Egg Incubation and Neonate Care

Successful artificial incubation of Blackhead eggs has challenged experienced keepers for years. Eggs placed in a sweater box on plastic egg crating, over damp perlite provides the necessary humidity without the danger of direct contact with moisture. Direct contact with moisture can send a clutch to failure quickly. Incubation temperatures should be around 88 to 89 degrees in a stable incubator. The eggs should be oxygenated frequently by opening and closing the lid while making a quick visual egg check. The eggs will pip after 62 to 65 days of incubation.

Seeing little black heads poke through the white shells is a thrilling and humbling experience as the young heirs peer out into their new world. Babies absorb a huge amount of yolk at birth and generally don't require feeding for the first 6 to 8 weeks. After this initial period, babies are offered frozen-thawed rat pinks weekly. These are usually placed in the cage and left overnight. Uneaten meals are discarded the following morning. Some babies eat voluntarily, but many will require assist feeding for several months until they are ready to feed independently. This process requires time and patience. Once feeding, the rewards of seeing a baby Blackhead taking off on their journey to adulthood are immeasurable.