How to Feed Infant Wild Birds
Wild infant birds go through several stages of development to mature into fledglings that are ready to leave the nest. Different species have different diets, and infant birds will eat different types of food depending on their stage of development. Identify the species to determine the proper diet. Identify the growth stage to determine how much to feed it, or whether the bird is advanced enough to be taken care of by its parents or just left alone.
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Things You'll Need
- Syringe or eyedropper
- Chopsticks or tweezers
- Baby bird food
- Hard-boiled egg
- Milk
Instructions
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Identify and Assess
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Identify the species. This can be difficult with birds that have pin feathers. If you approach a live baby bird out of its nest, the parents almost certainly will try to scare you off--note the species by observing the adult parents.
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Assess the growth stage. According to birdsnways.com, newly hatched birds will still have an egg tooth on their beak. Infants up to about a week old will be naked or just beginning to show pin feathers. Birds up to two weeks old will have open eyes and have most of their feathers. At three weeks and older, they will have all their feathers and be moving around a lot. At a month to six weeks, the birds will be ready to start flying.
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Assess their health. Infants that have fallen from nests frequently have leg or wing injuries. Look for blood, distended joints, extended wings, or curled feet. These injuries should be attended to by a wildlife rehabilitation center or a veterinarian.
Feeding by Stages
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Replace the bird in the nest. Infant birds less than a month old should be replaced in the nest when possible. If this is not possible, make a warm nest for the bird.
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Make the bird warm. Build a nest in a shoebox, packing box or aquarium. Use washable closed-weave fabrics. Don't use fabrics that have open threads or catches--the baby bird will become entangled and possibly injured in these types of fabrics.
If the bird is cool to the touch, it is too cold. If it is panting, provide more ventilation to cool it down.
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Feed the bird frequently. Different species require different amounts of protein and other nutrients. Ask your local veterinarian what type of feed is best for the infant bird. Songbirds eat seeds and insects. General nutrition baby bird feed (buy it at a pet store) can be mixed with water and fed with a syringe or eyedropper. You can also start off with a mixture of hard-boiled egg yolk and milk.
Some birds like crows require a high-protein diet. They can be fed ground beef and other high-protein foods--check with your local veterinarian for proper diet tips.
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Stimulate the feeding reflex. The infant bird will naturally be afraid of you. Feed the bird by tapping the side of its beak with the end of the syringe. Let a droplet of the food ooze into the base of its beak so it can taste the food. This will usually motivate the infant to open its mouth for more food. If the food comes out of the bird's nostrils, it is not swallowing. Let the bird rest and try again a little later.
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Start adding solids. Birds three weeks and older will want more solid foods. Add milk or water to dried dog or cat food to moisten it and feed in very small pieces so the bird doesn't choke.
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Start feeding natural food. Identify the natural diet for your infant bird. Feed insects or seeds when possible. If the bird can be placed in an outdoor enclosure it may be able to start foraging for itself, picking insects, worms or seeds out of grass or bushes. Leave a dish of water in the enclosure and sprinkle food around so it can start feeding itself.
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Tips & Warnings
The feeding reflex can be stimulated by different colors. Try presenting different colored pens or markers (capped) to the infant bird and see its reaction. If it opens its beak and flaps its wings, it is stimulated by that shade or color. Replace the pen with the syringe immediately to feed the bird.
If you find an infant bird that is fully-feathered, unless it is injured or in immediate danger it should be left alone. Its parents are watching it and feeding it and it should be ready to fly any day.
It is illegal in most areas to keep wild birds as pets. To facilitate the bird living in the wild, it is important not to let the infant bird "imprint" on you. Handle the bird as little as possible to avoid taming it. Release it back to the wild when it is ready to fly. Find an area with ample cover and no natural or domestic predators like cats and dogs and release the bird.
