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Baby­Bird­Basics

Rebecca S. Duerr

Introduction

Many circumstances occur where people hand‐rear birds. A small number of easily‐raised species
are propagated to become human foods. Other species are kept as companion birds, or in zoologic
collections as part of conservation programs, or when a health problem occurs with parents or
chicks. Several hundred thousand injured and orphaned wild birds are presented for care annually
in the United States alone (Borgia 2004), with an unknown number of wild birds hand‐reared for
release back into the wild throughout the world. In some of these circumstances, a strong human–
animal bond is crucial, while in others, special techniques may be needed to avoid development of
this bond to allow the young bird to grow up wild, both physically and psychologically.
There are over 9600 recognized species of birds in the world, taxonomically divided into 32
orders, although as more genetic information is acquired, this number continues to evolve. This
diversity garners broad differences between species during hand‐rearing, many of which will be
discussed in the chapters of this book. Throughout the hand‐rearing process for any species of
chick there are certain commonalities of care that will be discussed in this chapter. Chapter 2 pro-
vides information to narrow down the species of an unknown chick, and Chapter 3 provides exten-
sive details around incubation and hatching of eggs, including advice on assisting a chick with a
difficult hatch. Subsequent chapters cover the finer details, quirks, and needs of specific species or
groups of species. Most avian orders have at least a few representatives covered in this book, and a
major goal is to provide at least general guidance for any species of bird by discussing the needs of
commonly hand‐reared examples of close relatives.

­ Human­Safety­and Biosecurity

Some species of young wild birds may be dangerous to novice handlers. Heron relatives may force-
fully stab with their bill, even through the air holes in a pet carrier; young raptors have very strong
talons with which to pierce whatever human body part they can grab; juvenile pelicans may strike
at faces with their very powerful bills. Wild chicks, or any chick that is frightened, may attempt to
protect itself with whatever weaponry it has, due to the reasonable expectation that any creature
that is not its parent is likely planning on making the chick lunch. Protective goggles and thick
leather gloves may be needed with some species.

Hand-Rearing Birds, Second Edition. Edited by Rebecca S. Duerr and Laurie J. Gage.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.