Page 408 - Hand rearing birds second

400 Hand-Rearing Birds

Figure­24.3­ Wilson’s Snipe chick offered invertebrates and duckweed in shallow dish of water with pebble
substrate. Source: photo courtesy of Marjorie Cahak Gibson.

Age 2–5 or 6 days old: Use a large, shallow dish, such as a cafeteria tray. Use the same diet as
above but start mixing some blackworms in with the pellets. Increase to ¼ cup of calcium carbon-
ate powder and ½ tbsp. of Nekton scattered over each food dish. Can also introduce small crickets
coated in calcium at this stage.
Age 6 days to fledge: Start a slow introduction of Mazuri brand sea duck pellets to the diet and
decrease the amount of blackworms to an approximate ratio of 3 parts starter pellets: 2 parts black-
worms: 0.5 part sea duck pellets. Continue sprinkling ¼ cup of calcium carbonate powder and ½
tbsp. of Nekton over each food dish. As they get older, increase the sea duck pellets and decrease
the starter pellets until 100% sea duck pellets instead of the waterfowl starter close to fledging age.
Continue with blackworms and other live insects.
While chicks are in brooders it is best to feed small amounts of food frequently (at least four
times a day) because food will die from the heat after a few hours and shallow water will evaporate.
Adding ice chips to the wet food (tubifex worms) may help. Open‐top containers, such as aquari-
ums or terrariums with a heat bulb, can be partially covered to create a shaded area where tem-
peratures are somewhat cooler and the food stays alive longer. Do not place food dishes directly
under the heat lamps. Depending on the number, age, and general temperament of the birds,
multiple feeding stations and wading dishes should be provided (Figure 24.3).

­ Expected­Weight­Gain

Chicks should steadily gain weight until close to fledging, when they approach adult weight. It is
common to lose a gram or so from the day of hatching to the next day, but after that, it should be a
pretty steady weight gain. If a chick is losing weight or not growing as rapidly as its cagemates, this
may indicate a health problem, that the bird is not getting enough food, or that its access to food is
being limited by larger birds. Weigh each chick regularly but care should be taken to not overly
stress the bird through handling and, if the bird seems active, alert, and has been seen eating, do
not feel like you need to get a weight. Weighing should always be coordinated with cleaning. See