Birds

Question 1

What needs to be considered about bird size?

Answer 1

Smaller birds, higher MR, die younger

Needs considering for vet care

Question 2

What are some general characteristics of birds? (3)

Answer 2

Feathers
Oviparity
Homeothermic

Question 3

What is the difference in foot anatomy of birds?

Answer 3

Perching birds (passerines) - 3 forward, one back 
Psittacine (parrots, macaws) - 2 toes forward, two back

Question 4

What are the 5 freedoms?

Answer 4

Free from:

• Hunger/thirst
• Pain/injury/disease
• Discomfort
• Fear and distress
• Able to undertake natural behaviours

Question 5

What are some features of a bird’s digestive system?

Answer 5

Beak - adapted for diet
No teeth
Crop - instead of teeth, food digested here engulfed in saliva
Proventriculus - secretes juices to aid digestion
Gizzard - Second stomach, mechanical breakdown along with aid of grit

Question 6

What is the sequence of the avian digestive tract?

Answer 6

Mouth > oesophagus > crop > stomach > gizzard > intestine > anus

Question 7

What are the different types of diet of a bird?

Answer 7

Florivore
Granivore
Frugivore
Omnivore
Carnivore
Nectarivore

Question 8

Why is teh diet of a bird hard to maintain?

Answer 8

Only what is selected by the bird is their diet, not what is offered
MUST overfeed

Question 9

What is a general composition of avian diet?

Answer 9

Seeds, maize, sunflower seeds, hemp seed, vet, fruit, meat (minced/dog feed), mealworms (gut loaded), wax worms (high in fat), crickets, locusts, fruit flies (for small birds)

Question 10

What are the types of transition to pellet feeding?

Answer 10

Conversion method - gradually increase pellets in with normal diet
Combination method - mix 75% of current diet with 25% seeds in box, top up only with pellets
Free choice method - birds choose what they eat
Alternate day method - birds offered pellets/seeds alternate days, offer pellets more gradually

Question 11

What are the options for an aviary?

Answer 11

Open 
Closed 
Walk through 
Cage 
Mews

Question 12

What does good housing need to accommodate?

Answer 12

Sufficient space for exercise and socialisation
Simulate natural habitat
Encourage natural behaviour as seen in the wild
Not induce undesirable behaviours

Question 13

What are some examples of an open aviary?

Answer 13

WWT Slimbridge

Mixed exhibit featuring pelicans at Zoolischer Garten Berlin

Question 14

What are the pros/cons of a closed aviary?

Answer 14

No need for flight restraint
Wild birds cannot attack
Fully winged birds can cause lots of damage in closed space
Difficult to catch free flying birds

Question 15

How does tethering work?

Answer 15

Assumes birds of prey only fly for food, as they have been fed they do not need to fly away

Question 16

What are mews used for?

Answer 16

Prevent disturbance of birds of prey with others so many different species can be housed close together (birds only see what is in front of them)

Question 17

What are the basics for incubation?

Answer 17

5 environmental conditions required

1) egg maintained at right temp for metabolic processes
2) egg frequently turned and carefully positioned so embryo passes through nutrients in white
3) humidity of enrvironment prevents water loss through shell pores
4) egg ‘breathes’ so must be well ventilated with good oxygen supply
5) susceptible to infection, environment mus be clean and sterile

Question 18

What are some differences between precocial/altricial bird species?

Answer 18

Precocial - eys open, feathers present, eggs turned less, forages and leaves nest within hours, usually poultry and waterfowl

Altricial - eyes closed, no down or feathers, unable to leave nest quickly, fed by parents, eggs turned frequently, birds of prey, parrots

Question 19

What are the problems with hand rearing?

Answer 19

Altricial species need intensive management, bond created with feeder, need to imitate mother rather than human if bird is to survive in wild, often associated with reintroduction programmes

Question 20

How are birds sexed?

Answer 20

Sexual dimorphism
DNA sexing from blood/feathers/shell
Vent sexing - penis will protrude from cloaca if pressure applied to rump OR oviduct opening will show

Question 21

What are some signs of bird ill health?

Answer 21

Decreased appetite, discharge from nares, abnormal droppings, huddled, fluffed appearance, closed eyes

Question 22

What are some avian routine procedures?

Answer 22

Beak trim
Feet trim
Faecal sampling

Question 23

What parasites cause problems in aves?

Answer 23

Ectoparasites most problematic, knemidocoptes treated by invermectin

Question 24

What are common avian diseases?

Answer 24

Sour crop
Tumours of crop 
Proventricular Dilation Disease - prevents GI tract motility 
Beak deformities (scissor beak) 
Cloacal prolapse

Question 25

What might cause feather plucking?

Answer 25

Ecto-/Endo- parasites
Skin infections 
Behavioural
Heavy metal poisoning
Salmonellosis 
Hormonal
Environmental contaminant

Question 26

What is bumblefoot?

Answer 26

Often a problem in falcons/birds of prey, part of foot constantly weight bearing leads to death of tissues
Type 1: scab/corn on foot under pressure
Type 2: next phase, mild scabs become deeply infected, may be caused by raptor puncturing its own foot while grabbing prey, bacteria = Staphylococcus / yeast
Type 3: worst lesion, deeper structures (bones) also infected, often not possible to treat, bones become painful, infected, hot to touch