Page 417 - Hand rearing birds second

410 Hand-Rearing Birds

examination of a blood smear may be informative. Affected chicks may have greatly elevated TP
values with or without concurrent anemia (R. Duerr pers. comm.).

Fungal­and Viral­Infections

Alcids, along with other seabirds, are susceptible to a fungal infection, aspergillosis, especially
when held indoors particularly in facilities inland (Burco et al. 2012; Burco et al. 2014). Inappetence
may be one of the first clinical signs that this condition exists. Itraconazole therapy, maintaining a
clean environment, fresh air, and proper ventilation (10–12 air exchanges per hour) are the best
preventative measures that may be enacted. Recent trials involving Aspergillus vaccinations are
underway and may have significant benefits to seabirds held in these captive situations. Avian pox
has been identified in stranded juvenile Common Murres in California (International Bird Rescue,
unpubl. data).

Nutritional­Deficiencies

Vitamin deficiencies occur regularly in piscivorous birds, due to loss of vitamins in the freezing
and thawing process in the fish that are fed to these birds in a captive situation, and may result in
a variety of morbidity and mortality events. Vitamin supplementation, mixing vitamin powder on
smaller feed items, or placing tablets in feed fish prevents these deficiencies (Mejeur et al. 1988;
Tocidlowski et al. 1997).

Pododermatitis
Pododermatitis or bumblefoot is an inflammatory or degenerative condition, common in the feet of
seabirds that are forced to stand on hard, smooth cement surfaces for extended periods of time.
Incorporate preventative measures (see the section “Housing,” later in this chapter) into any hold-
ing enclosure provided to alcids. Resolution of bumblefoot is slow and may require intense man-
agement. While on land, murres stand on tarsi or lower legs rather than on their feet. Monitor the
hocks frequently for swelling or heat, and place birds demonstrating these clinical signs into pools
for as long as possible. It is far better to prevent the development of foot lesions than to attempt
treatment after they have progressed to the point of bumblefoot.

Injuries

Some species of alcids have life histories that expose chicks to possible injuries. For example,
Common Murre chicks must jump from their cliff-edge nests to join their father in the water
below, and on the way down may bounce off rocks or be attacked by predators. Other species of
Alcids must run to the ocean through forest while still quite young, or fly from forest to ocean
without adult guidance. Fractures and wounds may be found in these chicks.

­ Artificial­Incubation

Artificial incubation of eggs is not required on a routine basis. Late-term incubation parameters
indicate that a dry-bulb temperature of 99.5 °F (37.5 °C) with a relative humidity of 60% is suffi-
cient to accomplish a successful hatch (see Chapter 3).