Will a broody hen raise a songbird fledgeling?

[JanetMarie]

Problem with broody hen behavior is they expect their chicks to eat off the ground themselves. Fledglings are mouth fed by their parents for a long time.

I would try to find a solution for your cat for a few days, and try to re-unite the fledgling with it's parent as the other members have described.

 

[Blue Tiger]

First a broody hen chicken is not appropriate for rearing a songbird of any type, including starlings. Secondly, most songbirds have the ability to fledge successfully even before flight capacity realized. In most instances, simply keeping predators off the fledglings is all that is needed to enable survival. The parents will feed the fledgling when they feel it is safe, assuming it is still in their territory. There are imprinting issues with songbirds just like with chickens and you can mess things up when separation too long in duration.

 

[Michellep224]

Just to remind everyone, there were 2 chicks, and then very quickly there was only 1. The chick wouldn't have made it another couple hours.
There's nothing I can do about the cat, unfortunately. I understand fledgeling behavior, and know that in normal circumstances that birds would be fine. I've seen many baby birds in my cat's mouth and dead on the back porch. They don't survive long
However, putting it under the broody was unsuccessful, so baby is back with Mommy catbird. Just hope the cat don't get it..

 

[chickens really]

You can't change the nature of animals and many don't survive with or without human interference.

 

[Chickassan]

I think i'd make kitty an outside pen in the near future for a whole lot of reasons.

 

[Blue Tiger]

What could be done is place such fledglings in a bird cage placed near trunk of densely leaved tree about 4' above the ground. The parents will often feed such a fledgling through the bars. After a couple of days release fledging in hopes flying ability will keep it out of reach or more predators. Odds are, more than two catbirds fledged from that nest

Domestic cats are too numerous. It has been demonstrated that have many negative impacts on wildlife. A concerted effort needed to reduced their abundance or we can simply not care so much about nature.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

The cat needs to go into an outdoor enclosure and stop letting it slaughter beautiful birds.

 

[Chickassan]

Is that yours? That is nice!

The cat needs to go into an outdoor enclosure and stop letting it slaughter beautiful birds.View attachment 1519761

 

[JanetMarie]

Why do so many threads started asking for help, get off topic into areas the OP never asked an opinion on? In this case OP already said a few times that she cannot do anything about containing the cat. Not trying to offend, just an observation.

@Northern.Ontario beautiful outdoor cat enclosure.

 

[Michellep224]

I only have 1 outside cat, and we spayed her so as to not have so many kittens. Will look into an outside pen.
My intention was never to cause harm. Wasn't trying to separate Mommy and babies. I have no need or use for a baby catbird, not to mention time.
I just feel like there's gotta be something I can do. Sable is a good cat, and a great mouser. She aims to please, and I don't want to lock her away and punish her for trying to be a good kitty.
We have tried desperately to just try to keep her inside, and she wont have it.
Sorry, y'all. I don't want disrespect.
I understand the differences between chickens and songbirds. There's a million of them. I knew she wasn't gonna feed the baby, but I figured maybe she'd keep it warm and show it how to get food on it's own.