Things You'll Need:
- Hand feeding formula
- Baby bird(s)
- Syringe
- small bowl
- cooking pot
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Step 1
Before you start feeding, check the bird's crop (stomach) by gently pressing the chest. It should feel like a deflated balloon. After you've fed the bird, it should be visibly round and feel like a full balloon. Before growing feathers, the skin is transparent and it's easy to see the yellow formula inside.
Do NOT overfeed. The bird may keep asking for food even though it is filled. -
Step 2
Follow the directions on the formula package. It will tell you the measurements of formula to water. Heat the water to boiling. Put the formula in a bowl and add in the boiling water. Keep stirring until it is the consistency of applesauce (for very young birds, it needs to be more watery). Once it is the proper consistency, check the temperature of the mixture. It must be between 103-107 degrees when it enters the bird's crop. Keep stirring and letting it cool until it reaches the proper temperature. Fill the syringe.
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Step 3
For parrot-type birds:
The syringe is held at an angle to get the formula across the beak and into the gullet on the left, when you are looking at the bird straight-on. It is not poured directly down the throat. The bird will be asphyxiated if you get it in the wrong sac. -
Step 4
For many wild birds:
They will eat the formula on their own, rather than you having to pour it down their throat. Give the bird tiny "bites." Make sure they are swallowing it. Too much can asphyxiate it. -
Step 5
Feed quickly enough that the formula stays warm and keep it covered to keep it warm. Do not feed cold formula. Do not microwave the mixed formula, as there can be unseen "hot pockets" that can burn the bird.
Do not save uneaten formula. Mix fresh each feeding session. -
Step 6
For the first few days of a baby bird's life, feed every two hours around the clock. After a few days, it can be every two hours during the day. After about a week, you can lengthen the time to four hours between feedings. By the time the bird is a few weeks old, you should feed in the morning, noon, and evening. Eventually, you can gradually cut out noon feedings, and finally morning feedings. When the bird's about six-weeks-old, you can finally give less food at night until it doesn't need any formula at all.
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Step 7
As your bird grows more curious and hops around the cage, start introducing solid food and water. Birds wean themselves. As they start eating more seed, you begin minimizing formula
Comments
nytowl42017701 said
on 6/6/2009 I found a baby bird on our patio.our neighbors have 5 outdoor cats so i kept an eye on it all day.I finally brought it in that evening.I looked up on the internet what to feed it.I have been feeding it egg yolks with sugar water from an eye dropper and he loves it.He has "graduated" from his box after i came in the room the other day and caught him sitting on the edge of the box.I found him a bigger box and put a chop stick through it.he loves his perch and "talks"to me all the time.when i go near his box he opens his mouth to be fed.I was never an animal person but i couldn't bring myself to leave this baby bird out side to die.My cats do not bother it at all. I showed the bird to them when i brought it in and told them "no" in no uncertain terms.they do not even blink his way....lol.I love playing mommy to him and watching him get old enough to leave.I named him Freddie because eve...
kathy999 said
on 5/6/2009 This sounds perfect for me. What kind of hand feeding formula and where can I buy it....Now...I have hatchings now
argyle said
on 2/7/2009 What a cute article!
vikki9 said
on 2/7/2009 Love your photo! What dear little birds.
Is the formula available at feed stores? Would one need to know what kind of bird for the appropriate food?
Many thanks!