Cissa chinensis - Psittacus Foundation

PROJECT
CISSA CHINENSIS

Development of a gel feed to enable captive Cissa chinensis to express their species-specific green plumage colouring.

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT: Environmental and conservation

COLLABORATING ENTITIES

Antoni Amorós (Breeding center Son Comte) and Psittacus Catalonia SL

PROJECT LOCATION

Breeding center Son Comte

PROPOSAL

April 2023

PUBLICATION

(pending)

PROJECT STATUS

Proposal to be confirmed

Preliminary analysis

Planning & Design

Realization

Analysis and interpretation of the results

Publication of the results

BACKGROUND

The colouring of Cissa chinensis in the wild is predominantly green. In contrast, captive specimens have a turquoise-blue colouration.
All indications are that this change in colouring is due to the insufficient lutein content of the captive diet.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this project is to develop a feed that will provide sufficient lutein in the diet to allow captive individuals of this species to recover their original colouring.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Standardisation of a food sufficiently appetizing for Cissa chinensis specimens to eat it voluntarily.
Recovery of the species' original green plumage.

APPLICATION

It is planned to develop and supply a gel feed based on meat flour and/or Tenebrio molitor flour. In the first instance, the feed will be formulated with a lutein content of 100 ppm.