Flamingo chicks hatch at Auckland Zoo

One of Auckland Zoo's new flamingo chicks being fed. They are fed every six hours. Photo / Auckland Zoo

The first flamingo chicks ever bred in Australasia have successfully hatched at Auckland Zoo.

It is also the first time a zoo has successfully bred from an entirely hand-reared flock anywhere in the world, the zoo says.

The zoo's former exotic birds team leader Michael Batty said the hatching of the two flamingo chicks was an important step towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of their flock.

Mr Batty said he had been waiting for the hatchings since raising and transporting Auckland Zoo's flock of Greater flamingos to New Zealand in 2001, from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, England.

One of Auckland Zoo's new flamingo chicks being fed. They are fed every six hours. Photo / Auckland Zoo

"No zoo has ever successfully bred from a completely hand-reared flock before.

"These two chicks are the first in the world. It's wonderful, we've achieved the circle of life.''

While flamingos were flock birds, each bird developed its own personality traits which would be interesting to see, Mr Batty said.

Pridelands team leader Nat Sullivan said the two chicks were doing well.

Young flamingos lack the pink feathering for which the birds are famed, which develops over their first three years, due to the carotenoid pigment in their diet.

The flamingo chicks' sex would not be determined for some time and it would be a few months before visitors could come and see them.

The Greater flamingo is the tallest of the six flamingo species, growing up to 150cm.