Baby Bird needs help!

Question

So this baby bird fell out of a tree and there is no possible way for me to put it back unless I'm a squirrel or a bird..

So I called up the wild life hot line - and I spoke with this chick who had raised baby birds from birth and she said to get dry dog food (which I have) and soak it in water until it becomes spongy. Then feed the bird small pieces every hour.

I fed the bird with a pair of tweezers and it gobbled down the food - like 6 pieces and the bird went to sleep.

Well I went back to feed it an hour later and it was peacefully sleeping in a dream like state. I called the hot line back to see if I should wake it up to feed it and a different woman answered. She told me that she had never personally raised birds but that your supposed to always put the bird in an artificial nest in a box and hook/nail the box to a tree - promising me the mommy or daddy bird would come to feed it.

Right now the baby bird is outside in the nest I made for it with the inner lining of a cotton blanket and ripped up paper towels. I've waited and watched from the window for the past hour and 15 minutes and no bird has been any where in site. Keep in mind that it is supposed to eat every hour.

If anyone has any substantial advice or any experience with baby birds etc.

Please Respond ASAP! Thank you for your time and have a great day..

Answer 1

It is a wild bird and you should have left it alone and let nature take its course.

Answer 2

I agree with Rascal that the woman who said to put the bird outside is an idiot! You should do what the chick said and intill it can care for its own you should take care of it. Go to Ace hardwood store and buy wild bird food. You should also go to a vet to see if the bird is ok and also ask for advise.

Answer 3

First of all the gal that said since you handled the baby bird the parents won't care for and accept it..is mistaken.

Birds can't smell so that is an old wives tale to disreguard.

Baby birds often are pushed from the nest by another, stronger chick

wanting fed first. This is sad, but is nature in the wild.

Babies must be kept warm and are in nests the parents build from twigs.

The parents are unlikely to come to a sleeping chick in strange sights such as blanket and shredded paper towel.

Birds are suspect and fear new/strange sight's. Also if they don't hear the crys from the baby they wouldn't know where to look.

Bottom line is it is doubtful you can raise this wild chick so you need to find your local wild life center, or people.

Call your local human So., tell them what you have and ask for the phone number for the wild life center, or person who will come and take this chick and fed and care for and raise it to return to the wild.

Answer 4

Call your local pet shop that deals with birds, they will tell you what to do. That lady who told you to put it outside was an idiot, after you handle a baby bird the parents won't recognize it. And even if they do they wont care for it.

Answer 5

I am sorry you are getting some bad advice here. (except for cdsgeo2) Please follow these instructions:

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, you can "make" a nest using a basket or pail with handle and hanging it as close to the original nest location as possible.  Add grass and twigs for warmth. If the parents can hear the begging they should be able to find the nest..give them time to find it.  If after 2 to 3 hours you see NO sign of any birds trying to approach the 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/contact....