Post by Icarus on Mar 24, 2008 9:38:14 GMT -5
Helping Orphaned Wild Birds
By: Diane Scarazzini
Taken from: Country Wisdom and Know How
If unavoidable circumstances create a delay in getting an abandoned bird to your local wildlife rehabilitator, you’ll need to know some baby-bird fundamentals to keep the nestling alive. Of utmost importance are feeding the orphan and keeping him warm.
Lacking feathers, nestlings are highly vulnerable and can easily die if chilled. Furthermore, they won’t eat if they’re cold, which is an equally high priority. (Their normal body temperature ranges from 104-108 degrees, Fahrenheit, or 40-42 Celsius, but since you won’t be taking their temperature, you have to make an educated guess.)
Never put a wild bird in a cage because he can do much damage to his beak and wings. Again, the best temporary housing is a plastic berry basket. For nesting material, don’t use cloth or cotton (which can snag on the bird’s toenails) or shredded paper (which can entangle them) as the top layer. Instead, use these materials as the bottom layer, shaped into a supportive cup, and cover them with facial tissues or paper towels. Keep the nest in a very warm, quiet, darkened spot away from any drafts. Never place the baby bird in direct sunlight, where he can quickly become overheated and, unable to move from the nest, die.
Because very young nestlings can’t regulate their body temperature yet, a supplemental heat source should be provided. Room temperature is not sufficient unless the bird is almost fully feathered. A covered hot-water bottle or a small plastic shampoo-type bottle filled with warm water and placed beside the berry box will do, but these will soon cool off and need refilling with warm water. A heating pad on its lowest setting and placed underneath half of the box (so that the nestling can move off it and won’t become overheated) may be best, because the temperature will remain constant.
The “nest” should be kept clean and dry at all times. Birds usually defecate after eating, so remove the soiled tissues and replace them with clean ones after each feeding.
Emergency Feeding of Orphaned Nestlings
A baby bird’s diet must be balanced, easily digestible, and high in protein; it must also provide nutrients for growth, such as calcium for bone development-especially important because birds grow fast.
Never give a baby bird water. He can easily inhale it into his lungs, which will be fatal. He will receive the water he needs through his food.
Identify Your Bird: It’s important to try to identify the species of baby nestling so that you can provide the proper nourishment. Lacking specific nutrients for any length of time can interfere with proper growth and development and cause other physical problems-even death. A bird identification book can be most helpful with older birds. Or maybe you know someone who is familiar with birds. Note the bird’s characteristics, including size, shape, and color of the beak, feathers, legs, feet, or any markings. It’s difficult to distinguish among species when nestlings are very young, but the temporary emergency diet provided here-Emergency Baby Bird Rations, below- is usually sufficient until you can transfer the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator and make a positive identification.
Emergency Baby Bird Rations:
This temporary diet will provide sufficient nutrition until you can get the baby bird to a wildlife rehabilitator. You can also purchase commercial nestling diets from feed stores or garden centers. Always read the directions that come with these feeds carefully, and prepare them accordingly.
½ cup (120 ml) canned ground dog food, very lean ground beef, or softened kibble
1 crumbled hard-boiled egg yolk
2 Tablespoon (30 ml) high protein baby cereal
1. Combine the canned ground dog food, crumbled hard-boiled egg, and baby cereal.
2. Mix in a small amount of water until the gruel is the consistency of oatmeal. For older birds, (fledglings), the consistency can be firmer, like that of canned dog food.
Keep the mixture refrigerated and discard after one day. You can also add to the mixture 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of applesauce (for its nutritive value) or 1 teaspoon of bonemeal (a good source of calcium).
The Feeding Regimen
Taking care of a baby bird is an enormous commitment of both time and responsibility. Nestlings must be fed from around seven o’clock in the morning until seven in the evening (basically dawn until dusk). Roughly every 15 minutes. This feeding schedule must be strictly adhered to in order to provide nestlings with adequate nutrition. They can become severely weak after just one skipped feeding; indeed, an erratic feeding schedule can be fatal. So until you find a wildlife rehabilitator, you must feed your nestling on schedule.
Use the following chart as a guide for the frequency of feedings:
Hatchlings to approx. 4 days Every 15 to 20 minutes
4-10 days old Every 30 minutes
10-14 days old Every 45 minutes to 1 hour
14 days-fledgling Every 2 hours
How To Feed A Nestling:
A young bird will usually raise its head and open its gape (beak) as soon as you tap the side of the nesting box, or even as soon as he hears you coming. Eating is the one thing that nestlings usually have no trouble doing. Your job is to make sure they can do so easily and regularly.
Never use tweezers or anything metal or sharp as a feeding tool. Some items that make handy feeding utensils are:
The tip of an eyedropper
A medicine dropper
A cotton swab with the cotton removed
The eraser end of a pencil
A straw cut on a slant
The tip of your pinkie
When the bird gapes (opens his beak), insert a tiny portion of food down into his throat. (You can use one of the utensils suggested above.) Don’t push the food in too far, and give only a small amount at a time or the nestling may choke. If the bird doesn’t gape, gently pick him up, open the back corner of his beak, and insert the food. Never open a bird’s beak at the tip.
Make sure that the nestling is swallowing the food. If he’s not swallowing, he may be cold-try to warm him up. As much as possible, feed the baby bird without touching him so that he won’t begin to imprint upon you. Continue each feeding until the bird is no longer interested or refuses any more food.
Feeding Tips:
Always prepare the food under sanitary conditions. Make a fresh batch of food each day and keep it refrigerated.
If a feeding is missed, it can’t be compensated for-Don’t double the next feeding.
Lactobacillus is a beneficial organism found in intestinal tracts to keep digestion healthy, and it can be helpful for nestlings. You can purchase Lactobacillus in health food stores. Add about ½ teaspoon to 1 cup (235 ml) of the mixed bird food.
By: Diane Scarazzini
Taken from: Country Wisdom and Know How
If unavoidable circumstances create a delay in getting an abandoned bird to your local wildlife rehabilitator, you’ll need to know some baby-bird fundamentals to keep the nestling alive. Of utmost importance are feeding the orphan and keeping him warm.
Lacking feathers, nestlings are highly vulnerable and can easily die if chilled. Furthermore, they won’t eat if they’re cold, which is an equally high priority. (Their normal body temperature ranges from 104-108 degrees, Fahrenheit, or 40-42 Celsius, but since you won’t be taking their temperature, you have to make an educated guess.)
Never put a wild bird in a cage because he can do much damage to his beak and wings. Again, the best temporary housing is a plastic berry basket. For nesting material, don’t use cloth or cotton (which can snag on the bird’s toenails) or shredded paper (which can entangle them) as the top layer. Instead, use these materials as the bottom layer, shaped into a supportive cup, and cover them with facial tissues or paper towels. Keep the nest in a very warm, quiet, darkened spot away from any drafts. Never place the baby bird in direct sunlight, where he can quickly become overheated and, unable to move from the nest, die.
Because very young nestlings can’t regulate their body temperature yet, a supplemental heat source should be provided. Room temperature is not sufficient unless the bird is almost fully feathered. A covered hot-water bottle or a small plastic shampoo-type bottle filled with warm water and placed beside the berry box will do, but these will soon cool off and need refilling with warm water. A heating pad on its lowest setting and placed underneath half of the box (so that the nestling can move off it and won’t become overheated) may be best, because the temperature will remain constant.
The “nest” should be kept clean and dry at all times. Birds usually defecate after eating, so remove the soiled tissues and replace them with clean ones after each feeding.
Emergency Feeding of Orphaned Nestlings
A baby bird’s diet must be balanced, easily digestible, and high in protein; it must also provide nutrients for growth, such as calcium for bone development-especially important because birds grow fast.
Never give a baby bird water. He can easily inhale it into his lungs, which will be fatal. He will receive the water he needs through his food.
Identify Your Bird: It’s important to try to identify the species of baby nestling so that you can provide the proper nourishment. Lacking specific nutrients for any length of time can interfere with proper growth and development and cause other physical problems-even death. A bird identification book can be most helpful with older birds. Or maybe you know someone who is familiar with birds. Note the bird’s characteristics, including size, shape, and color of the beak, feathers, legs, feet, or any markings. It’s difficult to distinguish among species when nestlings are very young, but the temporary emergency diet provided here-Emergency Baby Bird Rations, below- is usually sufficient until you can transfer the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator and make a positive identification.
Emergency Baby Bird Rations:
This temporary diet will provide sufficient nutrition until you can get the baby bird to a wildlife rehabilitator. You can also purchase commercial nestling diets from feed stores or garden centers. Always read the directions that come with these feeds carefully, and prepare them accordingly.
½ cup (120 ml) canned ground dog food, very lean ground beef, or softened kibble
1 crumbled hard-boiled egg yolk
2 Tablespoon (30 ml) high protein baby cereal
1. Combine the canned ground dog food, crumbled hard-boiled egg, and baby cereal.
2. Mix in a small amount of water until the gruel is the consistency of oatmeal. For older birds, (fledglings), the consistency can be firmer, like that of canned dog food.
Keep the mixture refrigerated and discard after one day. You can also add to the mixture 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of applesauce (for its nutritive value) or 1 teaspoon of bonemeal (a good source of calcium).
The Feeding Regimen
Taking care of a baby bird is an enormous commitment of both time and responsibility. Nestlings must be fed from around seven o’clock in the morning until seven in the evening (basically dawn until dusk). Roughly every 15 minutes. This feeding schedule must be strictly adhered to in order to provide nestlings with adequate nutrition. They can become severely weak after just one skipped feeding; indeed, an erratic feeding schedule can be fatal. So until you find a wildlife rehabilitator, you must feed your nestling on schedule.
Use the following chart as a guide for the frequency of feedings:
Hatchlings to approx. 4 days Every 15 to 20 minutes
4-10 days old Every 30 minutes
10-14 days old Every 45 minutes to 1 hour
14 days-fledgling Every 2 hours
How To Feed A Nestling:
A young bird will usually raise its head and open its gape (beak) as soon as you tap the side of the nesting box, or even as soon as he hears you coming. Eating is the one thing that nestlings usually have no trouble doing. Your job is to make sure they can do so easily and regularly.
Never use tweezers or anything metal or sharp as a feeding tool. Some items that make handy feeding utensils are:
The tip of an eyedropper
A medicine dropper
A cotton swab with the cotton removed
The eraser end of a pencil
A straw cut on a slant
The tip of your pinkie
When the bird gapes (opens his beak), insert a tiny portion of food down into his throat. (You can use one of the utensils suggested above.) Don’t push the food in too far, and give only a small amount at a time or the nestling may choke. If the bird doesn’t gape, gently pick him up, open the back corner of his beak, and insert the food. Never open a bird’s beak at the tip.
Make sure that the nestling is swallowing the food. If he’s not swallowing, he may be cold-try to warm him up. As much as possible, feed the baby bird without touching him so that he won’t begin to imprint upon you. Continue each feeding until the bird is no longer interested or refuses any more food.
Feeding Tips:
Always prepare the food under sanitary conditions. Make a fresh batch of food each day and keep it refrigerated.
If a feeding is missed, it can’t be compensated for-Don’t double the next feeding.
Lactobacillus is a beneficial organism found in intestinal tracts to keep digestion healthy, and it can be helpful for nestlings. You can purchase Lactobacillus in health food stores. Add about ½ teaspoon to 1 cup (235 ml) of the mixed bird food.