Robin Eggs!??

[Chick Chick McGee]

so I am currently incubating some chicken eggs and just today we found some robin eggs. I candled them and saw movement and would guess that they are close to hatching. What should I do?! I put them in the incubator with my chicken eggs to see what they will do. If any hatch how should I and what should I feed it? Do they need a heat lamp? Any diseases possible? Thanks!

 

[LynnaePB]

If they are close to hatching I would think you'd want to make sure they aren't being turned. I think your best bet is getting in touch with a wildlife rehabber. You should be able to search online for some that are in your area, if you can't find anything the local animal shelter might keep rehabbers numbers handy (the shelter I used to volunteer for did). A lot of rehabbers have raised lots of baby birds and will know how to take care of them well and prepare them to be released back in the wild when they get old enough.

If you can't find a rehabber there are guides on how to raise baby birds like robins, it is a lot of work though. They should be eating every 15-30 minutes throughout the day and you'll have to hand feed. I believe baby robins can have dog food that has been soaked and softened, I'd definitely try to get in touch with a rehabber though as they will know the best diet. You'll need to keep the babies warm when they hatch, I would think they might do alright in the incubator, they will be bald and not able to move themselves to regulate temperature like a baby chicken chick would.

 

[LynnaePB]

I found this site, it has quite a bit of information about care and diet for altricial baby birds like robins (ones that hatch in an underdeveloped state and require hand feeding). Robins are insectivores which that site covers. There is also a lot of info to get through that isn't directly applicable to you but it looks like it should answer all your questions aside from the incubating part.

https://www.2ndchance.info/insecteater.htm

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

My boys insisted on me raising a closed eyes baby sparrow that fell from its nest. I loathe sparrows but my boys were little so... I had to take the baby and its food everywhere we went, I mean everywhere. We went to a wedding, grocery store, church and baby bird was in the car. They do grow fast luckily, would I do it again "no way". Btw I fed it baby parrot formula from Amazon and wetted down dry cat food in a syringe. After they eat you have to massage the crop.

 

[Chick Chick McGee]

So 3 out of the 4 robin eggs hatched, the last egg is still alive and could hatch any day now. I was able to find a bird center that was willing to take the chicks and egg. It was a cool experience while it lasted but feeding those little mouths every 15-30 minutes is hard. Thanks for all the help!

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

So 3 out of the 4 robin eggs hatched, the last egg is still alive and could hatch any day now. I was able to find a bird center that was willing to take the chicks and egg. It was a cool experience while it lasted but feeding those little mouths every 15-30 minutes is hard. Thanks for all the help!

 

[LynnaePB]

That is great news, those babies are very lucky you were there to save them!

 

[MelissaRose]

Good job!
x2 they are lucky you saved them!