Page 438 - Hand rearing birds second

Gulls and Terns 431

50
45
40
Weight (g) 35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0 10 20 30 40
Days of age
Figure­26.5­ Average weight gain of 17 Least Tern chicks.

1200
1000

800
Weight (g) 600

400
200

0
0 20 40 60
Days of age
Figure­26.6­ Weight gain of three Western Gull chicks. Source: data courtesy of International Bird Rescue.

variation is normal, but weights vary if taken fasted or nonfasted. Weigh birds at the same time
each day because these species can hold a significant amount of their body weight in food within
their digestive tract.

­ Housing

Hatchlings should be kept between 90 and 100 °F (32–38 °C) on hatch. The incubator floor tem-
perature should be approximately 93 °F (34 °C), with a 40-W light over one end of the incubator.
A 4 in. (10 cm) square piece of synthetic fur fabric is placed at the lighted end in one corner for
small tern chicks to huddle under or sit on. Clean feather dusters and mirrors can provide comfort
to solitary chicks (Figure 26.7). The author uses an incubator (aquabrooder) for smaller terns and
gull chicks less than 5 days old, which allows the chick to choose from a temperature gradient in
the brooder. As the birds start to grow in size, smaller species can be kept in an incubator; larger
species can be housed in a kennel with a heating pad under one end to maintain a temperature
between 85 and 95 °F (29–35 °C).
Hatchlings of California Least Terns and Forster’s Terns can be housed on several layers of paper
towels or cotton velour towels, changing the towel or paper when soiled. Another option is to use
sterilized play sand 0.25 in. (0.5 cm) deep, removing debris from the surface daily and changing the
sand as needed.