Our captive breeding team had a challenge on their hands when a 50 day old egg arrived at the centre from the Rimutaka Forest Park for incubation and hatching. 

Incubation time for kiwi chicks is between 75 and 80 days – twice that of other birds of a similar size.   So when this precious egg arrived, we monitored it until the full 70 day term. 

But alas, the action from the chick at 70 days was not within normal range and we became concerned.  Sure enough, things did not look good and an x-ray was done which confirmed the chick was facing the wrong way.

In brief, the chick being the wrong way round in the egg meant that it is more difficult for it to make the tiny hole in the egg membrane with its beak (called pipping).  This small hole enables the chick to breathe air which keeps it alive while it kicks and pecks its way out of the egg. 

However, this little battler managed to peck its way through the membrane and eventually a tiny hole appeared, but at the wrong end!  Being in an incorrect position meant that it had to work a lot harder to get itself out of the shell. 

Hatching is an exhausting process for kiwi chicks – after a series of kicks and pecks they often fall asleep for anything up to 48 hours.  We were concerned that with only a small airhole and much more work to do, the chick would not survive the hatching process.

So, our team sought advice from the Kiwi Encounter team in Rotorua and then took action and assisted the chick out.  

It took just over an hour of tentative and delicate work and the team was thrilled when a healthy chick emerged weighing a hearty 337.5gms. 

This is a terrific outcome as the percentage of chicks surviving an unusual hatching is very low.

BNZ Operation Nest Egg™

Our captive breeding team manages the BNZ Operation Nest Egg™ for all kiwi in Pukaha and Rimatuka Forest, near Wellington.  There are six sites throughout New Zealand who work tirelessly to make sure our national bird is protected and able to thrive in its natural habitat.

We are involved in the incubating and hatching process when eggs are carefully transported to Pukaha by volunteers.  Kiwi Encounter at Rainbow Springs Rotorua has a great team too.   We regularly converse with them to ensure the best possible outcome for the birds in our care. 

Pukaha keeps chicks until they reach a healthy weight when they can be transported to a kiwi crèche site to stay with other young kiwi until an adult weight is reached.  Then the birds are ready to be released to the forest.

Expertise sought internationally

Our captive breeding team has specific expertise with Shore Plover and Teal species.  Our opinion and assistance is sought internationally.   

The team hatches about 8 kiwi chicks and 40 to 60 other chicks annually.  All these chicks are released to the wild in various parks or sanctuaries around New Zealand.

The successful outcome of this wee kiwi chick was the perfect holiday gift for the captive breeding team at Pukaha.   The chick will be returned to Rimatuka Forest Park in approximately 6 months.