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Shorebirds 403

underneath, such as towels or more sheets or soft nomad matting. It is important to keep the sub-
strate clean. Use a small hand broom and dustpan to sweep the debris off the sand and into a
bucket. Provide freshwater wading dishes daily. Clean the substrate several times a week, the fre-
quency is dependent on the size of the enclosure and the number of birds in it. It is important to
keep the disruption to a minimum. Coordinate the cleaning with weighing and have them caught
up and placed in box while cleaning.
Another caging option would be to make an enclosure up on legs off the floor with plywood
walls, mesh flooring, and light fabric sheeting covering the top. The mesh bottom allows feces and
urates to pass through, but the mesh must be small enough to not risk entanglement of toes or feet.
A heat source around 95 °F (35 °C) should be offered in one area and ambient temperature in the
other area. A variety of spot heat bulbs may be used to create a warm area, such as a 100–150‐W
spot incandescent nocturnal black heat lamp (e.g. ESU Reptile NightLight Spot). The distance the
heat lamp is above the brooder will need to be determined by the individual setup. As the chicks
get closer to fledge and they stop spending a lot of time under the heat lamp at night, the heat
source can be removed.
Full‐spectrum lights on a natural light cycle, such as Reptisun 5.0 UVB (ZooMed Laboratories),
should also be provided for birds housed indoors. See the manufacturer’s specifications regarding
the proper distance for placement of bulbs above the chicks and the frequency that bulbs require
replacement.
As chicks get older and are feeding well, they may be kept in an outdoor aviary, depending on
ambient temperature and the size and activity level of the chicks. Aviaries range in size from 8 to
25 ft. long × 5.5–24 ft. wide × 6–16 ft. high, depending on the size of the species. For minimum
recommended sizes for waterbirds, see Miller (2012). Aviaries should be designed as naturalistic
enclosures, offering ample opportunity for birds to explore and forage (Figure 24.7). Sand substrate
is preferred and must be at least 2 in. (5 cm) thick. The larger the shorebird species, the thicker the
sand should be, at least 3 in. thick for stilts and avocets. Additional substrate can include small
smooth stones, mud, grasses, and/or nomad matting.
All food and water dishes should be shallow and easy for birds to step in and out of. For newly
hatched chicks, small plant saucer dishes work well, as do baby jar lids. For Killdeer chicks, a size
that works well should be less than 3 in. (1.2 cm) across, no more than 0.5 in. (1 cm) deep and easily
stepped into and out of without tripping. For older birds, medium‐size planter saucer dishes work
well. For long‐legged birds, such as avocets and stilts, cafeteria trays work well. Sometimes a chick
will drink from food dishes, but they shouldn’t be depended upon for hydration.
All birds should always have access to water to wade in. It should be no deeper than just covering
their feet for newly hatched chicks and a little past their feet for older birds. They should always be
able to easily get in and out of the dishes. For birds such as avocets and stilts, larger, shallow plant
saucer dishes work well for wading in water. The long‐legged birds can easily slip, so care should
be given to make sure the surface is not slippery. A shallow sloped bottom pool covering a portion
of the floor would also be beneficial in the outdoor aviary.
Young chicks should be provided with a feather duster to brood under, and stuffed animals may
provide companionship for solitary chicks. If outside, provide some short of shelter and a warm
area with a heat lamp. As the birds approach fledging age, remove the shelter, heat source, and
feather duster. Fake or real plants as well as driftwood can also be provided to give birds a sense of
privacy. Care should be taken that the plants do not cause any entanglement or trip hazards.
Use a disinfectant footbath and rinse before entering and after exiting outdoor aviaries to
decrease the chance of tracking contaminants from shoes into and out of aviaries. Clean and dis-
infect aviaries thoroughly after birds have been released before setting up for new birds.