the japanese tarmigen is a protected species. capturing them is revel regulated so scientists import them from norway to study their breeding habits to help them deal with the falling number of japanese birds. this july the zoo received 100 eggs from a research institute in norway. the zoo is rushing to hatch and raise them. three weeks later, 27 chicks hat hatch. it's essential that the birds have the right diet. they are fed fresh vegetables leaves mixed with rabbit food because their digestive systems are similar to rabbits. while some babies eat all their food, others cannot digest it efficiently. within four days of hatching, eight chicks are dead. >> translator: when they are very young they subsist on the egg yolk left inside their stomach. the yolk gives them energy. they can survive for a few days. but when they were switched to the artificial diet, things didn't go so well for them. one month after the chicks hatch, there is a new problem. ptarmigan are very territorial. when left alone, the chicks attack each other. th

the japanese tarmigen is a protected species. capturing them is revel regulated so scientists import them from norway to study their breeding habits to help them deal with the falling number of japanese birds. this july the zoo received 100 eggs from a research institute in norway. the zoo is rushing to hatch and raise them. three weeks later, 27 chicks hat hatch. it's essential that the birds have the right diet. they are fed fresh vegetables leaves mixed with rabbit food because their digestive systems are similar to rabbits. while some babies eat all their food, others cannot digest it efficiently. within four days of hatching, eight chicks are dead. >> translator: when they are very young they subsist on the egg yolk left inside their stomach. the yolk gives them energy. they can survive for a few days. but when they were switched to the artificial diet, things didn't go so well for them. one month after the chicks hatch, there is a new problem. ptarmigan are very territorial. when left alone, the chicks attack each other. th