Page 612 - Hand rearing birds second

Lorikeets 613

When pulling chicks from the nest box, care should be taken to keep them warm, especially
those under 14 days. A warm, portable brooder or a bowl with paper towels and a towel for cover-
ing will work for quick removal and placement in a brooder.
Chicks should be pulled if either parent shows signs of illness, with the sick bird receiving veteri-
nary attention immediately, and determination of whether the illness is potentially communicable
to the chicks. Never start medicating without consulting your veterinarian.
If rearing chicks to be pets or to be in an interactive display, pulling the chicks may be done at
any time but pulling before the eyes open, at about 10–14 days, makes transitioning to hand‐feed-
ing more easily accepted. Chicks at this age will generally accept feedings without fuss.

­ Record­Keeping

Keeping records of the dates eggs were laid will help determine the approximate hatch date. For
example, Rainbow Lories will lay from 1 to 3 eggs and will incubate for 25 days before hatching.
If the parents started incubation with the first egg, a newly hatched chick should be seen on or
about 25 days after the egg was laid. Any additional chicks will hatch out according to the date
the egg was laid. In the case of 3 fertile eggs, the oldest chick would be 4–5 days old when the
third egg hatches. Lories are generally good parents and can handle the difference in chick size
without a problem, and a nest box camera will allow you to monitor the condition of the chicks
as they grow.
Banding chicks (L&M bird leg bands) is highly recommended for identification purposes and for
record keeping for the life of the bird. Bands should be ordered well in advance of chick season. At
approximately 10 days of age, the band may be applied. Placing a drop of olive oil on the band and
foot area will make band application much easier. Apply the band by gently holding the four toes
together and inserting them into the band. Gently slide the band up and over the joint. Note the leg
band that was applied and all band information in records for that chick.
Once chicks are pulled from parents, their weights should be documented. If it is too early to
band, marking them with a permanent fabric marker will make it easier to tell them apart. Marvy
Uchida DecoFabric Paint Markers come in a variety of colors, are nontoxic, and are readily avail-
able at craft stores. Apply the color onto the “fuzz” down of the chick and note in the chart.
Records should be kept so that anyone working with the chick can easily see when the last feed-
ing was, how much was fed, the behavior, environmental information such as humidity and tem-
perature in the brooder, and what chicks, if any, are being kept together. Note the consistency and
amount of fecal matter and note any changes or things out of the ordinary, and document those in
the daily record.

­ Hatching

See Chapter 3 for information regarding incubation and hatching of birds. Once draw down and
internal pip is determined to have occurred, the egg may be moved to a hatcher/brooder set at 97 °F
(36.1 °C). Humidity should be at 75%. To prevent waterborne disease, a few drops of grapefruit
seed extract (GSE) or salt should be mixed into the water to deter the growth of bacteria. The egg
®
should be place in a shallow bowl lined with a large nonstick pad, such as Band‐Aid Large Non‐
Stick Pads (Johnson & Johnson). This prevents the membrane sticking to the substrate during the
hatching process. The external pip happens 24–48 hours after the internal pip and hatching usually