How to Feed an Orphan Barn Swallow

These baby blackbirds are demonstrating gaping, showing their caretakers that they are hungry.

If you find a baby barn swallow that hasn't grown its feathers yet, try returning it to the nest before you try to raise it. According to the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, it is a myth that parents will not accept babies that have been returned to the nest. Barn swallow chicks are altricial, meaning they are naked, blind and helpless when they are hatched. They depend on their parents for all their needs including food and warmth. The Wildlife Information Network points out that the younger the chicks are, the more feeding sessions they will need and the less likely they are to survive.

Things You'll Need

• Small clean paintbrush
• Prepared food suitable for barn swallow chicks
• Clean white maggots

Instructions

1. Prepare a food replacement suitable for baby barn swallows. If you are unable to find a packaged meal replacement from your pet food store, call your veterinarian or a wildlife rescue organization for a meal replacement recipe. The amount and type of food will change depending on local availability and the age of the baby.

2. Use a small clean paint brush to gather a small ball of food on the bristles.

3. Offer the food from above the baby's head to imitate how its parents would feed it.

4. Put the paintbrush to the back of the mouth of a chick who has its mouth wide open; this is called gaping. Avoid putting the brush into the trachea, also called the windpipe; this can cause choking.

5. Pull the paintbrush out when the chick closes its mouth.

6. Repeat the feeding procedure until the chick is no longer gaping.

7. Moisten paintbrush with water, and offer it to the chick between food offerings.

8. Feed every one to two hours or when the chick begins gaping again.

9. Provide a shallow dish of clean water at all times.

10. Provide a dish of prepared food to encourage the chick to start eating on its own. Do this after its eyes have opened. Add live food to the top of the offered food to encourage the chick to peck, such as clean white maggots from the pet food store.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not handle the chick. Over-handling makes it difficult for the chick when it is released.

• Keep the chick warm.

References

• Alberta Institute of Wildlife Conservation: AIWC Baby Bird Advice
• Wildlife Information Network; Hand-rearing Swallow and Martins
• Wildlife Information Network: Hand-Rearing of Orphaned Wildlife
• Wildlife Information Network: Feeding Technique

Resources

• Your Dictionary: Altricial