A fledgling thrush has decided to take up residence in our conservatory 9 days ago.should we continue feed it?

Question

We think it has lost it's mother. It flew into our conservatory so my wife gave it some titbits.She realised it couldn't feed it's self so she managed to feed bits of worm to it. It wasn't frightened and it came back the next day looking for food. It has now been with us for nine days and has started sleeping in the conservatory on a night. We haven't got the heart to put it out at night because it seems so trusting of people, it even sits by our dogs. We are worried that if we do put it out the cats will get it because although it can fly it spends a lot of time hopping about on the ground and it doesn't yet appreciate what are enimies. We are wondering whether it will just decide to go on it's way one day or whether it will decide to stay for good. Can anybody give any qualified advice.

Answer 1

I'm surprised it didn't find it's parents.  Usually fledglings follow the parents around for a couple of weeks before they can fly well and hunt for food well enough to survive on their own.  Since it didn't find the parents again, I assume they are dead (possibly because of those cats you mentioned).  If you hadn't fed the little guy, it would already be dead too.  It will eventually decide to go on its way, and there isn't really anything you can do about the cats except shut them in the house until the little fellow can fly better.  We did that two years in a row for the wrens that nested in out bathroom window.

Answer 2

If the bird is fully feathered, it is most likely a fledgling and has left the nest on it's own and it's parents are caring for it. It is normal for birds to leave the nest before they can fly.   You need to replace it where you found it..preferably in a scrub or tree so it is relatively safe from predators, and the parents should come back to feed it.  If it is unfeathered...then look for a nest and if you can find it...replace it into the nest.  Do not worry about your scent being on the chick..birds have a very poorly developed sense of smell and will NOT reject a baby that has been touched.  If you cannot find a nest, get the bird to a local wildlife rehab for it's best chance of survival.  Also, keep in mind, it is illegal for you to try and raise this bird on your own.  Look for a rehab here:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA...

Answer 3

I would continue to feed it, protect it at night. Who knows, you just might have a wild pet when it gets its proper strength.

Answer 4

Just leave it alone.  The mother is still feeding it, you just have not seen her do it.   This is all part of raising their young.  They leave the nest before they can fly and the parents will continue to care for it .   This baby can handle predators, and the parents will also take care of predators by using themselves as decoys so the cat or what ever, will follow them and leave the baby alone.....

Answer 5

We had a similar thing happen when a fledgeling began living in our shed,everyone said to leave it alone but i watched for 2 days and was satisfied it wasn't getting fed.I then began feeding it soaked meal worm until it could feed itself.It was very tame and eventually began flying away from the shed for longer periods at a time,and eventually it flew away.each spring it comes back to the shed to nest with a mate its like having extended family.