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Urgent -- baby bird rescued, how to feed him?

38 replies

shockthemonkey · 10/05/2018 16:16

Does anyone know how best to feed this little chap until tomorrow when he's hopefully going to a sanctuary?

He was saved from the clutches of a magpie. We cannot find any worms and have tried shoving ants down his mouth but they keep getting stuck in his beak. A friend advised giving egg yolk and we are now a bit worried that we may have drowned him.

Cannot return him to mum as the magpie is still there and there's also the issue of the cat in the garden!

I will try to attach a picture

Urgent -- baby bird rescued, how to feed him?
OP posts:
Aprilmightbemynewname · 10/05/2018 16:17

You need to chew up a worm and spit into it's mouth...
Envynot envy.

tradervictoria · 10/05/2018 16:17

Get on the phone to a bird sanctuary asap.

SadTrombone · 10/05/2018 16:17

Mealworms - try your local garden centre

HarrietKettleWasHere · 10/05/2018 16:18

Dog food, on the end of a thin straw, water on the end of a little (like child paint-set sized) paintbrush.

Good luck. They a often v difficult to kelp sadly.

Mulberry72 · 10/05/2018 16:19

Aww bless him!

We rescued a little bird from our cat and we phoned the bird sanctuary near us, and they recommended soaking our dry cat food pellets in water until they were soggy and then dropping them into his open mouth from above. Not sure what they advise if you’ve no cat food though.

PickwickThePlockingDodo · 10/05/2018 16:19

Is it your cat? Can't you get the cat in and scare away the magpie? Mummy bird will still feed it, if you put it up high somewhere safe.

xyzandabc · 10/05/2018 16:19

If he's going to a sanctuary tomorrow, phone them now and ask for advice.

MeMyShelfandIkea · 10/05/2018 16:20

Scrambled egg (it's what the RSPB told me when I phoned for advice for the same thing)

HarrietKettleWasHere · 10/05/2018 16:21

If you have an old bird cage or can get one, it's might be worth suspending it in a tree, high up, the parents will feed. We did it once. Mum and three babies died, one baby left, Dad came back and was Shock but did feed the one remaining baby and it fledged fine.

Shedmicehugh1 · 10/05/2018 16:22

www.wildlifeincrisis.com/guidelines/index.htm

Might help

greathat · 10/05/2018 16:23

I tied a cardboard box in a tree and put a baby bird in it with a similar situation. The parents came back to if

shockthemonkey · 10/05/2018 16:25

Thanks very much. We have dug for England and not found any worms.

Vets and bird sanctuaries are closed here as it's a public Holiday -- we are taking it to a sanctuary tomorrow if it survives the night.

The cat is not mine.

Thanks for the idea about the straw, paintbrush and cat/dog food. Have begun soaking cat feed already.

He's really not looking well, his breathing is very rapid and he seems to be almost gasping for breath. I am terribly worried that the egg yolk idea was not great as I tried to syringe a tiny bit into his mouth and reckon too much went in and may have got into his lungs.

We tried leaving him for mummy but there are so many magpies and cats that scaring them away is a full-time job and requires us to be so near the baby that mum won't come near. We cannot find his nest and he is too small to get back in by himself even if mum could get close enough to him to help.

Very sad.

Thanks everyone

OP posts:
WelcomeToGilead · 10/05/2018 16:27

You can get water into him through a medicine stopper, or s pipette.

Keep him warm.

I had to do this many times growing up and they nearly always died of fright Flowers

Shedmicehugh1 · 10/05/2018 16:28

Have a look at the link above, he might be cold

Aprilmightbemynewname · 10/05/2018 16:30

Can you not tuck him down your top?

Shedmicehugh1 · 10/05/2018 16:35

He has feathers, so not too young. He could survive. I had chicks from a day old and they needed a heat lamp 24/7 until they were a few months olds and feathers had developed properly.

Don’t suppose you have a heat lamp laying around? Smile

LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/05/2018 16:38

I do hope you manage and he doesn't die, but - sorry, this sounds very hard-hearted - why on earth was he saved?

Magpies eat baby birds. That's what they do. It is horrible to see and upsetting, I know. But a baby bird that has been grabbed by a magpie doesn't have a brilliant chance of survival, and it will be in pain and scared. I'm not sure that surviving for a few hours or days then dying is actually a better way to go.

ohhereweareagain · 10/05/2018 16:39

Pour some warm soapy water on the grass. From memory I think the worms will appear..

shockthemonkey · 10/05/2018 16:55

Cool idea re the soapy water.

He has been on a hot water bottle which revived him really well. If I understand PP we may need to put him back on it to ensure he stays warm?

So far he's been eating the suggested concoctions quite well, so thanks for the tips.

Thanks everyone for helping out. Will update you if there are any developments!

OP posts:
Shedmicehugh1 · 10/05/2018 16:58

From wildlife link above, it seems to depend on the age of the bird.

FIRST MAKE SURE THE BABY BIRD(S) IN QUESTION ARE TRULY ORPHANS: It is a myth that if you touch a baby bird its parents will reject it. Birds have a very limited sense of smell and will continue to feed a baby bird that is placed back it its nest by a human. If you cannot reach the nest, you can place the baby bird in a woven basket and hang it securely on a nearby branch. Be sure to prop the bird up a bit with leaves or grass so that the parents can reach it. Parents will continue to feed their baby if given the chance. Many baby birds learn to fly from the ground up. A fully feathered baby bird is considered a fledgling and many parent birds continue to care for their babies after they jump out of the nest. It is important to keep pets indoors during this period.

WHEN YOU FIRST RECEIVE AN ORPHANED BABY BIRD, MAKE SURE IT IS WARM: Tiny newborns without feathers do best with a heat lamp with a 40 watt bulb at least 12 inches away from birds and should be placed above an aquarium. The newborns should be placed in a small basket, margarine container, or bowl with toilet paper to prop them up a bit so that they can defecate over the edge of their makeshift nest. Place the "nest" inside an aquarium to simulate an incubator.

ALTRICIAL BABY BIRDS (THOSE WHO DEPEND ON THEIR PARENTS TO BRING THEM FOOD) NEED TO BE FED EVERY HALF-HOUR: Birds feed their babies constantly throughout the day. Anyone who has raised a baby bird can appreciate the diligence of parent birds. Never feed milk to a baby bird! For most baby birds a mixture of mynah bird pellets or dry dog food soaked in hot water, with a bit of baby food, turkey, and cooked egg yolk and a bit of water (until it is the consistency of oatmeal) will provide them with adequate nourishment. When fed this mixture baby birds will not need additional water, except maybe a few drops to rehydrate them when they first arrive. A popsicle stick or straw will work well as a feeding implement. Be sure not to over-feed baby birds, feed only until their crop on the side of heir neck appears full. Most birds, including fruit-eating birds, feed their babies insects to fuel their rapid growth. Baby birds will sleep through the night and do not need to be fed, but they should be fed before you go to bed and as soon as you wake each morning.

CARING FOR FLEDGLING BIRDS: As their eyes open and their feathers begin to emerge food should also be placed in cage to try to get them to eat on their own as soon as possible. Natural foods should be introduced as soon as birds are fledglings. Once eyes are open and the baby is fully feathered it is considered a fledgling. It will now need to be placed in a larger area with a perch. Two laundry baskets placed over one another work well.
Branches can be placed through holes for perches. Newspaper can line bottom. Don't use towels with birds since their claws can get caught in the loops. Once birds are eating on their own they should be placed outside in a cage that allows them to fly and is protected from predators.

CARING FOR PRECOCIAL (BIRDS WHO FOLLOW THEIR PARENTS AND FEED ON THEIR OWN) BIRDS: Baby ducks geese, swans, turkeys, grouse and pheasants fall into this category. A heat lamp should also be used for these birds when they are very young. A large cardboard box with high sides works well. Chick starter or turkey starter works well for these birds. It can be found at Agway and other feed stores. An upside down Mason jar on a plate with a slightly curved edge will provide adequate water for newborns. Water birds should not be allowed to swim until their downy feathers are replaced with adult feathers. These birds imprint very quickly. It is important that they not identify you as their mother and that they be raised with others of their own species!

MeadowGrass · 10/05/2018 17:05

Phone Tiggywinkles at Haddenham (they are excellent and will help)

MeadowGrass · 10/05/2018 17:07

Their 24 emergency hotline is 01844 292292

WeWere0nABreak · 10/05/2018 17:25

He looks like a baby starling.

Magpies are fucking bastards, a big flock of them decimated the songbird population in our garden one summer Angry

shockthemonkey · 10/05/2018 19:01

Thanks again everyone.

That link is great and we have been getting him to eat and I think he's now comfortable, and asking for food every 20 mins or so. Having naps in between feeds.

I'm just hoping he lasts until tomorrow. His breathing still seems a little frantic.

Thanks meadowgrass, will call Tiggywinkles too.

OP posts:
Shedmicehugh1 · 10/05/2018 19:11

He is probably scared stiff, bless and maybe even some injuries from his attack.

If you can get him some expert help now from the number provided by meadow better still!

If not good on you for trying to help!

I think a small container might help during the night, baby birds can roll and suffocate when out of the nest and not having mum and siblings etc (says the expert ‘bird saver’ from the age of about 6!Grin I can’t help myself either!)

Vets were sick of me and my ‘rescues’ when younger!! Grin