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750 Hand-Rearing Birds

the cage, they should be offered solid foods. These species start nibbling on food items well in
advance of being able to effectively crack open seeds, so caregivers may be prematurely fooled into
thinking birds are self‐feeding. Hand‐feeding should continue until birds are no longer frantically
begging. Continue using the 1 ml syringe with cannula tip for goldfinches and House Finches until
weaning. Again, do not use cannula tips for House Sparrow fledglings. House Finches and House
Sparrows at 15 g can be fed up to 0.75 ml of formula per feeding, while those 17 g and up can get as
much as 1 ml as long as their crops are clearing between feeds.

Expected Weight Gain

Weigh chicks daily until they are weaned; try to weigh birds at the same time each day so the evalu-
ation of condition is consistent. All chicks should gain weight steadily until at or above adult
weight at around 10 days of age. Plateaued weights below normal adult weights should trigger
concern. A weight loss of more than 10% of this amount during weaning may indicate a chick is
not ready to wean.

Housing

Provide a calm, quiet environment. Do not keep House Finches or goldfinches next to noisy or
predator species, such as starlings or corvids, or species that carry trichomonas, such as doves or
pigeons. House Sparrows are susceptible to imprinting and habituation when raised alone. Singly
raised House Sparrows may be aggressive if introduced to other birds at the aviary stage. Ensure
that all birds have at least one conspecific companion in order to gain social skills. Never raise birds
alone.

Hatchlings
Hatchlings should be kept in appropriately‐sized nest replacements inside an incubator such as an
Animal Intensive Care Unit (Lyon Technologies). House Sparrows enjoy the security of having the
nest covered with a tissue between feedings or using a cave‐like structure as a nest (see Figure 44.2).
Temperatures should be kept at 95–100 °F (35–38 °C) with 50–60% humidity.
Never keep chicks on flat surfaces because of the possible development of splayed legs. Nests
must have texture on the inside and bottom that will allow growing feet and legs something to grip,
such as coiled or crumpled tissue. Keep hatchlings scrupulously clean by removing fecal material
or spilled food immediately, changing tissue as needed.

Nestlings and Fledglings
When chicks are fully feathered nestlings, they may be moved out of the incubator. Place the nest
in a large basket on a heating pad set on “low.” Large laundry baskets with window screening cov-
ering all holes make excellent housing (Figure 48.4), as do reptariums (see Chapters 43 and 44).
Use large pieces of window screening secured with clothespins as a ceiling on baskets, or sew
elastic into screening to create fitted tops. Older House Sparrows are excellent escape artists and
tend to hide under furniture once out and about, so be sure to adequately secure all caging lest
caregivers have to waste time chasing birds around the facility.