Hello everyone, well here we are on our rhea ranch and it's chick time ...the former owner warned me that a percentage of the chicks will be left behind the herd, and that she'd done everything to rescue them but they all died anyway. She said that it would be far easier to leave them in the fields.
Easier said than done...when we come across an abandoned chick calling plaintively for its dad, there's just no way to leave it. We've tried to rescue three so far, but they've died within the day. There's not much information on rheas (ratites) but I asked a couple emu people I know who have suggested the following: warmth (we tried body heat, heating pad, and are wondering about investing in a heating lamp), Sub-q lactated ringers (I would need more information on this...as a ranch, can we purchase this from a vet supply place? We give shots to pups and cats; but where and how would you inject fluids into a bird?)
By the time we brought them back the chicks don't eat or drink, would it be too much for them to eye-dropper sugar water into their beaks? Is it too traumatic to force fluids into them? How are rescue birds enticed to eat and drink? Any other tips? We'd like to give these little ones a chance if we can.
Thanks so much in advance!
LClair