Dehydration

[Mr_Colin]

Following on from the Heat, Heat thread last month and the fact it is bloody hot today and should be like this for quite a while it does bring up a question about possible sign of Dehydration in raptors.

I provide Willow with clean water on a daily basis in her bath but not really sure if she is using it as I haven't seen her in it or seen her sitting on a perch very wet. Could this be a problem? I suppose she could be sitting on the edge and drinking but again I haven't seen this either. Maybe she only does this when I am not there as she always seems excited to see me, ready for a feed or a flight.

Can any of you advise me on what I should be looking for, ie symptoms, if she isn't drinking and maybe getting dehydrated.

I hope this isn't a dumb question but if I am thinking about this I am sure there are others out there that would benefit as well.

Thanks in advance guys and girls.

Mr_Colin 8)

[Goldie]

Colin, birds get there fluid intake fom their food and if there is a bath available they will drink if THEY think they need to. They don't need to actually take a bath, just a sip. If you are overly concerned, you can always soak a chick in water

[OutFlying]

Mr_Colin,
Read the Heat , Heat thread again, there is a link to an article on hydration in raptors. No need to soak the chick, plenty of moisture content already. As Goldie states if its thirsty it will drink from the bath.

OF.

[RabbitHawker]

That's right, most of the food we feed BOP has a very high water content- DOC and rabbit, so as long as you are not cutting the bird down and giving it little food it should have more than enough from the food, esp. desert adapted species such as the HH and RT. However water shoud be available at all times, it is also used as a bath to cool the bird if it is too hot.

[KevGem1]

hi there good post as thats whats running through my head at the moment. i leave a bath in the avary all the time but just like mr collin you just never see your birds using them yesterday my fhh did start to gape quite a bit so i got the hose out put it on shower and give here a good drenching and she seemed to benefit from this but i am sure you cant drench your bird every day ? (any advice) i have even put a fan in with here today but she still seems to be gaping a bit. could anybody tell me whether it is ok to have air blowing at her ? i am also concerned about sour crop ? this is also a reason for trying to keeping her cool. sorry mr,colin if i have hijacked your post a little but as you say it is somthing we could all do with knowing. thanks in advance for any advice cheers KEV. :wink:

[Goldie]

To a certain extent, when your bird is gaping she is getting rid of exess heat much the same as a dog panting. it does no harm if you want to give it a light spray everyday (some birds bathe everday) just remember not to spray too much if she is in an enclosed aviery or you will increase the humidity. As for sour crop, make sure you are removing yolk sacs in this weather,and the food isn't lying about cooking. I have changed my feeding times to later in the evening when it is cooler

[Dave G]

as above feed my birds late in evening in hot weather stops sour crops,my harris paddles in the water think hes scared but my other bird luvs the hose on her and will roll around in the bath while ive got the hose on her so looks like every birds different,plus most of the b.o.p we keep come from mexico etc so they have their own way of cooling down just need a shaded area they can sit out of the sun

[Coedhirion]

the Harris is in to moult and has a bath which he uses a lot, mainly to drop his toys in, or stones off the floor. He has access to shade as its an open front an part side aviary with solid sheet roof. the falcon is being flown, I use a small trigger spray and bottle to give a light spray all over after flying. He realy loves it and sometimes opens his mouth as I am doing it. As he's on a block during the rest of the day he has a bath after flying and is kept in the shade. When put away, he is on a leash in an open fronted aviary with solid roof. The gos is loose in a similar one as he is down for moult, but the chambers have bars and the leaves etc blow in, so hence he is in a smaller place with wire mesh and netlon (scared of Aspi) they all have baths roofs and sheltered areas. None of them have looked at all bothered by the heat, just me, the dogs and the ferrets. (Dont forget ferrets get heat stroke real easy)

[Coedhirion]

Oh and as an after thought if you realy get a problem, reach for your first aid kit and give lectade.

[Sprout]

I prefer to feed first thing when it is hot, this way they have generally put the crop over before it gets hot and they they will metabolise it as usuual throughout the day. Feeding later at night is ok although they then have a full crop later on when metabolism is likely to be lower as they are less active. But, not everyone is up at the crack of dawn!!

[HawkMan]

The only time ive seen my redtail drink from the bath was when i lost him a few months back ,and found him 1 week later ,as i placed him back in his mew he stepped to the side of the bath and was drinking for atleast 10minutes!!!

[RabbitHawker]

I'd agree with the morining feed, it's still pretty hot even in the evenings, and there may be a slightly higher risk of bumble foot with evening feeds as the bird will then be inactive for hours when it is at it's heaviest.

[Ben C]

Mr C after reading the article OF posted I have no worries regarding the dehydration of cody. However sour crop is now my biggest headache. But I have followed the advice on here. Prefering a late evning feed, only because Cody doesn't seem to put over his crop in the morning and it sits there all day. Your harris may be different. Also the quantity has varied greatly in this heat. If I get him to eat 2 chicks he has done well.

[Goldie]

Ben, don't be concerned about it, just continue as you are. Although the bumblefoot risk RH mentioned may well be valid, it is minimal as long as you have good perches

[Sprout]

Although the bumblefoot risk RH mentioned may well be valid, it is minimal as long as you have good perches
True. Risk factors for bumblefoot are increased feeding later at night, heavier due to food (fairly minimal), resting usually on one leg, slower metabolism etc. Good perching/lots of astroturf should help reduce the increased risks.

[Ben C]

5 different perches all with astro and disenfected once a week. :)

[Sprout]

Don't worry then. Just regularly check the bottom of the feet for smooth/red areas.

[Ben C]

Thats done daily, once in the morn and once in the eve.

[Mr_Colin]

Looks like I needn't worry too much but thanks for the advice. I check her daily for bumble foot and not probs there and hopefully stay that way. It was just a worry I had and now I am off to buy a spray bottle to see if she will enjoy that.

Thanks again

Colin

[OutFlying]

5 different perches all with astro and disenfected once a week. :)

Get some cut branches, nature is best. No need to disinfect and replaced every 6 months.

OF.

[Ben C]

right oh, 2 of them are natural but I poped some astro on em. They are very smooth so was a bit worried.

Nice avatar, where did you get it?? :)

[Coedhirion]

I sometimes use the spray bottle when we start hunting as well, we get some quite warm weather in Sept. and before we stop in March. The ferrets, dogs and birds all quite enjoy it before we come home, we even end up using it on ourselves... Stating the obvious, dont use it if its going to be frosty before the bird is completely dry

[HawkMan]

Ive just come home and put the sprinkler on me owl and red they loved it especially the red drinking it as it placed at him,Even me ducks enjoyed a little ,lol