How can I keep a baby wild bird alive? What kind of food & drink?

Question

Found baby bird, barely 1/2 oz, no feathers and eyes still shut. No sign of parents and no nests in the area. VERY hungry, I'm feeding him from a syringe with pureed meat and Enfelac, also hardboiled egg yolk mixed with sterile water. Have him on a heating pad (low) in a plastic bug-box with airholes. I know his chances are slim, but any input appreciated! We have named him "Peep" - he is very vocal and responds to my voice.

I suspect he may be a robin or sparrow. Taking Peep to SPCA not an option right now, I'm nine months pregnant and can't get there but I will call Monday. I promise to post details - so far he is fine and eating well, keeping fingers crossed.

Answer 1

Oh oh... It'll be best to contact the local SPCA asap for them to take over. But, if they are unavailable, do note that u can seek out or buy small crickets to feed the chick, as that is what the naturally feed on.Anything liquid in nature may choke the little one unintentionally. And baby birds have to be kept fed constantly at this stage, cuz they need massive amounts of nutrition now to develop, kinda like how much food u need when u hit puberty. This will definitely take a lot of time so pls, do seek out more professional help to ensure its survival.

Good Luck with the chick, and may karma favor u kindly for ur kind heart.

Answer 2

Wild birds are VERY hard to maintain without a lot of experience. You have to be very cautious with diet choices and methods of feedings. If you put the syringe to far in you can inflate the lungs with food and cause pneumonia-which will equal death. The best and most humane thing to do is contact your local animal control or shelter and have them out you in contact with a local bird rehab. If this is an interest you have I am sure the bird rehab would be more than happy to train you as a volunteer and better educate you in trying to save the bird. Good luck.

Answer 3

A Steady diet of worms only is not healthy. Wild robins eat bugs as well. I have raised many wild birds using cat food. I would soak the dry cat food until it was just moist, not mushy, and insert small pieces down the throat with some blunt tweezers until the crop or breast looks poochy and full. Doing this about every hour or two at first.

Answer 4

I have volunteered for a wildlife rehab in my area. The best thing to feed the baby bird is hard catfood soaked in hot water till it is soft and then use a pair of tweesers to feed the baby with. By bumping him on the beak with the food it should make him open his beak. I honestly would not put him on a heating pad due to it may become dehydrated. But I would keep it out of drafty areas. No matter what you do DON'T feed it live worms. The worms will eat a hole in its crop and then it will die. Good luck and try to find a wildlife rehab in your area to take the baby to. If you cannot find one cal your local zoo and maybe they can help you find rehab for it.

Answer 5

These sites explain all about what to do for orphan and injured birds -
http://www.crowsystems.com/rehab/babybird.html - this is an excellent article - be sure to read down the entire page for info on how to care.
http://www.stokesbirdsathome.com/q&a/archive/qa108.html
http://besgroup.blogspot.com/2006/02/what-happened-when-nestling-fell-out.html
http://www.projectwildlife.org/find-babysongbirds.htm
And this Yahoo Best Answer too -
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006050608886

I've got a lot of links to wildlife carers from a lot of countries on my site, at
http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/links under "Wildlife Assistance" - just click on them all, click on your country and state, have a browse, 'phone them and ask their advice.

Very very best of luck.

Answer 6

depending on the bird depends what you feed. some birds are insectivores and others eat larger game. call you wildlife rehab center and ask them, or just bring the bird there. i know you have good intentions but odds are more than against him if you don't even know what kind of bird your dealing with.

Answer 7

I'm not sure where you live, but check your phone book for "animal rescue" or "wild animal something" -- there should be one nearby where you can take the bird. They will care for it and IF it can be saved they will do so and then set it free when it's ready. It's sure better than letting the kids watch him die.....

Answer 8

I cant help you unless I know what specie it is.

Its most likely a starling.

go to starling central type it into yahoo or google. They will tell you the proper hand feeding formula for it. and how to make it and how often to feed it.

If you hold the baby a lot it will become an extremely affectionate pet. and WILL LEARN TO TALK!!!!!!!

Not kidding it will learn to talk.

If you give it to a an animal shelter they might euthanize it!!!

I wish you the best of luck

Answer 9

DO YPU HAVE A LOCAL VET. IF SO CALL FOR ADVICE, IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT KIND OF CHICK IT IS, SOME FEED REGURGATATED FOOD, BUT, DIFFERENT BIRDS EAT DIFFERENT FOODS SOME EAT A BUG DIET AND SOME BIRDS EAT FRUITS AND SEEDS

Answer 10

sounds like you are off to a good start! i have raised many baby birds and i always use cut up earth worms, raw hamburger meat, or water soaked cat food. good luck!!