Page 421 - Hand rearing birds second

414 Hand-Rearing Birds

Figure­25.4­ Aviculturist Sue Schmid, of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, hand-feeds a 25-day-old
Whiskered Auklet. Source: photo by Mark Alexander.

brooder and try again in 1 hour. It cannot be stressed enough to allow the chick to dictate how
much food it will take at each feeding (Oehler et al. 1995, 2001) (Table 25.1).

Large­Alcids
Larger alcid hatchlings, such as the guillemots, puffins, and murres, are hand-fed sand lances,
silversides, herring, smelt, or capelin, whole or sliced fish, up to five times per day. Murrelets,
which normally prey upon smaller fish and fish larvae, require small sand lances or thinly sliced
fillets of larger fish. Soak each fish in Pedialyte prior to each feeding. Feed chicks less than 5 days
of age approximately 40% of their initial morning body weight divided into five feedings over a
12-hour span. Elicit a feeding response by placing the fish to the side of the bill, although these
birds quickly recognize feed and will move toward the fish when the brooder is opened. At 5 days
of age, begin to offer whole fish on a plate instead of hand-feeding. Remove feed if not taken within
the first 20–30 minutes. When chicks begin to consistently feed from the plates, larger amounts of
fish may be placed upon the plates on beds of ice and left in the brooder. Feeding schedules will
fluctuate between species, but as a general rule, reduce the number of feedings to three per day
when chicks are 21 days of age (Thompson 1996; ASLC 2006a) (Table 25.1).

Fledglings

Provide feed twice daily to mimic their natural foraging habits in the wild and to ensure that the
feed items are fresh. To maintain a safe supply of feed, place these items in the water or on plates,
with ice. Do not allow the feed to remain in the enclosure for extended periods. Because a major -
ity of the feed items are stored frozen, vitamin supplementation is required. Provide these food
items in clean, nontoxic, shallow bowls or plates. Offer water in a pool only and avoid the use of
water bowls.