Eric!! The flamingo take over
As you may already have seen in the paper or on the news, we are hand-rearing 3 Chilean Flamingo chicks!
After a wet patch in mid August, several of the female Chileans were a little late in settling down to lay their eggs. Whether it was because the parents were juvenile birds, first time breeders, or just out of practice; a gap in 'lay date' became evident. We sat back and waited, watching the incubators like hawks until the 10 day period was up and we were free to candle the eggs for fertility.
Out of 30+ eggs, 8 fertile eggs were returned to the island in late August. These chicks suffered bad weather, gull attacks and the general 'Russian Roulette' of life, and we were unhappy with the results. Our flock of Chileans has always had a history of rearing malnourished or deformed chicks. We put it down to their tendency to lay their eggs very late compared to our other Flamingo species, incubating as late as mid-September when everyone else has moulted and the Duckery has shut up shop.
As a result of this lateness, the chicks lack the daylight hours they need to grow, and the parents descend too quickly into moult; neglecting their babes and encouraging binge feeding. Binge feeding can lead to growth booms, and if a rotund body out-grows the legs it stands on, then they can become saddled-legged. These defects are things that we are continuously striving to resolve.
We have tested the food to confirm protein and vitamin content, and we have diversified their feed to incorporate a 'maintenance' and 'breeder' standard foodstuff. In the past we have even provided calcium supplements. To no avail. When it became evident that there would be 3 very late hatching fertile eggs, we made the decision to hand-rear.
We very quickly realised that these three babes were due to hatch at least 3 weeks after the rest of the creche. This seemed an almost certain ticket to a bad start in life, so after much 'umming and aahing' we deep cleaned the Duckery and prepared for an invasion.
Flamingo chicks are SOOO noisy!!! They are affectionately called amongst the Duckery staff the "Erics" due to their early vocalisations sounding just so. They sit Ericking away from within their little coops in a constant desire for food and attention.
Their food mix is a smooth paste made up of 2 egg yolks, porridge oats, Lundi feed, Sardines, Vitamin A and E, Avipro, Nutrobal and Calcivet. This thrilling concoction smells just lovely! This is fed via a syringe straight onto the back of the tongue, the bird stood vertical with its little tongue working overtime! Even this is touch and go, because one wrong move and it goes straight down the windpipe and fills the lungs...
Unlike other long legged solitary hatch species like the cranes, we are totally free to cuddle these guys... The tamer the better, as feeding is a chore that takes 20 minutes every two hours, interspersed with constant walking and interaction with other birds. If they were terrified, it would be a detriment to their health overall. When questioned about whether hand-reared flamingos mix well into flocks, whilst they still return human calls from within the group, there is no evidence to suggest that they won't breed and live as long and happy lives as those raised within the flock creche.
There will be many more updates to follow, as we anticipate them occupying the Duckery area nigh until Christmas! I shan't therefore tell all too soon....
