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92 Hand-Rearing Birds

goslings or cygnets of the same age. Other rehabilitators report unhappy experiences with the same.
Wild counterparts reject human‐imprinted waterfowl due to their atypical behavior.

Transportation to Wildlife Facility

The chick should be transported as soon as possible. Instruct the transporter that the chick should
kept quiet, away from dogs, cats, and small children before and during transport. A transport box
no more than twice the size of the bird will lower stress and keep the youngster secure. A card-
board box with small air holes works well. A clean towel or dry grass on the bottom of the box will
prevent chicks from sliding and possible splaying of their legs from poor traction. Do not transport
with a water bowl. Spilled water will wet the chick and cause hypothermia. Provide supplemental
heat during transport, such as a warmed rice bags, hot water bottles, or the equivalent. Pad the heat
source with towels so the chick is not directly in contact with it. A stuffed animal, feather duster,
or calm and gentle holding may comfort the youngster during transport.

Initial Care and Stabilization

Newly hatched waterfowl, regardless of the species, have the following common needs: heat,
water, and nutrition, given in that order. A young waterfowl patient that is hypothermic is consid-
ered critical and must be tended to immediately. It is important to bring the temperature up quickly
or death will result. Before a physical exam can be done, the bird must have a normal core body
temperature. Hypothermic chicks should not be given oral food or water; however, small amounts
of warmed sterile isotonic subcutaneous fluid may be given if skill and equipment allow. The
digestive system does not function until the core body temperature is restored. Massage the patient
to stimulate response and increase circulation. To warm a chilled bird, a heating pad set on low,
and covered with a towel, can be used. Nonresponsive patients should never be left on heat with-
out constant monitoring. Heating pads and lamps can overheat debilitated patients unable to move
from the heat. Death may result.
Once the chick is stabilized, offer warmed electrolyte fluid, such as human infant rehydration
solutions, to the tip of the beak. In small species, this can be from the tip of a finger. A spoon or
syringe will work with larger birds and allow you to dip the beak into the fluid or allow small
amounts of fluid to naturally flow into the closed beak without forcing the beak open. The action
of swallowing when accompanied by fluid will stimulate gastrointestinal motility. Once hydration
is complete, tube‐feed with a weak mixture of baby cereal and water. Use small amounts at first
until the chick defecates. Size appropriate French catheters or metal feeding tubes can be used
based on the body size of the chick. The tube‐feeding amount should be as small as 0.1 ml for the
smallest ducklings to 2 ml for a cygnet. Initial tube‐feedings are meant to further stimulate peristal-
sis rather than filling the crop. Once stable, these species should eat and drink on their own. When
the chicks are stable and mobile, they can be put into a brooder set up as described below.
Young waterfowl may nibble at food, giving the appearance of eating, without actually ingesting
anything. Do not assume they are eating without observing closely. Weighing chicks and docu-
menting weight gain is important during the first 2 weeks of life. Stimulation that mirrors wild
circumstances may be needed for sensitive species to encourage them to begin eating and drinking.
Mallard ducklings are calm and eat eagerly unless injured. For that reason, they can be used as
models to encourage more sensitive species to eat. Canada Goose goslings can provide the same
service for larger waterfowl.