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Flamingos 185

between the mounds provides water for the birds to continue to mound‐build throughout the
season. Chicks on neighboring mounds can be removed for health checks and will be accepted
back by the parents when placed back on the mound or vicinity of the parents. As long as the par-
ents have heard the chick vocalizing, they will still accept chicks 2 weeks or more after removal
from the nest site. When a Great Blue Heron threatened flamingo chicks at SWC, chicks of various
ages were pulled to the hand‐rearing room for over 2 weeks and then returned to the parents with-
out issue. Empty mounds can be knocked down allowing the chicks to crèche on flat areas as
chicks stop spending time on the mounds.

­ Record­Keeping

Best practices in husbandry and animal care require keeping accurate and thorough data. Record
individual identification numbers, daily weight, percent weight gain per day, feeding frequency
and volume fed per feeding, housing temperature, and water feedings for each chick. Include com-
ments on behavior and developmental changes, environmental changes (temperature and hous-
ing), and fecal output. Also note medical issues and treatment for each chick. Recording weights
on a weight comparison chart is recommended to analyze differences in chick weight gains per
individual. Record observations and changes made to feeding guidelines.

­ Incubation­of Eggs

Incubate flamingo eggs at 99.0 °F (37.2 °C) and 45–50% relative humidity (RH). Move the egg to
hatcher parameters of 98.0 °F (36.7 °C) and 55–60% RH once the egg pips externally. Cease turning
at this time and set the egg in the hatcher on a nonslip surface such as rubber shelf liner. Refer to
Chapter 3 for further information.

­ Initial­Care­and Stabilization

Once the chick hatches; lower the temperature of the hatcher to 97.0 °F (36.1 °C) and reduce the
humidity to 50% RH. Swab the chick’s umbilicus with a sterile povidone‐iodine swab. The umbili-
cus should be closed and clean appearing. The newly hatched chick will appear wet, but will dry
with a fluffy white or gray appearance as it rests in the hatcher. The chick’s legs are pink at hatch
and appear swollen. They will lose the swollen appearance after a few days and the skin will appear
to be “peeling” as the legs grow – this is normal. Weigh the chick and record all data. Color mark
the chick’s down with permanent markers or food coloring for identification. Move the chick to the
brooder once it appears dry, alert, and responsive, usually 3–4 hours after hatch.
Flamingos are typically housed in open enclosures in zoological facilities, which requires the
birds to be flight‐restricted. This may be accomplished by pinioning, or removal of the carpal
segment of one wing, at 2–6 days of age. The procedure is fairly simple but must be done by or
under the supervision of a veterinarian. The small amount of blood generated may be submit -
ted to a laboratory (Animal Genetics) for gender determination via DNA. Pinioning birds later
is a major surgical procedure and typically results in a poorly healed site. Flight restriction can
also be done by clipping off flight feathers but requires birds to be handled every few months,
which is not well‐tolerated. Most zoological facilities insert a small, subdermal microchip implant