Page 27 - Hand rearing birds second

8 Hand-Rearing Birds

Correcting­Dehydration
Human infant electrolyte solutions (unflavored) are excellent for oral rehydration of baby birds, as
is lactated Ringer’s solution or 2.5% dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride. Do not use rehydration
solution recipes for humans that contain sucrose, as many species of birds lack the ability to digest
disaccharides such as table sugar or fructose. Glucose and dextrose are appropriate for all species,
but not all newly‐acquired chicks are likely to be hypoglycemic because faunivorous birds typically
maintain their blood glucose through obligate gluconeogenesis rather than from dietary sources of
sugars.
When the bird is warm and calm, it may be hydrated orally and/or subcutaneously (SQ). Gaping
(begging) altricial chicks should be orally hydrated until they produce droppings. Give a few drops of
warm oral fluids every 15–20 minutes with a small syringe (Figure 1.4) or eye dropper, and allow the
bird to swallow completely before giving more. Once comfortable with the amount the chick is able
to swallow, the amount may be raised to 2.5–5% of body weight (25–50 ml/kg). Oral fluids may be
administered to larger chicks by gavage tube (Figure 1.4). Initial amounts should again be small and
frequent, 1–2.5% body weight (10–25 ml/kg) with gradual increases in volume to 5% body weight
(50 ml/kg), until the bird is strong and alert. If the chick was fed inappropriate foods by the rescuer,
continue oral hydration until the inappropriate foods have passed through the gastrointestinal tract.
Anatomic differences can drive the best method of rehydrating chicks. In species with a crop
(e.g. pigeons, doves, parrots, vultures, some passerines, hummingbirds, flamingos, hawks),
tubing into the crop, which sits outside the ribcage on the neck portion of the esophagus, is
often very effective; however, many bird species lack a crop (e.g. owls, herons, grebes, loons,
pelicans, cormorants, some passerines, others), in which case gavage tubings must be given
deeper, with the end of tube targeted at the expansible thoracic esophagus in some, or even
deeper into the proventriculus in others. Older chicks of species with long necks may require
especially long gavage tubes to avoid depositing fluids mid‐esophagus where regurgitation
becomes more of a risk. Subcutaneous fluids may be preferable in some species to avoid risks
of regurgitation.

Figure 1.4 Feeding implements left to right: 1 ml O-ring
syringe with plastic cannula tip; 1 ml syringe; 3 ml O-ring
syringe with short cut section of IV extension set tubing
(note cut end has been burned to round sharp edges);
20 ml syringe with cut section of IV extension set tubing
(note cut end has been burned to round sharp edges);
60 ml syringe with red rubber feeding tube. Source: photo
courtesy of Guthrum Purdin.