick can cal l he larger .\ 16" pellet From da'.> I 10 J momh-, the chick> arc exercised daily 10 help comrol wciglu gain and strengthen their legs. During 1 hcsc exercise periods 1 he chick' freq ucnt ly cal numerous grasshoppers. crickciv. and other in-cci-; The chick-, arc alvo given accc'' to and use of a <mall pool to '>II im in.
For large nurnbcr-, or crane, a pelleted rat ion ha-, many adv am agc-, ii i., ca-,\ to store, con. cniem 10 feed, and prov idc-, the birds a well balanced nutruional diet. The U\C of four separate dict-, al101\>, for the changing nutritional need> or the bird- at different age'> and during different time or the year.