Most people forget that newborn birds are actually wild animals. The best solution in the case of wild animals is to leave them where they are, especially since it is illegal to keep them indoors. If you can't help but get them because they need care, this article will give you all the information you need to care for them at home. better.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Deciding if the Bird Needs Help
Step 1. Put on gloves
If you plan to touch the little bird, use gloves. Birds, even if small, may try to peck you.
Step 2. Check the plumage
If the bird has feathers it means that it is very young, if it does not, it means that it has just been born.
Step 3. Don't touch the young birds
Chicks have good reasons for being outside the nest. If the bird has full plumage, it will probably be learning to fly and must therefore stay outside the nest. Parents will continue to feed him from the ground as well.
Step 4. Return the newborn birds to the nest
Feathered birds need help most. If you find one, you can put it back in the nest, which should be nearby. If you can't find any nests, the little one will need help.
- Try to hear the call of the siblings. When the parents return with food, you should find the nest simply by following the calls emitted by the hungry chicks.
- To pick up the newborn bird, approach it with one hand on the head and behind, and the other under the belly and legs. Do not be afraid that the mother may refuse it because you touched it: it will promptly take it back to its nest.
- Warm the baby by holding it in your hands until it feels warm to the touch.
Step 5. Check out the other birds
If you find the nest and all the other birds are dead, you can safely conclude that the nest has been abandoned and you will need to take care of the survivor.
Step 6. If you are unsure, take the finger test
If you can't tell if it's a small bird or a newborn bird, try putting it on one finger. If it can hang on, it's probably a young bird.
Step 7. Keep an eye on the nest
If you are worried about leaving the bird alone, you can check that the parents return by keeping an eye on the nest for the next two hours. In any case, make sure you stay at a safe distance, because if you are too close the parents may not return.
Step 8. Make a makeshift nest
The nest may have been destroyed by a storm, a predator, or people. If you can't find it, create one yourself. You can use a small plastic container lined with soft material, such as a washcloth, small towel, or blanket.
Place the nest in a shady place near the point where you found the bird. You can attach it to a tree. Place the bird inside the newly built nest, making sure that the legs are under the body
Step 9. Wash your hands
Always wash your hands after touching a bird. Birds can carry diseases, so it is advisable to wash your hands well.
Part 2 of 3: Knowing When to Ask for Help
Step 1. Check for parents
If the bird's parents do not return to the nest within a couple of hours, or if you are sure they are no longer alive, you will need to ask for help.
Step 2. Look for any injuries
If the little bird struggles to move or flap its wings, it is likely injured. Also, if he is shaking, he may be having problems. Again it is best to ask for help.
Step 3. Don't try to breed it
Breeding or keeping wild birds is illegal. To do this, you need to have special permissions.
Step 4. Call a wildlife rehabilitation expert
These specialists know how to take care of small birds. You can find contact details on the websites of specialized bodies or at a veterinarian or animal shelters.
Ask for advice on how to feed, water and keep the little one warm, asking the expert any questions you think can help you care for the little one
Part 3 of 3: Identifying and Feeding the Bird
Step 1. Assess the risks
Remember that in catching a bird you are committing an illegal act. Furthermore, you may not have the necessary experience to feed it properly, which could lead to its death. Caring for a small bird is not easy, as it needs to be fed roughly every 20 minutes. Finally, you do not have the opportunity to teach the little one what his parents would teach him, which is how to get food or save himself from predators.
The small bird could also get so used to the presence of humans that it puts itself in danger, for example by not escaping from their sight, or always expecting them to give it food
Step 2. Identify the type of bird
You may recognize the species by consulting one of the many online guides.
Identification is easier if you take a look at the parents. If these are around, you should let them take care of the little one: their instincts are very strong and they know what to do
Step 3. Identify the food source
What the baby eats depends on what the parents eat. For example, red cardinals eat seeds, while crows eat everything from nuts to berries, but also insects and small rodents.
Step 4. For omnivores, use cat or dog food
Many wild birds are omnivores, and when young they are fed by their parents mainly with insects. This means that a high-protein diet, such as cat and dog food, is appropriate for this type of bird.
- If you're using kibble, soak them in water first. Leave them to soak for at least an hour. Before feeding the bird, make sure the food is not soaked, because the water could end up in the lungs and lead to death. Food should be spongy but not soggy.
- Make a ball. Form a ball of food, about the size of a pea. Drop the food into the baby's mouth. A stick could facilitate the operation. You could also cut the end of a straw, forming a small spoon. The bird should eat immediately. In the case of dog and cat food, if the kibbles are too large, break them into smaller pieces. Basically, each bite should be the size of a pea.
Step 5. Use powdered seeds for herbivores
If the baby is a herbivore, use the powdered seeds that you can find at the pet store. Specialty stores often sell powdered parrot seeds.
Use a syringe to push food past the glottis. The glottis surrounds the trachea. You will see a small hole inside the mouth or behind the throat, where the trachea opens. You will need to prevent food or water from ending up in the trachea. Then make sure that the tip of the syringe reaches beyond the glottis
Step 6. Feed the baby until he is full
Birds eat as long as they have an appetite. If they don't show enthusiasm, they are likely full.
Step 7. Don't give him water
If the food is sufficiently soaked, the bird should not need water, at least as long as it is featherless. Giving him a drink could cause more damage than food: the bird could suck in the water and die.
If at the time of finding the bird appears dehydrated, you could use Gatorade or similar supplements. Put a drop on the beak with your finger, allowing the baby to suck some liquid. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth and red skin. Also, the skin on the back of the neck does not immediately come back when lifted with a pinch
Step 8. Feed him every 20 minutes
Small birds need to eat frequently to keep their energy levels high. However, there is no need to get up at night to feed them.
Step 9. Touch the little one as little as possible
To ensure that the bird can be released, it is advisable to avoid too frequent contact. Limit the interaction and do not treat him like a pet.
In fact, it is almost completely impossible to raise a baby bird without it having an imprint, especially if it is less than two weeks old
Step 10. Let him eat alone from the fourth week
At around 4 weeks of age, the baby should begin to feed on its own. However, it may take another month for this to happen. You will likely need to continue feeding them during this time, but leave a small bowl of food in the cage. At this point you can also leave him some water.
You will notice that over time the little one will be less and less interested in the mouthpiece
Step 11. Feed the bird until it has full plumage
You may have to wait weeks for the wings to fully develop, moving on to the next stage of growth. The little one will not be able to survive until he is able to fly. Only then can you try to free him.
- If you keep the bird until adulthood, you will need to switch to a feed for adults, different from the one used previously.
- Also, when the bird is able to jump out of the box, you can move it to a cage.
