Page 615 - Hand rearing birds second

616 Hand-Rearing Birds

1 ml syringe
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10 ml syringe
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small (shallow) feed dish or bowl
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small mixing whisk
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2 C (500 ml) glass measuring cup
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F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant
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lactated Ringer’s solution
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small bottle brush for cleaning 10 cc syringes
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pipe cleaners for cleaning 1 cc syringes.
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­ Feeding­Procedures
Wear gloves if feeding birds from different clutches. This will minimize crosscontamination and
help prevent disease transmission. Change gloves for each group being fed. Thoroughly clean and
then sterilize syringes and utensils by submerging in F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant, or a similar
product, until the next feeding. Rinse before use.

Hatchlings
Hatchlings that are 1–5 days old should be fed formula mixed as directed on the packaging, except
substitute lactated Ringer’s solution for water when mixing to assist with hydration. The tempera-
ture of the formula should be 100–105 °F (38–40.5 °C) to ensure the chicks will accept it. Cold for-
mula can chill a newly hatched chick. Formula the first few days is thin and watery for hydration.
Using a 1 ml syringe, feed approximately 0.5–1 ml (Figure 40.3). Feed chicks every 2 hours, making
sure the crop is emptied before the next feed. Watch the crop fullness to determine the amount to
feed; overfeeding may result in aspiration. As the chicks grow, increase the amount and slowly
increase the thickness of the formula each day. After 5 days, use the formula manufacturer’s rec-
ommended mixing ratios. Water may then be used for mixing formula and the lactated Ringer’s

Figure 40.3 Feeding a 2-day old hatchling lory. Source: photo by Carol Stanley.