Mocha, the Javan Hill Mynah

All Hill Mynahs are of genus Gracula and the species religiosa. The Hill Mynah is a stout, glossy black bird with a white speculum on the wing and a yellow bill. There are two large yellow wattles on the nape and two small ones below the eye. It measures 12-15 inches. It lives in pairs or small groups on the margins of forests, building its nest in the cavities of trees and feeding mainly on fruits. Prized for their vocal skills, the Hill Mynahs reputation is legendary. All Hill Mynahs are capable of mimicking – but some are better than the others. The Hill Mynahs has been described by many as the best talking bird in the world, the most magnificent, magnetic and majestic, an the absolute champion of mimics, even outdoing the African Grey parrot.

Feeding

The mynah is a member of the softbill group, named because they eat soft food. In the wild they are mainly frugivorous and feed on ripened fruit, especially figs. They also eat berries, seeds, shrubs and nectar from several kinds of flowers. Occasionally, they eat insects, termites they snatch with their beak right out of the air, and small lizards or other small animals.

Companion mynahs do well on a diet of fruit and softbill/mynah food that is low in iron. They enjoy apples, bananas, pears, melons, peaches, guavas, mango, plums and papaya. Canned fruit can be substituted occasionally, but fresh fruits are better. It is best to avoid avocado, rhubarb and apple seeds, since they are toxic to most birds, and seeds of any kind because the mynah cannot digest them.

Mynahs may also enjoy some vegetables, such as cooked potatoes (baked or mashed), cooked sweet potatoes and peas in limited amounts, corn, boiled rice and pasta. Some good protein sources include white meats such as chicken, fish, turkey and pork, chopped boiled egg, and beans. Some enjoy eating bits of lettuce.

Mynahs are often affected by hemochromatosis or iron storage disease. Therefore, it is important to provide a low iron (not iron-free) brand of commercial mynah/softbill pellets at all times. This food should be no higher than 150 ppms of iron.

Mynahs need water available all of the time. They drink by dipping their bill into the water to scoop it up, then raise their head to let the water run down their gullet. You need to provide plenty of water so the bird can fill his bill.

Talking

If you want a talking mynah, it is best to purchase a hand-fed baby at 6 to 8 weeks old so that you can being bonding, interacting and speech training. A mynah begins to talk at three to four months of age.
Begin training your bird early. Begin repeating the word "hello" as soon as you bring him home. He will soon begin repeating the sounds he hears. In the early stages, his voice may sound raspy and the words may sound broken, but this will improve with practice.

Grooming

Mynahs love to bathe twice a day, so you should provide a dish large enough – filled about 2 inches – on the inside of the cage or placed on the floor. They splash around in the water, dunk their heads, and soak themselves to the skin. They dry themselves by shaking the water off and then running their beak through the feathers. They also shake their heads to get water out of the ears and sneeze to clear their nostrils. Mynahs usually bathe after they return to the cage from a time-out, especially if they have been handled.

Mynahs normally molt heavily once or twice a year depending on where you live. If your mynah does not molt at all within a year, there may be something wrong with his diet. Usually proper diet and vitamins will correct the problem, so call your veterinarian.

Both wings need to be clipped so that your mynah has balance when he tries to fly. Without balance, he will be clumsy and be forced to land where he didn't intend and can crash hard to the floor. This can cause injury and even death.

Breeding

In most species, the pair bond is strong and both sexes share nesting duties. Breeding seasons vary, but a pair of mynahs usually produce two or three clutches of two or three eggs a year, although sometimes only one egg is laid. The eggs are pale blue to pale blue-green with tiny specs and blotches of brown.

Since mynahs tend to be timid, place their cage in a quiet area and provide two or three nesting boxes. Cockatiel nest boxes can be used with the opening made larger. Since they are large birds, they may sleep in separate boxes. You can provide shredded newspaper and pine straw, which they will use to line the nest box.

When the eggs are laid, both sexes will take turns sitting on the eggs for an incubation period of 14 days. The female spends more time on the nest than the male, although both sexes feed the babies together and leave them unattended when searching for food.

You should offer meal worms during breeding season and while feeding their babies. About five percent of the diet is sufficient. The babies fledge after 25 to 28 days.

Common Diseases and Disorders

Mynahs are relatively healthy birds but are susceptible to the following: