Page 378 - Hand rearing birds second

370 Hand-Rearing Birds

Food items that could contaminate the birds’ feathers should be offered in shallow dishes, such
as jar lids, ashtrays, or shallow pans/serving trays, and should be made to look as natural as pos-
sible. Food items that will not contaminate feathers (such as greens) can be offered in a pool or
bathing water. All food and water dishes should be changed on a regular basis. Ensure that the
dishes used are the proper size so that all birds housed together, even if of different ages and sizes,
can get in and out of dishes safely. For all birds in care, calcium powder should be added to their
food items to grow strong, healthy bones.

Rails
As semi‐precocial birds, most rails stay on their nests for at least 1–3 days, depending on species
and disturbance by humans/predators. Immediately upon hatching, chicks are weak and wet;
once dry and active, their parents will feed them for 1–2 weeks, until the hatchlings can reliably
forage and feed themselves. When in care, any chick less than 2 weeks of age should be hemostat‐
fed every 30 minutes until it is reliably eating on its own. Determining a rail chick’s age by weight
is difficult since many rail species vary in size. It is necessary to research each species to identify
hatchling versus fledgling weights. As hatchlings, most rails will be downy and fluffy; as fledglings,
most will have some adult feather growth.
Rail diets vary with species’ primary food source, so it is important to identify the species in order
to offer the proper food options. It is best to offer a wide variety of live and frozen invertebrates, as
well as seeds and aquatic greens. All wet food can be combined in a small shallow container that
is suitably sized to allow the bird to easily wade into the container to access the food. This mimics
their normal eating situation – finding food in shallow, moist, wet, marshy areas.

Coots and Gallinules
Coots and gallinules can leave the nest 6 hours after hatching, but they usually remain on the nest
for up to 2 days unless disturbed by humans or a predator. Once they leave the nest, they begin to
pick at food items but continue to rely on parental feedings until they are 25–30 days old. In care,
coot and gallinule hatchlings should be offered a wide variety of live and frozen food items, as well
as seed and aquatic greens. These can be placed in shallow, size‐appropriate dishes (or other, simi-
larly shallow containers) that allow the birds to easily step into and out of them. For birds from 1
day to 2–3 weeks old, hemostat‐feeding may be necessary every 30 minutes or until the bird is reli-
ably self‐feeding. Coots and gallinules are highly susceptible to habituation, so humans who care
for and feed them must cover their hands (and faces, if need be) during all feedings. See Chapter 19
for more information regarding methods of reducing habituation.

Hatchlings

Hatchlings and birds younger than 2–3 weeks generally need to be offered food items with a hemo-
stat (Figure 22.4). With birds this young, it is important to carefully observe feeding behaviors and
back off on hemostat‐feedings as the bird learns to self‐feed. This will encourage more self‐feeding
and potentially lower the bird’s disturbance‐caused stress level. Monitor the bird’s self‐feeding
behavior by observing the bird quietly and discreetly. Also, when you begin to cut back on the
hemostat‐feedings, keep an eye on the bird’s weight, measuring it daily or even twice a day (a.m.
and p.m.), to ensure it is increasing. The goal is to wean the bird off hemostat‐feeding and get it
self‐feeding as soon as possible to limit its exposure to human interactions and disturbances.