These species are from the family Laridae.

Initial Care: 

General bird information:

• On arrival any young bird should be weighed, warmed, and given supplementary fluids by an appropriate route to counteract dehydration.
• Cold, weak chicks may benefit greatly from a short period, for example 30 minutes, left in a dark cardboard box at 30-35°C.(P19.1.w4)
• The age should be determined if possible.
• See: Hand-rearing of Orphaned Wildlife for further general information.

General Care (including warmth and hygiene):

General precocial bird information: 

• Young chicks have a poor ability to maintain body temperature and are prone to hypothermia, hyperthermia and burns.
• Keep out of draughts but ensure ventilation is adequate. (V.w5)
• A thermometer should be used, within the brooder box, to indicate the temperature at which the chicks are being maintained.
• Provide heat to a maximum of 95°F initially directly under a heat lamp, with a temperature range such that the chicks can chose the position at which the temperature is comfortable. Ensure the minimum temperature is not low enough to allow the chicks to get chilled.
• Reduce the temperature gradually as the chicks grow so that by the time they are fully fledged no heat is required.
• (B118.5.w5, V.w5)

Specific information:

• Very young chicks of these species require heating provided by e.g. an infrared lamp. (B233.7.w7)

Food:

A variety of diets have been suggested for hand-rearing gulls including:

• Mash of raw fish, brown bread, cod liver oil and milk initially.(B118.5.w5, B186.8.w8)
• Strips of fish such as herring, eel, trout, minnows, whitebait.(B118.18.w18, B203)
• Depending on size/age of the bird feed slivers of whitebait, whole white bait and mashed fishy cat food. (D24)
• Fish, dog food or day-old chicks.(B151)
• Pilchards in tomato sauce, mixed with bread crumbs has been used successfully. (B199)
• Fish, preferably whole fish of an appropriate size for the chick to swallow, otherwise sliced into appropriate-sized pieces, and supplemented with thiamine.(B233.7.w7)
• Offer food quite moist. (B199, B203)
• Supplement fish with vitamin/mineral mix.(B203)

Feeding Frequency:

Suggested feeding protocols include:

• Four to six times daily depending on age.(D24)
• Hand feed twice daily.(B233.7.w7)

Feeding Technique: 

• Hand feed very young chicks, offering food from above the bird.(B118.5.w5, B118.18.w18, B186.8.w8, B203)
• Chicks should eat independently and not require hand feeding, from an early age.(D24, B199)
• Stimulation with an artificial "bill", with a red spot painted on it, presented for the chick to peck at, could be useful for reluctant feeders.(B199)
• Force-feeding may be required initially although this is unlikely with gulls. (B233.7.w7)

Quantities:

General bird information:

• Most species of bird eat 10-20% of their body weight per 24 hours. (B150.w2)
• Do not necessarily feed until begging stops: chicks may beg well past the point at which their upper digestive tract is full.(B150.w2)
• Carnivorous birds (raptors, fisheaters, shore birds) may take up to 50ml/kg body weight per feed.(J34.9.w1)

Toileting: 

• Not required.

Weighing: 

General bird information:

• Regular weighing provides a good indication of growth, however a balance must be chosen between the frequency of weighing for accurate monitoring of progress and the stress which may be caused by repeated handling.
• Individuals in a brood or being reared in a group must be individually identifiable in order to allow the progress of each chick to be monitored.
  • Temporary identification may be made possible using small colour marks applied to the feathers. An appropriate non-toxic material such as coloured correction fluid (e.g. Tippex) or nail varnish may be used for this purpose.
  • Alternatively, for larger chicks, lightweight leg rings made of flat plastic may be used. These are available in a wide variety of colours. Rings must be of an appropriate size and changed as the bird grows.
• (B150.w2, V.w5, V.w26)

Weaning:

• By 3 weeks old (should be fully fledged), chicks should be taking chopped herring, mackerel, chopped chick, with vitamin/mineral supplementation.(D24)
• See: Feeding of Casualty Gulls & Terns

Release:

• General bird information:
  • Move to an aviary for at least two weeks prior to release, to allow exercise, flying/swimming as appropriate, and exposure to the weather.
• See: Release of Casualty Gulls and Terns

• Wild animals should not be taken for hand-rearing unless they are definitely orphaned or abandoned, injured/visibly unwell, or in immediate danger.

• A considerable input of time and effort is required to hand-rear these birds.

• There is always a risk of damaging the bill if opening it manually.(V.w6)
• Thiamine deficiency may occur if fish, particularly frozen fish, is not supplemented with thiamine.

• Fish should be available from fishmongers or specialist animal food suppliers.
• Thiamine supplements should be available from veterinary suppliers.

• Time commitment is considerable.

• Cost of fish to feed one or a few chicks is moderate, but may be considerable for larger numbers of birds.
• Cost of constructing appropriate aviary for accommodation prior to release may be considerable.

• Hand-rearing should not be started unless the carer is prepared to give the time and effort required for rearing to release, or to ensure that appropriate care will be continued through to release.
• Consider whether hand-rearing is the best option for the individual compared with leaving it in the wild.
• Consider whether euthanasia is a more humane/kinder option for the individual than attempting hand-rearing.
• An offence may be committed under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 Section 1 if a released animal does not have a reasonable chance of survival (i.e. a chance similar to its non-rehabilitated peers). It is an offence under this Act for a person having control or charge of an animal to abandon it permanently or otherwise in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering. This may include release at an unsuitable site, in the wrong territory, unfit, not having learned to hunt, at the wrong time of year etc. (J35.147.w1, B156.21.w21, B223, W5.Jan01)
• See: Legislation relating to Wildlife Casualties.

• B118.5.w5, B118.18.w18, B150.w2, B151, B186.8.w8, B199, B203, B233.7.w7, D24, V.w5, V.w6, V.w26
• J35.147.w1, B156.21.w21, B223, W5.Jan01