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140 Hand-Rearing Birds

Eggs
Youngsters may be kidnapped by well‐intentioned people or energetic children. Ground nests are
sometimes located by buildings or agricultural projects. Often, eggs from these will be collected
before the finder calls a wildlife center for advice. Wildlife center personnel may be asked to come
and remove eggs, so a building project can advance on time. Nest disturbance is illegal for native
species. Unless otherwise stated, federal permits for rehabilitation are issued for native birds that
are injured or orphaned, but not for eggs not yet hatched. Therefore, hatching eggs that are col-
lected by the public is not covered under wildlife rehabilitation permits and not something that can
be offered to the public. It is important to be well‐versed in federal and state migratory bird laws
before responding to such calls. Offer natural history information to the caller. The fact that the
eggs hatch within 3 weeks of being laid and the young leave the nest soon thereafter can be a com-
fort to those waiting to begin a building project in the same area where a nest has been
discovered.

Chicks or Young Birds
Young gallinaceous chicks are admitted to wildlife centers due to the death of a parent on the road
or injuries from domestic dogs or cats. Chicks hatched in cold or inclement weather may be weak
and unable to keep up with a highly mobile family. The wildlife rehabilitator plays an important
role keeping wild youngsters with their natural parents through dissemination of information to
the public. Most Galliformes hatch between 18 and 26 days. Once hatched, they can leave the nest
area within hours but need brooding from the adult to survive.
If a caller has questions about a hatchling that is not yet captive, urge the caller not to touch the
chick unless it is in immediate danger. Reassure the caller that the adult is likely close by and will
respond to the voice of her chick once human disturbance abates.
If the caller has the chick in captivity but is still in the area where it was found, urge the caller to
release it and leave the immediate area, giving the adult bird an opportunity to reunite with the
chick. Observation from a distance is suggested for a period of 1 hour.
If the chick is injured, or other reasons exist whereby reuniting with the adult is not an
option, underscore the need to keep the chick warm and confined. Galliformes brood their
chicks, keeping them close to their bodies. Situations that mimic brooding, such as wrapping a
towel around the chick in a warmed environment, will lower stress and give the best chance for
survival.

Adults
Adult Galliformes are most frequently injured when hit by cars, shot, or caught in a barbed‐
wire fence (Erickson 2006). Diseases such as avian pox and lymphoproliferative disease
(LPDV), a type‐C retrovirus, have been known to affect wild turkeys and cases are reported to
be on the increase. See Chapter 7 for more information on diseases of concern. Instruct the
caller to gently remove the injured bird from the area, place it in a cardboard box with towel
or leaf material on the bottom, and transport it as soon as possible to a wildlife rehabilitation
facility. Wild adult Galliformes are highly stressed in captive situations. Callers should be
cautioned against transporting wild Galliformes in wire caging as injuries due to caging are
highly likely.