Page 491 - Hand rearing birds second

Owls 487

Figure­31.1­ Great Horned Owl standing on
scale.

keel should not be “sharp” or remarkably prominent in owlets of any age. It is normal for owls to
have asymmetrically placed ears for sound localization of their prey. Severely malnourished or
emaciated birds should be fed a few pieces of organ meat as soon as the bird is warm and hydrated.
A little food goes a long way when stabilizing a weak or starving baby. For clinically emaciated
birds, consult with experienced raptor rehabilitators for the best and most current nutritional rec-
ommendations for these critical animals. Birds in very poor body condition (BCS 2 on a 5‐point
scale) or those with a total protein less than 2.0 g/dl should be considered candidates for emacia-
tion protocols. It is informative to collect a small amount of blood into microhematocrit tubes for
a packed cell volume, total plasma protein, and a blood smear.
In general, owlets should be bright eyed and active before feeding and may sleep soundly after a
satisfying meal. Weak, slow babies with dull eyes should be evaluated as quickly as possible. It
should be noted that it is not uncommon for hatchling owls to have red, and sometimes swollen‐
looking eyelids (Figure 31.2). Hydration and adjustment of supplemental heat can often make a
significant difference for weaker or lethargic owlets. Compromised individuals of any age should
be fed small amounts often and should be given highly digestible and balanced foods until they are
digesting and processing food correctly. Body weight, digestive function, and general behavior
should be monitored throughout growth.
All new birds should be rehydrated. Rehydration volume should be based on the approximate level
of dehydration. Healthy, non‐, or mildly dehydrated birds should receive a bolus volume of 5% of
their body weight in grams (50 ml/kg), those that are severely dehydrated (mucoid or tacky mouth,
sunken eyes, wrinkled skin and eyelids) may require additional fluids. Consult or enlist an avian
veterinarian if necessary. Warm, sterile, isotonic fluids such as lactated Ringer’s solution or 0.9%
sodium chloride should be administered subcutaneously or, in critical cases, intravenously. Large
liquid volumes should not be given orally unless that is the only option. Owls are anatomically
designed to eat and digest solid prey items only. They may easily aspirate liquids while swallowing or