Serious question I really need to ask...

[ShanCarl1971]

Sometimes I think they get pushed out because there isn't enough room for everyone ....... survival of the fittest ....... if it is feathered out, maybe they are pushing them out to encourage flight?????? I've always heard people say that they won't accept them back if they smell human scent on them, but birds don't have much of a sense of smell. You could nail a box of some sort to the tree near the nest to put the baby in and see if mama feeds it. If not, they aren't difficult to take care of.

 

[annageckos]

Lots of birds push their young out before they learn to fly, but they still take care of them. I don't know if this is the case with your bird, really depends on how old/big it is. Find a rehabber, you chicken will not be able to raise it. In the mean time keep it warm, and do not try to give it seed, milk, bread or water. Insects are what it will eat. Soaked/softened cat food or canned cat food are ok in limited quantities. Keep in mind it may have something wrong with it if the mother pushed it from the nest too early.

 

[Fritatta]

feed him some live mealworms. from a pet store. and offer water. maybe hes had a good enough start with mama and you can finish it off-

 

[annageckos]

Quote:
I would skip the mealworms. They have a hard shell (it is hard for most animals to digest) and they are not very nutritious. Crickets (I pull off the large jumping legs) or waxworms would be a better choice. Get smaller crickets and they will not chirp. You can also get canned insects.

Also, I wouldn't give water. You can put a small bowl/cup of water for it. But their parents do not give water to the young and it can choke/drown them. They get all the moisture they need from their food.

 

[Terri.P.907]

check out your local pet stores, especially if they have exotic birds. You should be able to find something compatible with swallows.

 

[lroth217]

I have spent HOURS taking care of baby birds that people have found. Some make it, some don't. Sometimes there is an unseen birth defect that the mama bird can sense and therefore will sacrifice the baby (push it out) so it doesn't consume food that could be eaten by the healthier babies. Sometime they just get accidentally pushed out.

My advice is this: DO NOT PUT THE BABY IN WITH YOUR CHICKENS FOR BIOSECURITY REASONS. That baby might infect your flock and it could be a disaster.

Then, if the baby is still alive as of today, start by getting a medium to small bird cage and putting paper towel on the bottom for the first week. You need to monitor it's poop. Not just what it looks like but also "how" the baby does it. Also have an eyedropper and try giving it just water or if you have poultry electrolytes that is better, or just water down some Pedialyte. These products should only be used for max 12 hours just til you can get to the store. What would be better yet, and you can use for a little longer if you have it is Gro-gel Plus (more watery than the directions just for ease of squirting it out of the eyedropper) and drop a little at a time just inside the birds beak. DO NOT STICK THE DROPPER FAR INTO IT'S BEAK. If it is healthy it will suck it down itself.

There are so many precautions and other details on doing this but the most important thing is give a little at a time and don't force it.

As Soon As Possible get some "Exact" hand feeding formula for all baby birds by Kaytee. I believe most large pet stores carry it.

Whatever you have started with, water, electrolytes, Pedialyte, or Gro-gel, be sure that you start the first half dozen or more uses of Kaytee by mixing this with it. The baby should "squat back" and then poo every time after it is fed, you can always offer more food after this, but generally they may not take it. Some are pigs and do though. Watch the crop. Don't feed the baby if the crop is still full. No exact timing on feeding, when they are fuzzy it can be every hour but sometimes they can go for a few hours and still be fine.

The age of the bird is key. If it has all fuzz it will have to be watery, some feathers and fuzz you will have to make this a little thicker, no fuzz at all then more thick. If it survives past a week and you start to see tail feathers, add more protein. First I start with tropical fish food flakes mixed in with the Exact and then after a week or two graduate to frozen brine shrimp again - MIXED INTO THE EXACT and administered with the eyedropper. Plastic eyedroppers are best because there is no chance of breakage and if the food gets too thick you can cut the tapered end off.

If you get past this point, 2 -3 weeks, email or pm me and I will be happy to help you through the process until release.

If you do fine on your own, a word of caution, if they start practicing to fly in your house but are not ready for release, COVER WINDOWS, MIRRORS OR ANYTHING LARGE AND REFLECTIVE AND PLEASE TURN OFF ANY CEILING FANS!!!

Wild baby birds are so much more work and more involved than baby chicks!!!!

And PLEASE don't handle the baby and then go handle the chickens or vice-versa, without washing hands and changing clothes, and don't keep them in the same area. If baby is in the house, and you have the air conditioner on, move the cage to the warmest room in your house and keep the cage covered when not feeding it. Don't over-handle him and check for drafts. (Light a candle or match, move it very very slowly around the cage and see if the flame flickers at any point.)

Please be aware though there is no "for sure" in this. I AM NO EXPERT, I JUST DO IT. I have had babies die in the first 12, 24, 72 hours and even after 2 weeks and another 1 day before release and with the exception of one that had no tail feathers and had been mauled by a cat, I felt they all were doing well and thriving just before they died.

I have had several fly off into their rightful lives as wild birds too. I only started doing this because my kids would find them and bring them home and no one I contacted could or would help. If you are successful then for, well eternity, you will have people bring you the baby birds they find and then THEY will be crushed it it doesn't make it.

Now I have gone on way too long and it is time to feed the baby Robin my son found yesterday.

I actually began this "rescue" adventure with abandoned kittens. One year it was a baby deer, but that is for another forum . . . .

 

[leadwolf1]

Wow...great advice and very thorough...wish you had been around when I was raising the baby robins that were blown out of trees during a severe storm! We didn't even know what tree they had come from...nests and all were blown out. I managed to release both back into the wild...what a great experience

The baltimore oriel babies? We found a bird rehab for those...but, we kept them for 24 hours until we could find someone to take them


Good luck with your baby!! It can be done

 

[Attila the Hen]

I'll add my 2 cents. There are certain breeds such as the Bluejay that feeds and weens its young on the ground. These birds do not need saving. The other day I saw a baby robin on the sidewalk. I considered it and then saw mom nearby and backed off. I hope everyone else did too.
The problem with cats is that they can inflict mortal wounds with their teeth and claws that we can't see. The little bird or mammal gets an infection. I try to take any wild animal to a rehabber who will usually have anitbiotics.
My most recent critter was a baby rabbit the cat brought home. when is was clear that it would not take food or liquds from me, I released it on the advise of a rehabber.
We mean weel and it makes me feel so much better about humans when they care but often we need to leave nature alone.
Just my experience.
I've rescued (sucessfully) a number of pidgeons that got knocked senseless by a car. On two occassions both wild birds came and sat on my lap of their own volition. I think it was a thank you.

 

[lroth217]

Here is the little guy. Not a great picture but I was trying not to stress him out any more so I was standing way back and used zoom. At least I think he's a robin. Not really sure if it is a "he" or not either.



It's only been 26 hours since my son brought him in and I have NO intention of keeping him as a pet. That does not mean by any stretch of imagination that he has not stolen my heart already though!! So much for not getting attached.

I do agree with Attila the Hen, unless the creature looks to be in danger of attack or death, we should leave them alone. Once you touch it, you've committed to caring for it and it is a commitment so it's better to leave it be. My son only brought me this little guy because the neighbor's dog was lurking within feet of him and he didn't want to watch the carnage.

 

[Beekissed]

Sometimes it isn't the mom pushing out the nestling....sometimes it's a cowbird chick pushing out the parent bird's chicks. I'd place it somewhere near the nest and see if mom takes care of it anyway. If she doesn't, it just wasn't meant to be.