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142 Hand-Rearing Birds

near the vent and stop the chick defecating. If the vent is not clean, wash the area with warm water
until all material is removed.
Offer a drop of warmed water or electrolyte fluid (Pedialyte®, 0.9% sodium chloride, or lactated
Ringer’s solution) off the tip of a finger after the chick has opened its eyes and has a swallowing
reflex. Allow the chick to drink in this manner. Once the chick is strong enough to stand, add a
light mixture of protein to the fluid and continue to offer drops from a fingertip (see the recipe in
Chapter 23 in the section titled “Emaciation Diet for Crane Colts”). Because many of these species
are so tiny, syringe‐ or pipette‐feeding can overwhelm their ability to swallow and they may drown.
Continue feeding the light mixture until the chick defecates. Tube‐feeding should be initiated in
small amounts (0.05 ml for quail). Initial tube‐feedings are meant to stimulate peristalsis rather
than to fill the crop.

Common Medical Problems and Solutions

Wild Galliformes chicks, unlike their domestic counterparts, are very easily stressed birds. Those
raised in captivity are more susceptible to disease and parasites: the stress of captivity likely plays
a role. When raised with the parent in a natural habitat, they are more likely to die from predation
than disease (Bump et al. 1947; Woodward 1993). Although not clearly understood, wild‐raised
chicks and adults benefit from the large variety of natural insects and foliage available, perhaps by
boosting their immune systems and providing natural remedies. Some naturally ingested plants
have secondary compounds and chemicals that are toxic, and yet are easily digested and tolerated
by species such as grouse (Elphick et al. 2001). For this reason, using litter from a forest floor or
other habitat native to the patient may improve success rates. The treatment of parasites and dis-
ease in domestic Galliformes is covered in Chapter 7.
Preventing disease is much better than treating after it occurs. Due to the small size and sensitiv-
ity to stress of Galliformes chicks, diagnosis through blood work is not practical, although older
birds may have blood collected from the cutaneous ulnar vein when needed. For the same reason,
treatment is frequently not successful once the process has begun. The rehabilitator’s focus should
therefore be on prevention and early detection.
Bacterial diseases such as salmonellosis or colibacillosis (due to Escherichia coli infection) may
develop through a contaminated water or food source. Water should be changed several times a
day for young patients, and food should not be allowed to sour or become contaminated by feces.
Observe the birds’ droppings and respond to changes such as diarrhea quickly. Keep the vent clean
and be alert for pasting that can occur with digestive problems. A bird with a pasted vent cannot
defecate adequately and may die.
A single chick of any wild Galliformes species reared alone is unlikely to survive, and most cer-
tainly will not be normally imprinted, despite the best efforts of the rehabilitator. Networking with
other rehabilitators is important as Galliformes chicks imprint readily, often within a day or two,
when raised in captivity without conspecifics. Imprinted or hand‐reared young will rarely survive
in the wild. Those that do survive often become aggressive to humans once they reach sexual matu-
rity. Aggressive behavior can cause serious injury to humans and damages the reputation of the
species with the public. The reasons for this have been discussed earlier in this chapter. The
chances of survival increase dramatically when another chick of similar size is introduced. Ideally,
the species should be the same, but since in the world of wildlife rehabilitation that is not always
possible, a similar species may be used as a companion. The conundrum is that many wild species
are sensitive to diseases carried naturally by another, which may not manifest itself as clinical