Page 184 - Hand rearing birds second

170 Hand-Rearing Birds

­ Initial­Care­and Stabilization

It is important to stabilize newly admitted orphans before handling them excessively and before
administering any invasive care. Orphans are likely to be dehydrated, cold, exhausted, and hungry,
so addressing these basic needs should be the first priority. Give the chick a quick, cursory exami-
nation to see if there are any life‐threatening injuries that require immediate action, and then place
the bird in a dark, quiet brooder to warm them. This quiet time will also allow the chick to recover
from the inevitable stress that preceded presentation. Brooders should have a soft, padded sub-
strate and should be set to 86 °F (30 °C) with a humidity level of 40–50%. A cardboard box or plastic
container with a heating pad set to low and placed under a soft towel works well for warming
grebes of any age. The heating pad should only fill half of the space, to allow the bird to move away
from the direct heat source if they become overheated. After about 15–20 minutes the chick should
be warmed and ready for a thorough examination. Warmed birds will be more active and alert and
will start to vocalize.
After a complete examination, birds that can hold their bodies and heads upright and seem
physically stable should be placed in a shallow tub of water so they will drink (Figure 10.2). The
water should be warmed to 80–85 °F (26–29 °C). If the bird will not drink on its own, use a finger
to gently tip the head forward, dipping the beak into the water. This maneuver should prompt the
bird to drink. If a few attempts are unsuccessful, and if the bird is able to hold its head upright,
fluids should be delivered using an orogastric tube. If the chick becomes waterlogged or struggles,
end the first swim session immediately, towel dry the bird, and place it back on heat to dry before
oral fluids are given. If the chick self‐hydrates and doesn’t run into trouble during the first short
swim, it can proceed to routine care described in later sections. If needed, subcutaneous (SQ) fluids
may be given; however, these can be difficult to administer due to the dense down, so should only
be administered by a care provider who is skilled in this method of hydration. Intravenous (IV)
fluids are easily given in older chicks into the medial metatarsal vein, but young chicks may be too
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small for this route. Lactated Ringer’s solution (LRS) and Normosol‐R are isotonic fluids and work

Figure 10.2 Swimming stimulates grebe chicks to defecate. This Western Grebe chick is having a quick swim
in a small tub. Note the chick is floating comfortably and his downy plumage appears dry. Chicks must be kept
scrupulously clean to maintain waterproof plumage. Source: photo courtesy of International Bird Rescue.