a baby bird fell out of the nest. It barely has feathers. How do I take care of it?

Question

I can't put it back in the nest because it's up inside the house.

Answer 1

I have had this happen several times, as I live in the mountains.I have gotten mixed results from my attempts to help. First if the bird cannot fly it will not get back to the nest, there is no way for the parents to help. if it has some feathers and hops a lot then it is a fledgling and is learning to fly, it will be OK on its own. Now for the worst case scenario, some times baby birds have defects or illness and momma will push it out of the nest.It's cruel yes but the only way for the birds to keep the fittest and also birds cannot "doctor" their young so it saves a slow painful death. Now if the bird did just fall and seems healthy the best thing to feed it is hard dog food that has been softened in warm water for about 10-20 minutes. You feed this with a pair of tweezers to simulate parent birds beak.Be careful if the food goes in the wrong spot and doesn't make it to the gullet it can aspirate and die.. Keep it fairly warm, inside should be warm enough,in a soft wash cloth or such.A heating pad will be way too hot. Good luck and I mean it. I have had experiences good and bad.Some just don't make it..Oh they also need fed about every hour during daylight, birds sleep at night so babies usually will too but you need to feed again at first light... It's a tough job ask again about flying lessons etc.. if your baby makes it...Bless you for trying..

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
a baby bird fell out of the nest. It barely has feathers. How do I take care of it?
I can't put it back in the nest because it's up inside the house.

Answer 3

If it barely has feathers, it is not ready to be out of the nest. If you can not get it back in the nest (which would be the best thing, as mother birds do not reject a baby who has been handled by humans), then you need to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. You can find one here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm
These people have the training and the resources to care for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals.

Please do not attempt to carre for this baby yourself. Depending on the species, it could be illegal. It is illegal in the US to keep most native wild species, even for a short time, without the proper permits.

Also, if you do not have the proper trining, you can do more harm than good. I like the way this website explains it: "First of all, there are federal and state laws that prohibit keeping wild birds. And there are so many important but subtle elements to raising a wild bird that the job is only legally entrusted to licensed rehabilitators. Many well-meaning people raise baby birds or rescue birds from cats or after accidents, and sometimes they don't realize that the bird in their care is suffering from a serious dietary deficiency. Some of the problems aren't apparent to untrained people, but can cause death, or make the bird less likely to evade predators or to survive harsh natural weather conditions."
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/robin/FAQBabies.html

Answer 4

I took care of a baby robin, years ago and it did just fine. But, it would be best to take it to a wildlife rescue center where they are more equipped to handle the little bird. Also, they will know when and where to release it back into the wild. If you decide to take care of it yourself, the problem with that is, it will be domesticated, and when it's ready to go, it won't know how to get food on it's own. Until you can get it to a wildlife rescue group, make sure to keep it warm. Give it drops of water by a dropper, making sure not to give it too much. Sounds gross, but get an earthworm and chop it up, then feed it the same way... with a small dropper. Don't let any other animals around it. And, good luck.

Answer 5

Call your local animal control or a local wildlife rehabilitator for suggestions. Baby birds are a lot of work; these people are trained to feed and care for them.

Also, it's hard to give recommendations when different species of birds have different survival requirements - the local rehabber can not only identify the bird but meet its needs.

Answer 6

I raised a baby pidgeon once on a eye dropper and chicken/beef/turkey baby food. I kept it in a shoebox of cedar shavings next to a light (not directly on the baby). It fell out of a nest inside my attic when I was about 12. It lived and I ended up letting it go when it could fly.

Call a vet or zoo and see what they recommend.

Answer 7

Put it in a shoebox lined with soft grass. Put that box near a lamp to keep the bird warm (not too warm, though). Feed it insects every couple hours. OR call a vet and see if it can be saved.

Answer 8

Put it in a small box outside near the nest. Chances are it is a fledgling and the mother will continue to feed it. She is probably calling for it...if you go outside...listen carefully.

Or...if the mother bird is not around, call your local veterinarian and ask them what to do. Chances are they know of a "bird rescue" organization in your neighborhood that they can refer you to.

Good Luck.

Answer 9

keep the bird with you OR wait for the mom to come back and shell take the bird OR take a ladder/clumb up the tree and voila

Answer 10

once you touch it the mother won't have anything to do with it. We have several every year, from our big trees in the yard. There is nothing you can do, (so sorry) my heart breaks for each of them but, animals that are born in the wild, are meant to be wild, not domesticated by man. Its a way of nature culling out the large number if birds, that roost in our trees. The natural process of nature.
Especially since it has no feathers, it will not last long, believe me I have tried.

Good luck.