Page 288 - Hand rearing birds second

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns 277

Throughout the orphan‐rearing process, heron chicks should be checked regularly for any signs
of limping, unwillingness/reluctance to stand if old enough to do so, or drooping wings that could
indicate hairline fractures or folding fractures. Bone injuries are often subtle enough in their begin-
ning stages that they may not be observable on a tabletop exam, but with practice, the presence of
small lumps or angular deformities toward either end of long bones can be detected. If more than
one chick is affected, especially if the chicks are unrelated, the diet and supplement regimen
should be reassessed. Chicks with mild MBD may benefit from lightweight splints that do not
impede use of the limb and help keep the bone straight while it finishes growing.

Fractures
Heron and egret chicks from urban rookeries may be struck by cars if they fall from nests into a
street, or if they become confused and run into traffic. If a limp or a wing droop is detected on
intake or at any time during the orphan‐rearing process, radiographs should be taken. However,
young herons often stand with their wings drooped, and this must be differentiated from abnormal
droops where something is wrong with the wing. They also sometimes sleep flat‐out in a posture
that looks disturbingly abnormal, rather like a dinosaur fossil (as if dead). This also may be
normal.
Fractured limbs require stabilization with a supportive wrap or splint. Management of fractures
in these species is covered in Duerr (2017). Heron and egret chicks tend to develop joint contrac-
tures, especially of the carpus (wrist), when the wing is immobilized during growth; hence, wing
wraps should be applied cautiously and only when truly necessary. They also must be applied so as
to avoid damaging or impeding growing flight feathers. Some chicks land on their faces when they
fall and may fracture the tip of their mandible. If the mandible tip bends sideways when the mouth
opens, it should be splinted immediately to prevent it from becoming an open fracture. It is diffi-
cult to get adhesives to stick to the bill of these species, but self‐adhesive hydrocolloid blister band-
ages stick well for temporary stabilization and may incorporate a tiny splint. This type of fracture
typically requires pinning by a veterinarian. Instructions for this procedure can be found in Duerr
(2017). Additional splinting techniques applicable to herons and egrets can be found in the Small‐
bodied Birds chapter in that resource.
Chicks with orthopedic injuries under treatment should be housed to allow as much normal
activity as possible given the injury, to reduce stress and allow normal behaviors; however, some
injured chicks may be stressed or bullied by uninjured conspecifics. Conversely, some temporarily
disabled chicks may bully others. A quiet, nonstressful housing situation with a single calm com-
panion, where the chick can calmly eat and heal, is ideal.

Wounds
Many nestlings sustain bruising or lacerations during falls from their nests. In some cases, these
falls can result in organ damage or internal hemorrhage that is life‐threatening. Bright light shown
against the skin of the abdomen can reveal hemorrhage in the coelomic cavity. Subcutaneous
emphysema (air under the skin) is common in chicks that have sustained traumatic injuries, and
usually resolves on its own unless severe.
Superficial skin injuries should be cleaned daily with a dilute solution of chlorhexidine or beta-
dine. If lacerations are small, clean, and have already begun to heal through secondary intention,
daily cleaning is generally adequate to result in quick resolution. Fresh lacerations, and larger or
deeper lacerations, should be cleaned and temporarily covered with a topical dressing such as