Page 270 - Hand rearing birds second

258 Hand-Rearing Birds

Figure 15.4 Hemostat feeding a very young cormorant, note the puppet head set up next to the nest.
Source: photo courtesy of International Bird Rescue.

Table­15.2­ Feeding and hydration schedule by age and weight for Double-crested Cormorant chicks.

Age Weight Feeding­interval Hydration frequency

0–2 weeks 33–500 g Every hour q8–12h
3–4 weeks 500–1300 g Every 2.5 hours q8–12h
5–6 weeks 1400–1800 g Assist‐feed 5–7x/day None a
6+ weeks 1800–2000 + g Assist‐feed 3–4x/day None
a Continue hydration checks through week 5, but likely none needed.

chicks frequently stimulate themselves into frenzied begging behavior, so leaving dropped fish
close to chicks not being actively fed may encourage them to self‐feed.

Expected Weight Gain

A cormorant chick’s weight should increase consistently until it reaches its adult weight at around
5 weeks of age, when weight gain will level off (Figure 15.6). It is recommended that nestling
chicks be weighed daily until they are covered in down, reliably self‐feeding whole food items, and
gaining or maintaining weight according to age class. Thereafter, chicks are weighed as part of
their routine health checks at least once or twice weekly to ensure no problems have developed
and each chick is doing well.