Newborn Baby Robin All Alone!!

[JennsPeeps]

Someone else on the board had that same problem earlier this week. They set up hourly feedings all day.

Think like a mother robin - what would you find to feed the baby? Protein in the form of bugs is most likley.

Check this out: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/robin/FAQBabies.html

 

[Appytaz]

Any News from the Rehaber? we had a similar situation happen after a storm also. We found a total of 3 bluejays. I had walked past them 2x's going out to feed the horses, the dog however found them on her first pass by,.

We were told to give the cat food (dry soaked in water) with a tongue depressor or popcicle stick. We used the blunt end of a wooden skewer and it worked fine. Once we got them heated up and eating the first time, they would let you know when they were hungry and ate great off the stick.

I praise rehabers for being able to do it. The few hours we had these guys was enough for me to gladly turn them over

 

[Ugly Cowboy]

Try Zupreem (if thats how its spelled.) It's made for baby birds.

 

[horsejody]

Ok, I used to work wildlife rescue and specialized in song birds. First of all, if there are any robin nests in your area that has babies in it that look to be the same age, put the baby in the nest. If it looks like the babies they already have, they will take care of it. This is best for everyone. If you are unable to find robin parents for it, you will need to take care of it. First of all, keep it warm. A heating pad underneath a blanket works well. A temperature of around 87 - 92 works pretty well if there are no feathers. If you use a lightbulb, the baby risks a sunburn from it. If you use a brooder light, put the baby in a small tupperware or dish inside the brooder. Then you can put a paper towel or light cloth over the dish to protect the baby from the harsh light.

I have had the best luck feeding as follows:
Get some Q-tips with cardboard applicators and cut the fuzzy ends off. Get some meat based baby food (not the chunky kind) and one of the higher protein baby cereals. Mix some baby cereal, baby food and water until the consistency is such that you can put a blob on the end of the cardboard Q-tip stick. When the baby opens its mouth shove it right down into his crop. The little cardboard sticks are much safer than tweezers and they fit nicely down into the crop. If the baby is unresponsive or won't open his mouth, warm it up in your hands. I'll warn you - it will probably poop in your hands once it warms sufficiently.

I recently had two baby robins that came down with a tree limb. I hand fed them for 4 days before finding suitable adoptive parents. The best solution is to feed them until you can find a nest with baby robins of similar age. I have raised many birds, and have a bout a 90 percent success rate. The easy part is feeding them and watching them grow. The hard part is making sure they can care for themselves in the wild.

PM or e-mail me if you need help.

Good Luck
Jody

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Oh Gosh Jody Thanks SOOOOOO much, I was JUST sitting here comtemplating the small jars of chicken and turkey baby food I already buy for my sugar glider and he too eats high protien baby cereal!
I'll try this!
I did get him to eat a tiny bit of the soaked cat food.
No word from the rehabber yet

He has pooped 4 times since I've found him. I guess at least things are moving ok.

Two websites I've read has said that they would be fed by mom up to every 30 minutes until dark. Should I feed him in the middle of the night or not?

 

[horsejody]

He should not need to be fed in the middle of the night. Just keep it dark for him.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

He's doing really well so far.
I woke up once in the middle of the night to check on him and he was squeaking with his head flapping around, mouth wide open so I fed him then and he was good until later this morning. He's pooping regularly and I'm keeping him warm...

He's so darn cute, we've been calling him Stormy

What can I expect as he gets older and how old will he be when he's old enough for release?
I guess I'm going to need to teach him how to find bugs?

Wish me more luck guys!!!

PS- I'll post pics later

 

[arlee453]

You could always find live food for him once he gets feathered out and is about to fledge (fly) Crickets, worms, mealworms, etc. that way he'll know what food is.

The robin I raised many years ago decided he could fly and I knew then it was time for him to go. I released him into my back yard and I knew it was him because of the light colored breast feathers and the way he would come right up close to me. I watched him all the rest of that summer and he seemed to be doing just fine.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Good luck with the little guy...
I'd keep trying the rehab person...even though it's a busy time of year. Our wildlife place has tons and tons of baby birds.

 

[horsejody]

He will grow fast. When he feathers out and can walk around, take him outside to a safe area. Feed him bugs and worms in the grass. You will still be shoving things down his throat by the way. It is very difficult to teach them to be wild and pick up their own food. He will naturally become skittish of you over time, but you need to let him learn to pick up his own food. You will also have to show him how to drink. When I used to take in these youngsters, my best aid was my pet cockatiel (God rest his soul). The babies would mimic him drinking from a dish and picking up food. Right now your baby is getting all of his liquid from his food. He will have to learn to drink when he is a bit older. You might have to dip his beak and tap the water with your finger.

The babies best chance for a happy and healthy life is if you can deposit him in another robin's nest. I would also call the local wildlife rescue people. His chances may also improve with them because he might at least get adoptive siblings. Beleive it or not, it's easier to teach 2 or 3 than it is 1. Feeding is easy. Rehabbing is the hard part.