Birds Flashcards
What needs to be considered about bird size?
Smaller birds, higher MR, die younger
Needs considering for vet care
What are some general characteristics of birds? (3)
Feathers
Oviparity
Homeothermic
What is the difference in foot anatomy of birds?
Perching birds (passerines) - 3 forward, one back Psittacine (parrots, macaws) - 2 toes forward, two back
What are the 5 freedoms?
Free from:
- Hunger/thirst
- Pain/injury/disease
- Discomfort
- Fear and distress
- Able to undertake natural behaviours
What are some features of a bird’s digestive system?
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
What is the sequence of the avian digestive tract?
Mouth > oesophagus > crop > stomach > gizzard > intestine > anus
What are the different types of diet of a bird?
Florivore Granivore Frugivore Omnivore Carnivore Nectarivore
Why is teh diet of a bird hard to maintain?
Only what is selected by the bird is their diet, not what is offered
MUST overfeed
What is a general composition of avian diet?
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)
What are the types of transition to pellet feeding?
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
What are the options for an aviary?
Open Closed Walk through Cage Mews
What does good housing need to accommodate?
Sufficient space for exercise and socialisation
Simulate natural habitat
Encourage natural behaviour as seen in the wild
Not induce undesirable behaviours
What are some examples of an open aviary?
WWT Slimbridge
Mixed exhibit featuring pelicans at Zoolischer Garten Berlin
What are the pros/cons of a closed aviary?
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
How does tethering work?
Assumes birds of prey only fly for food, as they have been fed they do not need to fly away
What are mews used for?
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)
What are the basics for incubation?
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
What are some differences between precocial/altricial bird species?
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
What are the problems with hand rearing?
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
How are birds sexed?
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
What are some signs of bird ill health?
Decreased appetite, discharge from nares, abnormal droppings, huddled, fluffed appearance, closed eyes
What are some avian routine procedures?
Beak trim
Feet trim
Faecal sampling
What parasites cause problems in aves?
Ectoparasites most problematic, knemidocoptes treated by invermectin
What are common avian diseases?
Sour crop Tumours of crop Proventricular Dilation Disease - prevents GI tract motility Beak deformities (scissor beak) Cloacal prolapse
What might cause feather plucking?
Ecto-/Endo- parasites Skin infections Behavioural Heavy metal poisoning Salmonellosis Hormonal Environmental contaminant
What is bumblefoot?
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
