Page 95 - Hand rearing birds second

Ratites 79

Figure­4.2­ Rhea, emu, and ostrich eggs (left to right), with chicken egg in foreground for scale.

by chipping away some of the egg shell once external pipping begins; however, prematurely forcing
the hatch may result in bacterial contamination of the yolk sac. After hatching, chicks are inspected
to ensure that the yolk sac is completely internalized and the navel closed; if not, the navel is
treated with a topical disinfectant, e.g., a povidone‐iodine solution, and covered with a bandage or
other temporary protection. The navel should be closed before the chick is removed from the
hatcher. A visible identification tag is placed to allow accurate record keeping. Microchips are
sometimes placed in the large pipping muscle at the back of the neck at this time. Splaying and leg
injuries can occur as the chicks move around and attempt to stand; in some facilities tape hobbles
are placed on all chicks for first few days to prevent this. Chicks are left in the hatcher for a few
hours up to a few days, depending on their strength and activity.
Chicks of several days to several months of age may be sexed by direct cloacal observation. The
bird is restrained on its back and the cloaca gently everted to reveal the male phallus or much
smaller female clitoris. Experience is required for accuracy, and caution should be taken in guar-
anteeing the sex of young birds.

­ Common­Medical­Problems­and Solutions

Ratites are susceptible to a variety of infectious and noninfectious disease conditions. Evaluation
of incubation and hatching records should be the first step in the clinical evaluation of poor‐doing
or ill ratite chicks. Problems seen within the first week of life often reflect the quality of the egg
(and hence the nutrition of the hen) and incubation and egg handling procedures. Congenital
abnormalities can occur. Mortality rates are generally highest for the first 3 months of life; beyond
6 to 8 months ratite juveniles are generally hardy, as are adult birds. Ostrich chicks appear to be
more easily stressed and more prone to infectious diseases than the other species of ratites.
Noninfectious conditions, particularly those predisposed to by management factors, are the pri-
mary causes of losses on many farms. Major outbreaks of infectious disease are less common.
Chicks should be observed at rest before restraint and handling in order to assess mental alert-
ness and demeanor, and the respiratory, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. Ratites are nor-
mally extremely curious. Birds should be assessed for conformation, stance, and gait because leg
deformities are a significant problem. Scoliosis and other spinal deviations occur and may be the