I found a baby bird on the floor. what should i do to keep it alive?

Question

Its a small bird it looks like its been born for a few weeks. and i need advice what should i do. i really want to keep it, i dont want to give it away and i want to grow it.

- where should i keep it?

- what should i feed it? (it wont open its mouth when i give it worms, or water)

- Should it be in a warm or hot place?

- should i put it in a box?

Answer 1

If it's a wild bird then you cannot keep it. Assuming it has its feathers (you say it looks a few weeks old) it is probably just a fledgling and you need to leave it alone because it's learning to fly, and its parents are fully capable of taking care of it. If it does not have all of its feathers, leave it in a shallow basket or small box somewhere high, such as on an armrail for a deck/porch or in a low fork of a tree. Make sure it's somewhere out of sight of you so the parents won't be too scared to go near it. You say it won't open its mouth for you; it either may not be a baby at all, but an adult bird that flew into a window or something and is stunned, or it's just old enough to know better than to take worms from a stranger. You should never give a bird worms, anyway--they can have parasites that can kill a bird.

Keeping native wild animals is illegal in several countries, including but not limited to the US, Canada and Britain. You could be fined thousands of dollars simply for possessing a wild bird, regardless of how old it is. If the bird is injured and/or its parents don't come for it at all (over the course of four or five hours, NOT four or five minutes) then I'd recommend looking for a local wildlife rehabilitator. This does not mean your local veterinarian; vets aren't trained in taking care of wild animals and may simply tell you to find a wildlife rehabilitator. They can care for it properly and will make sure it has the best chance for survival. Otherwise, you need to leave it alone.

Answer 2

- where should i keep it? I small box with a blanket and a heat lamp.

- what should i feed it? (it wont open its mouth when i give it worms, or water) you should feed it watered down baby bird feed from a pet store or mushed up worms. try putting the things on a toothpick or a open syringe and push it into the babies mouth to feed it until it gets used to it.

- Should it be in a warm or hot place? warm

Wait have you already touched this baby bird? If you have then chances are the baby wont be excepted back by its mother and the person telling you to put it back is handing it a death wish. You really should hand it over to a wildlife vet or sanctuary

Answer 3

Once you handled it the parents will not take care of it. Keep it in a box in a warm place. You need an eye-dropper to feed it. Carnation Condensed Milk at first and once it takes that you can put some bread into the mixture as long as it comes out of the eye-dropper - Ont of the best things to get is a syringe type medicine holder for kids and only try to feed it from the side of it's mouth.

The next time you see a baby bird on the ground, "don't touch it" the mother is near by

Good-luck with the bird and don't feel bad if it don't make it. You Tried!

Answer 4

You should keep it in a small box, where it is small enough that it will be hard for the baby bird to move, because in the nest, they don't have much moving space. If it is a few weeks old it probably doesn't need mashed up words, because when the babies are older the mom gives them normal worms. You may need to try to force feed it, and hold it'm mouthj open, while you give it the food. It needs to be in a warm place. It needs to stay warm, many people don't keep baby birds they find warm, and that is a huge reason why most of them die. Boxes are find but, as I said they need to now have much moving space.

Answer 5

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 6

Do not keep it.  It will only starve and likely die of stress in your care.  Take it to an animal sanctuary.  Call animal control and they will know what to do.

Answer 7

Is it a wild bird?  Take it to the vets.  Or you can get hand feeding formula and try that.  Keep it warm.

Answer 8

oIt is an old wives tale that the parents will not care for it if you have touched it .That mother wants her baby just like any other regardless if you have touched it . You can raise ANY baby bird on softened dog food . Get a few pieces and soak in water so it is really wet . once the baby recognizes you are the food source it will open ,you may have to open a few times. do not feed it at night ,but very often ..like every 1/2 hour and keep warm .It needs to go to a rehabber if not possible to put it so it's mother can have access to it. They know best .