Yes, Cracids are very well adapted when key conditions are met. I think the main difference between these and more common species in aviculture the requirement that these birds have high quality indoor accommodation to protect them from the worst of the UK weather, they will not survive outdoors during winter.

The most popular species such as Northern Helmeted Curassow and Great Curassow will likely persist, this is because of the size of the population and the ability of at least some birds to keep reproducing.

There is a place for both because Cracids will lay replacement clutches given the right conditions. However I am a huge supporter of parent rearing, many of the behavior difficulties encountered in the Cracid family are a result of imprinting on humans. I try to strike a balance between productivity and parent rearing. In most cases I artificially incubate the first clutch and then allow the parents to rear the second.

The bigger the aviary the better, although size is less important than how enriching the space is. Well-structured enrichment and habitat complexity matter more for long-term welfare than simply square metres.

A long time - typically 25–30 years when cared for correctly.

No. Cracids are not suitable for public handling and hand-reared specimens can be extremely aggressive towards people and other birds. Some institutions successfully keep non-imprinted specimens within walk-through aviaries where close contact is limited.

Generally I don’t recommend it because I prefer to study the birds without other species interacting with them, however it is workable dependent upon space and individual birds. Several zoos make this work quite successfully most notably with toucans and parrots needless to say any companions need to be suitably robust. Cracids can swiftly kill small birds up to the size of a blackbird and some individuals won’t hesitate to do so. Proceed with caution.

Sometimes. Individual personalities vary - some birds get on well, others do not. Behaviour can be improved through careful management and interventions, but hand-reared birds may be particularly aggressive and should be introduced to companions with caution.

No - this is a common misconception. Curassows will accept a pheasant pellet as the dietary staple, with fruit added regularly. I prefer pellets because they provide a complete diet; novel items are useful for enrichment and encouraging pair compatibility.

Yes. While most species in the UK have reproduced at some point, success has been inconsistent. Specialist housing requirements and behavioural challenges have contributed to declines in captive populations.

No. Artificially incubated Cracids should be hand fed for the first few days until you observe independent feeding and weight gain.

Yes, most will recover, though severe injuries can cause permanent deformity. Injuries to the colourful waxy skin on the head are common; wounds scab and heal slowly, and repeated scab disruption can prolong recovery. Birds are particularly at risk during transport and when newly acquired — they may panic and collide with structures. I use polycarbonate roofs with a nylon net layer 20cm beneath to reduce impact force.

Generally no - Cracids are relatively hardy. Respiratory infections have been rare in my experience and responded quickly to treatment, but parasitic worms are a common issue despite environmental controls. I worm birds after each breeding season to prevent harmful build-ups.