Page 425 - Hand rearing birds second

418 Hand-Rearing Birds

­ Weaning

Small alcids are more difficult to acclimate to feeding on their own than the larger alcids. Initial
steps should be made to encourage these birds to feed from plates. Most of the smaller alcids will
not begin to feed on their own until after fledging; larger alcids do so prior to fledging. Once they
begin to feed off of plates, employ the same techniques to condition all alcids to forage in the water.
Toss appropriate feed items in front of the birds and into the pool throughout the day. Take meas-
ures to prevent the birds from seeing the person providing the feed so that released birds do not
associate people with food. Once the feed has been placed in the water, continue tossing small
amounts of feed in front of the bird. If the bird ignores the feed, discontinue this activity for an
hour. When the bird begins to dive and eat the feed provided, continue feeding until the bird has
had its fill. If possible, maintain like species of alcids together when conditioning them to forage
and feed on their own. Once one bird becomes proficient in feeding, others follow quickly.
Feed problem birds by hanging or floating feed plates. Use live feed to stimulate foraging behav-
ior. Easily obtained feed, such as brine shrimp and baitfish, will attract the attention of the bird.

­ Expected­Weight­Gain

Small alcids should gain approximately 25% of their body mass each day during the first week after
they hatch (Table 25.1). Daily growth rates slow to 15% at 7–14 days of age, 8% at 15–21, and 5% at
22–34. For example, a Least Auklet with a weight of 12.0 g at day 1 should gain approximately 3.1 g
on day 2, 3.8 g on day 3, 4.7 g on day 4, and so forth, slowing to 15% of their daily body mass gain by
about 7 days of age.
Large alcids vary, although approximate growth rates for the first week should be around 15%,
slowing to 10% at 7–14 days of age, 8% at 15–21, and 2% as they reach 34 days of age (Table 25.1).
Weight losses post-hatch and after fledging are not uncommon.

­ Housing

As with other pelagic avifauna, alcids in a captive situation are colonial in nature and share the intri-
cate behaviors of their wild counterparts. An assemblage of alcids must not only address their require-
ments for the congregation but also must respect their needs for spatial segregation (Figure 25.5).
Exacting environmental conditions are the first requirements in maintaining any alcid species.
Vigilant monitoring of environmental conditions eliminates possible pathogens, environmental
stresses, and physical sources of trauma that would endanger the health of the specimens held in
any facility.
Facilities created for the housing of alcids indoors must condition the air to reduce the threat of
overheating. Temperatures no greater than 40.0–50.0 °F (4.4–10.0 °C) are recommended for most
alcids, although they are capable of withstanding temperatures well below these points. Medically
compromised birds require supplemental heat and should be maintained at 72.0–80.0 °F (22.2–
26.7 °C) to assist them in thermoregulation. Oiled birds require an ambient temperature at upwards
of 80.0 °F (26.7 °C).
Pool areas should provide chilled water, a surface skimmer (either physical overflow or protein
skimmer), a multifaceted filtration system, and an easy haul-out area (Figure 25.6). Maximum
water temperatures of 40.0–50.0 °F (4.4–10.0 °C) provide a suitable aquatic environment. Due to