Baby bird!!!!HELP!!!URGENT?

Question

I found a baby bird. It has no fethers just starting to sprout little black stems(feathers). I have been slicing little pieces of worms and feeding it to it. HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF IT?? am i doing it right?? i was told i have to feed it every 15 minutes.Is that true?? If so how will i feed it at night??

thank you sooo much.

Answer 1

wow, your in a bind arent you. lol but i would just keep feeing it. tonight though, i would just leave it be. i dont think a baby bird could live very long without his mother anyway. good luck.

Answer 2

You are super sweet to try to help, but in most states it's against the law to keep wild animals and it will most likely die in your care.  Look at this attachment for help and to locate a rehabber in your area.  Whatever you do, don't give it water.

Answer 3

MONKEY

Answer 4

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...

Birds sleep at night..so it does not need to be feed.  You should actually not be feeding it at all, even giving a baby bird water can drown it if you are inexperienced at caring for birds.  Get it to a rehab ASAP

Answer 5

go immediately to www.starlingtalk.net, read what you need to do to care and feed it and join the forum.  There will be many people there available to answer your many questions....   keep it warm, make a little nest out of a margerine container, line it with paper towel, keep it covered loosely with a towel make sure it is hydrated before attempting to feed it, then it will need to be started on a dog food based diet (soaked dry dog food made to the consistency of oatmeal.... NEVER feed worms.......

Starlings, sparrows and pigeons are non-native species and are therefore not a protected species.  You can legally raise them in Canada and the US except for 2 states..... I am not sure of the laws of other countries........

Answer 6

Hi,

You should immediately call a wildlife protection organization, wildlife rehab, or vet.

Put on some gloves and gently place a bird in a box that has a soft blanket at the bottom. Make sure the blanket doesn't have a high odor in detergent because that will make breathing difficult. You can also put shredded paper towel at the bottom the box.

General information

Hand-feeding baby birds is only a substitute for parent-raised birds but it does have certain advantages. The hand-raised baby usually makes a better pet as it has been completely socialized with humans. They grow up with no fear of humans or other potential dangers such as cats, dogs and young children. Hand-feeding is a huge responsibility and requires time, patience and a complete commitment. The little bird in your care is entirely reliant on you for everything. Hand-feeding is a job best left for the experienced bird breeder or aviculturalist. You may wish to contact your local bird breeder for help. This handout is designed to provide some guidelines.

When do I start hand-feeding a baby bird?

A chick may be removed from the parents any time before weaning but many suggest leaving the babies with the parents for up to 3 weeks. Older birds may prove to be more challenging in their acceptance of hand-feeding.

Where do I keep the baby bird?

Precise temperature and humidity is essential for optimal growth of newly hatched birds. Relative humidity greater than 50% is required initially. Hatchlings (no feathers), should be maintained at 95° - 97°F ( 35° - 36°C). As the chick gets older, it has a greater tolerance for temperature fluctuations. Generally, the temperature can be lowered one degree at a time every 2 - 3 days as the feathering progresses. Chicks with new feathers (pin feathers) should be fine at 75° - 85°F (24° - 30°C) depending on the development of the feathers. Fully feathered and weaned chicks can be maintained at room temperature. Always monitor your bird for signs of overheating or chilling. Wings extended or drooping and panting indicate overheating. Shivering and cuddling together indicate cold. Poor growth or poor digestion (delayed crop emptying) can suggest poor health or improper temperature and humidity. Good quality special brooders are available to carefully regulate air circulation, temperature and humidity. Paper towel, diapers, hand towels or other soft, disposable products can line the bottom of the brooder and provide secure, clean, dry footing for the bird. This bottom liner must be changed constantly to keep the bird clean. If the bottom texture is too smooth the chicks legs may splay out to the side leading to permanent deformity. You must check that there is nothing for the bird to get it's wings or legs stuck and which might cause injury or deformities.

What should I feed my bird?

There are numerous commercial hand-feeding diets available today. Choose one diet and use it until the baby is weaned. Changes in diet may be stressful on the baby's digestion. It is very important to discuss this with your veterinary surgeon.

How do I feed my baby bird?

All food must be prepared fresh for every feeding. Food kept for the next feeding is an ideal place for harmful bacteria and yeast to grow. Any food prepared or heated in the microwave oven must be mixed thoroughly to blend hot and cold spots. Try to achieve food temperatures of 102° - 106°F (39° - 41°C). Use a thermometer. Food that is too hot will cause severe burns to the crop. Food that is too cold will not be accepted or digested well.

In general, the younger the bird, the thinner the mixture should be. A more dilute mixture (90% water) is required by the day old chick as it is still utilizing the yolk sac. Chicks older than one or 2 days should have food with 70 - 75% liquid.

Syringes are probably the preferred feeding tool but some still prefer a spoon with the sides bent up and inward. Accurate feeding volumes can be recorded with the syringe. Charting daily feedings is important. The natural feeding response of a baby bird is to rapidly bob the head in an up and down motion. This action can be stimulated with gentle finger pressure at the corners of the mouth. During this head bobbing the trachea is closed and large amounts of food can be given relatively quickly. If the bird is not displaying strong feeding response then do not attempt to feed as there is an increased chance of aspiration of food into the trachea and lungs leading to death. The best time to feed is when the crop is empty. When full, the crop is the "sac" that hangs over the front of the chest at the base of the neck.

How often and how much do I feed?

The amount and frequency of feeding depends on the age and growth rate of the bird, growth of the bird and the diet used. The frequency of feeding for young birds is greater than that of older birds. The following is a guideline. With newly hatched chicks, the yolk sac is the source of nutrients for the first 12 - 24 hours. Chicks under 1 week old should be fed 6 - 10 times per day (every 2-3 hours). In the first week of life, some feeding during the night may be beneficial. Chicks who have not yet opened their eyes may take 5 - 6 feedings per day (every 3-4 hours). Once the eyes open, 3 - 5 feedings (every 5 hours) are necessary and as the feathers start to grow in, feed 2-3 times per day (every 6 hours). The crop should appear full when done. Feeding between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. is not necessary. The best indication of a healthy, growing chick is a good, strong feeding response at every feeding, the crop empties between feedings and regular droppings (f***s) are noted. Monitoring and recording weight gain on a gram scale provides an accurate record of growth.

When do the birds wean?

When to wean is often a difficult decision for both the owner and the bird. As the bird gets older and develops a full compliment of feathers, weaning should be encouraged. Some babies start weaning themselves by refusing feedings. The bird should be offered a variety of formulated foods including fruits and vegetables at this time to encourage exploration and experimentation. As this food introduction continues you can slowly start to withhold some of the feedings starting with the midday feeding. As time goes on, the morning feeding may be withheld, and lastly the evening feeding. Some birds learn quicker by watching other birds or older babies eat.

Disinfecting?

Baby animals have poorly developed immune systems and are more susceptible to infections. The brooder should be disinfected regularly. All feeding utensils must be cleaned and stored in a disinfecting solution between feedings. The disinfectant should be changed every day to avoid contamination. Thorough rinsing is required before the next feeding. Using separate feeders for every individual bird is recommended.

What if something is wrong?

If you suspect something is wrong then immediately contact your veterinary surgeon. Signs to watch for are included in the following list:

chirping or crying all the time

fussing a lot and not sleeping

listless, droopy wings or head

not accepting food

no feeding response

not emptying the crop

poor weight gain

abnormal growth

abnormal posturing or wing and leg positions

abnormal droppings

wet area lying over the crop (may indicate a burn

Answer 7

keep it warm! Good Luck!

Answer 8

Make sure you keep him warm, put him a box with some old towels under a lamp to help him stay warm. Try putting honey on your finger and see if he eats it. If he is eating the worms, then yes your doing great. Feed him at least every hour and at night he should be okay as long as you feed him straight away when you get up.  If your still unsure try giving your local vet or rspca a call, they can help you.

Answer 9

Do you have ANY idea what kind of bird it is?  That very much change what you can and should feed them and what you need to do.  

As a general rule of thumb, you want to keep the little one warm. That is very very important.  They should never feel cold to the touch. Don't use needles or anything like that in the place you have them as bedding.  Something soft like tissue  crumpled into a ball adds much more support and is much safer.

As to what to feed them... your safest bed is dog or cat food softened by warm surgur water, mixed with a hard boiled egg and cereal.  You want the food to be warm and moist, especially at first as they may be dehydrated.  For a few emergency feedings, white or wheat bread softened by warm sugur water is okay, but they can't live on it for long.  Your right you do need to feed it at least every 15 minutes, especially if it seems weak, as time goes on, and it gets stronger every 30 to 60 minutes may suffice.

In order to feed them you need to place the food in the back of their mouth when they open them (or gape as it's called), Never ever place liquid into a baby birds mouth, they need to get all thier mosture intake through food.

Those little black stems are actully the birds feathers already coming in, they are just in a kertin (sp?) shell that will break off as they grow.  It's very similar to the stuff that our finger nails are made out of.

As soon as you can please take your little bird to a wild life rescue, or an avian vet in your area, to find out what species it is, and so it can get proper care.