As soon as a baby bird is discovered on the ground, your first instinct should be to care for it. While food left out for birds in your yard may not be suitable for fledglings yet, emergency foods may come in handy in an emergency situation.
Baby bird pellets, moistened dog food or raw liver are great food sources for baby birds. Make sure they receive food on an ongoing basis throughout their day for best results.
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Feeding
If you find a baby bird who has fallen out of its nest, your first priority should be contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. They can offer guidance regarding what food should be fed to it as close as possible to its natural diet; generally for day-old chicks they should receive a very dilute mixture; older birds might benefit from being given hard boiled eggs mixed with moistened cat or dog food as an example of such nourishment.
Avoid feeding baby birds food that could lead to serious illness, such as bread, milk, seeds, worms or kitchen scraps – such as bread, milk, seeds, worms or kitchen scraps. All food should be freshly prepared each time to avoid introducing harmful bacteria into their system and be fed via dull tweezers, plastic forceps or chopsticks that fit comfortably inside their mouth – these birds will close their glottis as they chew so no food remains stuck in their throats!
Nesting
If a fully fledged baby bird is found without its parents, it should usually be returned to its native environment. Shelter should be provided against predators such as household pets; for this purpose a box lined with towel should be placed high enough that no pet can reach it; heating may also be required during day and night hours for optimal results unless if possible the bird can fly to an environment more protective such as bush or tree for safety.
Wild birds typically feed baby birds by regurgitating food directly into their mouths; this allows them to learn to eat and digest it more effectively. If the baby bird you have found is an altricial chick, its diet should consist of 60% puppy or kitten kibble moistened until it forms a mushy consistency so as to survive; otherwise it would dribble down and drown it!
Care
Baby birds are fragile creatures who require constant care, making their care an intricate and time-consuming task that’s best left in the hands of wildlife rehabilitation experts. Nestlings must be fed every half hour with water dosed in small drops (no aspiration occurs) in order to prevent aspiration into their lungs; fledglings should perch safely where they cannot fall or be preyed upon by predators.
If you cannot reach a wildlife rehabilitation center and it is clear that this baby bird needs feeding, provide foods similar to its natural diet such as hard-boiled eggs, moistened dog biscuits/food and raw liver as emergency rations. As soon as it matures enough to start solid foods that mimic its parent’s diet – eventually this bird will learn how to feed itself and return home with its parents! Keep a journal to track changes and growth.
Safety
General rules prohibit anyone without proper state and federal permits from rescuing or caring for protected birds without proper permits from both bodies, though if a bird is endangered and cannot return home it may require emergency feeding and water provision measures to ensure its wellbeing.
Avoid feeding young wild birds milk, bread, worms or kitchen scraps without first consulting an expert; such foods could potentially lead to diarrhea and other diseases in baby birds. Also never reusing food or water as this creates an environment for bacteria growth that could endanger their lives.
If you encounter a young bird that has developed most of its feathers and can hop around, they could be at the fledging stage of development. Keep the baby bird warm, quiet, away from domestic cats and children; contact a wildlife rehabilitation center or veterinarian for guidance; fledglings should usually be released outdoors once they’ve recovered from leaving their nest.
