Page 394 - Hand rearing birds second

386 Hand-Rearing Birds

When augmented with natural foods, a successful basic diet can consist of Science Diet Feline or
Canine Growth pellets saturated in water overnight in a refrigerator. Do not feed pellets before they
are fully saturated. Care must be taken to ensure the pellets remain refrigerated before use and are
changed once a day at room temperature or more frequently in warm conditions. Once soaked in
water, do not keep pellets more than 3 days in the refrigerator before using, as they will sour and
spoil with age. Allow the colt to eat as much as it wants during the day. Grain can be added once
the young crane is more than 45 days old. This regime must be accompanied by substantial exercise
for the growing colt.
After 30 days of age, small live crustaceans should be offered along with mayfly larva, moths,
mealworms, waxworms, and other invertebrate prey. The colt may play with the new food items for
several days before it successfully kills and eats them. It is important to offer a variety of items
because each provides elements needed in the diet. It is best if the young crane has access to an
enclosed natural area so it can graze and select a wide range of natural insects and vegetation on
its own. After 60 days of age, crayfish, frogs, and mice can be added to the colt’s diet.
®
Commercial starter diets such as Zeigler Crane Breeder (Zeigler) or Mazuri Crane Diet are eas-
ily obtained and can be used to supplement a natural prey diet. It is important to note the differ-
ence in a maintenance diet used for adult birds and the starter diet used for the active growing
stage. The type of protein used in the diet of a colt is important.
Diets with a high percentage of sulfur-containing amino acids must be avoided because they
contribute to developmental abnormalities, such as leg and wing problems. For instance, fish
should be fed in very small quantities because they contain a higher percentage of these amino
acids. Breeders suggest a diet with 24% protein, 1.4% calcium, 0.90% phosphorus, 0.7% methionine
and cystine, and 1.3% lysine. The kcal/kg is higher in starter or chick diets than those developed for
adult birds. Maintenance diets have lower protein levels and can be used once the crane is over
2 months of age (Ellis et al. 1996).
A crane in rehabilitation should be not be fed exclusively an artificial or commercial for -
mula. If commercial diet is the only food offered, intake should be limited to prevent weight
gain too quickly. Natural diet, however, may be difficult to provide daily in quantities large
enough for captive crane patients. Most cranes will eat commercial diet once it is introduced.
Sprinkling corn or insects on top of commercial diet will encourage first-time investigation.
An adult crane will do well on a commercial maintenance diet containing about 19% protein.
Introduce breeder formula if an adult patient is held to early spring or the breeding season.
Breeding formulas offer higher protein, calcium, and metabolizable energy. The importance
of maintaining dry or pelleted commercial foods in a dry and fresh condition cannot be
overemphasized.
Observe the wild rehabilitation patient from a remote location, or by a video camera located
within its enclosure, to make certain it is eating. If the bird is not eating, tube-feeding should be
initiated within 24 hours.

Emaciation­Diet­for Crane­Colts

The following is a recommended diet for emaciated crane colts:

2 oz (56 g) human baby mixed grain cereal, such as Gerber’s brand
One 2.5 oz (71 g) jar of Gerber’s baby meat food (beef, chicken, turkey or veal)
One 2.5 oz (71 g) jar water
One 2.5 oz (71 g) jar human infant electrolyte replacer such as Pedialyte®