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Vultures 321

7000
Age in Body
days weight
(g)
1 147
6000 2 137
3 134
4 144
5000 5 161
6 195
7 8 9 220
248
Body weight (g) 4000 10 320
283
11
364
12
406
3000
468
13
14
592
15 525
16 630
2000 17 664
18 735
19 832
1000 20 942
21 1075
28 1940
35 3040
0 42 4180
1 4 7101316192225283134374043464952555861 60 6390
Age in days
Figure 19.2 Weight gain – Cape Vulture, Gyps coprotheres, chick hatched 2013. Source: data courtesy of the
Los Angeles Zoo.
Unlike many smaller bird species, Cathartid and Accipitrid vulture chicks may not achieve or
exceed adult weight before fledging and, although they are essentially at adult stature when
fledged, they will continue to increase bone mass and overall bulk for more than a year.

Housing

The Animal Intensive Care Unit (AICU) brooder (Lyon Technologies) has been used most fre-
quently for rearing condors and other vultures. Other types of forced air brooders, such as Rcom or
human infant incubators, may also be used as long as stable temperature and humidity can be
maintained, and the design does not present a physical hazard to these large, active chicks. Chicks
that are healthy and vigorous at hatching, whether hatched by parents or in an incubator, are
placed in the brooder set at 95.0 °F ±1 °F (35.0 °C ±0.5 °C) and 35–40% RH. This level of humidity
is achieved at this temperature in the AICU when the water reservoir tray is kept full of distilled
water. Although low, it has proven appropriate for both species of condor and Gyps vultures. King
Vultures will require higher humidity, at least 50% RH. Until the temperature begins to approach
room temperature, when ambient humidity will be adequate, using a second reservoir inside the
brooding chamber helps to increase humidity. A straight-sided, plastic food container, about 6–8
in. (15–20 cm) square, partly filled with distilled water and paper or cloth towels (bunched up to
increase the evaporative surface area), and securely covered with wire or plastic mesh, works well.
Towels in this container should be changed daily to limit microbial growth.
As with egg incubators, prior to placing a chick in a brooder, take temperature readings in all
parts of the chamber to ensure there are no hot or cool areas and, if there are, to compensate for