How to take care of a baby robin?

Question

I found a robin egg abandoned in a nest on my front porch. I think the egg is still alive and that something happened to the parents so it's dormant. I want to raise the chick but I need to know how to raise the baby and incubate it. HELP!

Answer 1

If the parents abandoned it, it's likely dead. I doubt something could have happened to both of them, so it was probably a conscious choice to leave it. Not only that, but if it was alone for more than a short period of time, it would have died anyway. The chances the baby is still alive are slim to none.

It is virtually impossible for an amateur to incubate, hatch and properly care for a baby bird. If you're convinced it's alive, call your vet's office and ask for a list of wildlife rehab centers in your area and their phone numbers, and get in touch with one of them. I know you have the very best intentions, but you're not going to be able to do this yourself. To have the best chance of surviving, it needs to be in expert hands.

Answer 2

Don't wash the egg or handle it any more than absolutely necessary. Chances are that if it was left in the nest, the mother knew it would not hatch.  But you can check it to see for yourself.  To check to see if the chick inside is still alive, "Candle" the egg by holding it gently between your index finger and your thumb. Hold it up to a light in a darkened room.  Look for veins and a little heartbeat or you'll see the embryo. For the time being, place the egg, if alive in a shoebox with some cotton balls.  Soak a couple of the cotton balls in water and place them to the side. Cover the box (punch a lot of holes in the top). Put the covered box over a heating pad and put a light a few inches above the box (about 6-8").  You want a temperature of 100 deg. F and a humidity factor of about 20%.  Then call your local Humane Society or Wildlife Rehab.  Hatching a little bird takes expert care and an incubator to turn the egg as the mother would plus the temp and humidity are hard to duplicate unless you have an incubator.  If you want the little bird to live, please do not try to hatch it on your own.  There is too much to know plus once it hatches you will have to feed the chick every 2 hrs around the clock.  Feeding a baby robin again, unless you have experience doing this, it is extremely delicate and requires someone that knows exactly what they are doing.  Rehabbers have this knowledge but you can save the little bird by following these directions.  Good luck.  and God Bless you for caring.