I found a baby bird, what should I do with it?

Question

I found a little baby in my front yard today just a few minutes ago. I think it might have fallen out of it nest because, it seem like it leg hurting and can't fly, I don't know where it nest is. But it is alive and well. I put it in a box now because I fear that cats might get to it.


What should I do with it?

well, don't know where the nest is at all. I'm living in Missouri, where can I find the number of Animals Control or Wild Life Center?

Answer 1

In most cases, it is best to let nature take its course. Don't interfere.

If the bird is fully feathered, chances are it doesn't need your help. Each spring, baby birds leave the nest and have to learn to be adults. Their parents are nearby. They're best equipped to take care of the babies. You can help fledglings by keeping your dogs and cats in the house.

If the bird is unfeathered, try to return it to the nest.

If that's not possible, put the baby in a shoe box and cover it.
Get the bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Do not attempt to take care of it yourself.
After all, do you know what kind of bird it is?
Do you know what to feed it?

No matter what the "first aid for baby birds" books at the library say, you will kill baby birds if you offer them a diet of human baby foods, hamburger meat, tuna, bird seed, milk, hard boiled eggs, bread or water.

Answer 2

If the baby bird is feathered, it did not fall, it fledged (left the nest on its own). Baby birds fledge several days before they can fly. They need to hop around on the ground and climb low branches until their wings are strong enough for flight. The parent birds continue to feed and care for the fledglings until they are self sufficient. So if the baby bird has its feathers, but still can not fly, put it back where you found it so the parents can care for it.

If the baby bird does not have many feathers yet, if it is naked or mostly fuzz, then check it for injuries. If it appears uninjured, place it back in the nest. The parents will NOT kill it, reject it or abandon it if you touch it. That is one of the most persistent myths about birds, but it IS just a myth. Wildlife biologists and bird banders handle baby birds all the time, with their bare hands. The parent birds never kill/reject/abandon the babies once they are returned to the nests. You can see photos here: http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/p...

If you can not get the baby back in the nest (you can't find the nest, or it is too high), OR if the baby appears injured, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. You can find one here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact....

These people have the training and the resources to care for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. Most do this for free, and some, though not many, will make arrangements to pick the animal up from you if you absolutely have no means to get it to them.

Never attempt to care for a baby bird yourself. In the US, Canada, and many other countries, it is illegal to keep any native wild species unless you have the proper permits. More important, without the proper training, you can actually do more harm than good. And getting formulas and advice from the internet is a poor substitute for proper training.

If you find a baby bird that needs to be taken to a rehabilitator, keep it warm and quiet. Place it in a box lined with paper towels, not cloth, so it does not catch its nails. Do NOT attempt to give it any water. A baby bird can aspirate and die. Also, do not attempt to give it any food, unless you know for sure what type of bird it is, and then only if you have had the proper training and experience in hand feeding baby birds. If you do it improperly, you can kill the bird.

You need to get it to a rehabilitator as quickly as possible, as baby birds need to be fed every 1/2 hour to every several hours, depending on the species and age of the bird, and they can starve to death if you delay getting them the professional help they need.

Answer 3

Animal shelters are not eqiupped to nurse baby birds back to health. However, they can put you in touch with a wild animal/bird rescue organization, that will be able to save the little guy. Call and ask for a referral now. The little fella needs attention very soon or he will die. If the shelter says there are no such sanctuarys in your area, ask them what to do about it. If they are no help, start calling vets, somebody will know something. In the meantime try to keep the bird warm and dry, that's all you should really do until you get some advice. Untrained people are rarely successful at raising baby birds. If you want to try, call a vet who will tell you exactly what to do to ensure his survival. I'm guessing you could feed it watered down baby food with an eye dropper, but I really don't know. I'm pretty sure keeping it warm is vital. Get some professional advice, please. Best of luck to you both!

Answer 4

Either adopt it, which means you need to run to your local petshop & pick up some baby bird formula & a small bird feeding syringe, mix the formula & follow the directions making sure its not too hot, then you wrap little bird it a towel, gently using the small bird-feeding syringe or small eye dropper. The introduction of an eye dropper or syringe into the mouth is relatively easy, as the baby birds will be eager to be fed and will be gaping (opening the beak wide in order to receive the feeding). Occasionally, a bird may not gape, and gentle tapping of the beak with the feeding device will encourage the bird to open its beak. The device should be carefully passed into the left side toward the right side of the mouth.
Administration of the Instant Nutri-Start should be synchronized with swallowing. Birds swallow with an unusual rhythmic bobbing of the head up and down. While the bird is swallowing, the Instant Nutri-Start is delivered quickly. With practice, a "feet" for the procedure develops, and, done efficiently, the filling of the crop can be accomplished in a surprisingly short time.
The volume of food given is of critical importance. overfilling of the crop could lead to backflow up the esophagus, into the throat, and down the windpipe, which could cause death. Underfilling the crop might result in starvation.
See this link; http://www.lafeber.com/Products/feeding_instructions.asp
These are excellent intructions on how to feed the baby, if you cannot take good care of the bird, try to find an orginization or person that can. Good luck!

Answer 5

In most cases the mother or one of the parents will retrieve the fledgling. If however the creature is in mortal danger from cats etc., then it may be prudent to nurse the bird to health until it is able to fly again. Alternatively take it to your nearest wildlife organisation where a santuctuary may take it in.

love and light


Martin

Answer 6

Look up the MO wildlife people on the Internet - department of natural resources.

Be careful about picking up baby birds - there are laws about keeping songbirds that can make life difficult. You may need a special permit to keep it - even though it's just a baby.

Answer 7

I have raised orphaned birds on cat food at a vets suggestion. sounds strange but it resembles the protein in the bugs the parents eat. you have to do it with an eye dropper, takes some time. (couple minutes several times a day) Keep it warm and once in awhile let it exercise outside. Eventually it will just fly away from you.

Resist the urge to make it a pet, without being a domesticated variety it will be miserable in a cage.

Answer 8

Now that you've touched the bird, it's mother will reject it because it smells like you. But don't feel bad, the mother would not have taken it in anyhow, once it's out of the nest, it's out. Call animal control, they should know of a wildlife or bird sanctuary where you can drop the bird off. They may even come pick it up from you.

Answer 9

Here is what you should do:

1). Yes, put it in a box but don't cover him up with a lid. Then, put a lamp that is at least 4 feet away from the box.

2). Use a clean eye dropper and feed him some water. Keep doing this every hour.

3). Go online and google search, "bird breeding." here, they can tell you what to feed the bird and at what age!

I hope that this helps! If you have any questions, you can email me at: [e-mail]! I will keep checking my emails to see if you have emailed me! Thanks, and GOOD LUCK!

Answer 10

Call a local vet, they will know where to take it. Until then keep in warm. Do not put it back as most birds will not touch their young or even return to their nest if it smells like a predator (ie you).