If
you have just found a baby bird and need to
know what to do next, please read the information
below.
Never
put water, other liquids, or runny food into
a wild bird's mouth, as this can or will aspirate
him. The bird must be completely warm before
being given anything to eat. He will get enough
fluids from his food, so he does not need additional
water. If he has been in a cat or dog's mouth
he needs immediate medical attention even if
you do not see a wound.
Warmth
-
If
the baby bird is not completely feathered,
it needs to be kept warm. To get the baby
warm, wrap any of the following with a
hand towel: a heating pad, a jar with
hot water, a hot baked potato, hand warmers,
a rubber glove filled with hot water and
knotted at the end to hold the water in,
a sock filled with rice and microwaved
for two minutes, or anything else you
can think of that will hold heat. Place
the baby next to the towel-wrapped warmer
in a small box, and cover the box with
another towel to hold in the heat.
-
Find a thermometer to place next to the baby
to make sure the temperature is correct. A
baby bird without feathers should be at about
95-97 degrees, a partially feathered baby
at about 85 degrees.
Hydration (after the baby bird is warm!)
- Babies
who have been orphaned for a while will need
to be hydrated before being given any food.
To check hydration you can look inside the
bird's mouth; it should look moist. A dehydrated
bird will usually have reddish looking skin.
Or you can pull the skin up on the back of
their neck, and it should spring back as soon
as you let it go. To make a rehydrating fluid,
mix 1/4 cup Karo corn syrup (starlings are
sucrose intolerant so table sugar or molasses
would not be good choices) to one cup water
and adding a pinch of salt. Cool to lukewarm,
dip your fingers into it and place drops on
the top outside
of the baby's beak. It will then be able to
suck some in without the danger of aspiration.
Alternatively, you may soak small pieces of
bread in the sugar water, squeeze the liquid
out so it is not dripping, and feed it to
the baby, or feed small slivers of fruit (without
the skin) that has a high water content such
as grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, plums,
or cherries.
Remember, NEVER put liquids directly into
the mouth of a wild bird; this includes parrot
hand-feeding formula. It is too easy for
wild birds to inhale the fluid (causing inhalation
pneumonia) or to drown.
- While
you are waiting for the baby bird to warm
and the sugar water to cool, go to the following
webpage and start reading the details about
baby bird care: Baby
Bird Care
- After
the sugar water has cooled, and provided the
baby bird feels warm and the tip of its wing
feels warm if placed to your lips, dip small
pieces of bread into the water mixture, squeeze
out the excess water, and feed several tiny
pieces to the bird. You may have to force
his mouth open with your fingernail in order
to place the bread or fruit in it the first
few times. Just a few pieces every 20 minutes
should bring him to the point that he will
start begging for food. Keep feeding the fruit
or soaked bread for several hours, as he will
need to be well hydrated before giving him
the dog/cat food diet found on the Baby
Bird Care page.
For
additional help with rescued birds such as starlings
or House sparrows, please join the Starling
Talk Message Board.
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