Page 256 - Hand rearing birds second

244 Hand-Rearing Birds

1 Centrum tablet
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1 ½ cup of cold water
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®
1 cup of Emeraid IC Carnivore powder
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This diet does not have additional salmon oil nor the fattier fish added. This is so that when these
birds are pooled, they are not potentially excreting undigested fats. Any regurgitation on the pool
is less likely to affect waterproofing.
Fish quality is important. Using fresh frozen fish that has been stored correctly and safely ensures
that the birds are getting the most nutrition out of the feedings provided. Fish that is old and/or
freezer burned lowers the nutritional quality, and fish that has been stored incorrectly can harbor
bacteria or rancid fats that are bad for the birds.

Feeding Procedures

Frequency

When a nestling chick first arrives and it is warm and in good condition, it is initially gavaged a
watery solution consisting of water, salmon oil, and a small amount of slurry. If the chick is very
young (within the first week of hatching), feed it three to four times a day for approximately a week
and then drop the feedings to twice daily.

Methods

For young chicks, use a 14‐ or 18‐French red feeding tube cut off so that it is approximately 12 cm
long with a 35 ml catheter tip syringe. Round or burn the ends of the cut‐off tubing to smooth sharp
edges. As the chick grows, care must be taken that the shortened tube does not come off during
exuberant feedings, as they will swallow it. When the chick reaches an age where the tube could
potentially be swallowed, move to using a full‐length tube for safety’s sake.
Pre‐warm the slurry in the syringes and tubes using a warm‐water bath. Ensure that the slurry is
warmed all the way through (approximately 10 minutes), but do not allow it to sit in the warm‐
water bath for an extended period of time. The raw fish will start to grow harmful bacteria that can
make the chicks sick and potentially kill them.
Very young chicks, first admitted, are fed a very diluted mixture with more oil (salmon oil) and
water than fish slurry. Procellarids produce a proventriculus oil that is very high in fat and calories
(Pettit et al. 1984) and are fed small amounts frequently during the first week or so of life during
the guard phase.
At about 3–4 weeks of age, always following the gavage feed, the chicks are offered small whole
fish. The chicks learn very quickly how to take the fish when it is held alongside the bill. Take care
not to feed messy fish – the fish juices and oils will compromise a chick’s waterproofing. Wipe the
bill with a cloth or paper towel once finished to remove any remnants of fish that could be preened
into the developing plumage. Any gavage feeding should be done first and then the whole fish
offered afterward.
Open the bill and insert the tube into the chick’s mouth, taking care not to injure the growing
bill. Place the tube at the back of the mouth/partially in the throat behind the glottis. Start to
depress the plunger. As soon as the chick feels the food at the back of the mouth, it should stop
struggling and start “gulping” and open its throat for the feeding (Figure 14.4). Depress the plunger
firmly and steadily. Feeding should only take a few seconds once the tube is in place. Chicks that