How to Properly and Legally Care for an Orphaned Baby Bird (song bird)

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Heating pad with a low setting.
Small box or Tupperware container.
Pillow case.
Proper food.
Internet access or phone book.

Step 1

KEEP WARM.
The first thing you must do is get the baby bird warmed up. Baby birds lose heat very quickly which can rapidly lead to illness and death. Plug your heating pad in somewhere quiet, out of sunlight, draft, and interference from people or pets. Set the temperature on the low setting. Place an old pillow case or other non-frayed material into a shoe box, other small box, or plastic container. Place this box on top of the heating pad. Make sure the temperature maintains warm, not hot, and stays on. You want it no warmer than what you would bathe a new born baby in. Do not put the heating pad in the box. Place the baby bird into the box.
Step 2

RESEARCH.
Legally you can not keep most baby birds. They are protected by law and special permitting or licensing is required to keep them. You will need to locate one of these individuals. You can search the internet for a wild life rehabilitation specialist, or wildlife rehabilitation center in your area. If you can not find one on your own, contact your own Veterinarian to see if they have a recommendation. Also, the closest exotic Veterinarian may have more information than a common Veterinarian. After hours or on the weekend you will need to contact the emergency animal hospital or clinic. You will either have to drop the bird off at a designated facility or someone will pick it up for you, this varies with distance and agency.
Step 3

FEEDING.
Until you can turn the baby bird over to an expert, you will need to provide it food and hydration. There are many types of birds and not all require the same diet. We will split the types of birds and diets into two categories and how to identify them. NEVER give either baby bird water straight. They will inhale it and can become ill or even die.
Step 4

A baby robin.

GAPING BABY BIRDS.
These are the songbirds that you see almost everywhere. You will know if you have one of these if it has a disproportionately large and wide beak that opens above it when hungry. The colors vary but are usually derivatives of red and yellow. Feeding these guys is relatively simple. First take hard dog food and soak it in warm water until it is completely soft all the way through. You may have to gently open the beak from the side the first few times, once the baby bird understands, he will open it for you. Tear the wet food into tiny pieces, these pieces should be 1/2 as big as the circumference of the baby birds neck. When having to force the beak open feed only 2-4 tiny pieces. When the baby opens it's beak, continue feeding until he no longer opens it for you. You will need to feed the baby bird every hour from dawn until dusk, but you do not have to feed through the night.
Step 5

A baby mourning dove.

SEED EATERS.
These are your doves and pigeons. They sit like a duck on water and will not open their mouth for you to indicate they want food. They are usually dark in color and have similar bills or beaks to a chicken. They are harder to feed than other songbirds. You will need to go to the nearest pet store and purchase a baby bird hand feeding formula. I use Kaytee Exact, but your store may not have it. Ask for the formula used in hand feeding baby parrots. Once home, follow the preparation instructions. Use lukewarm water to mix the food. Use a clean finger to stir and be sure the food is warm, has no unmixed powder chunks, and is the consistency of jar baby food. Put about 2 tablespoons of the food into a zip lock or other sandwich baggy. Cut the very tip off of the corner of the baggy, to make a hole only barely bigger than the circumference of the babies beak. Push the solution to toward the opening you just made. Sit the baby bird on a paper towel and have some tissues near by. Hold the food bag in front of the baby bird. Guide the baby bird's beak into the hole you made. He should immediately start to eat. Every 5 seconds remove the baby birds beak from the hole and gently wipe any excess food from his head and body. You will begin to see his crop fill in front of his body, it looks like swollen breasts. You may need to very lightly squeeze the bag to emulate the parent regurgitating. Clean the baby bird well when it is finished eating. Feed the baby bird as soon as the crop empties and appears flat.
Step 6

As stated before, you must turn the baby bird over to the proper care givers. I suggest no more than 24-48 hours after you find it. Be sure you thoroughly clean your hands and all areas that came into contact with the baby bird.

Comments

wesellforu said

Flag This Comment

on 11/13/2009 Great information on Orphaned birds. 5*

konakai said

on 10/10/2009 I'm sure every baby bird who has fallen out of its nest would want you to care for it. This is such a good article on Orphaned Baby Birds. 5*...deserves 10

hereishow2 said

on 9/24/2009 No, not unless you have to for a few feedings until you get dog food. This is because cat food has to high of protein content. So yes, to rich! Good luck!