Caring For A Baby Bird(owl In This Matter)

[DragonQuest]

I went to JJ market and fell in love with an Owl, I bought it without knowing anything to care for it, and also I dont know which species it is for that matter, anyways I would like to care for it and nurture it, it has feathers on its body already, but Im not sure how old it is, maby 2-4 weeks? Any advice would be grealty apreaciated , I dont want him to die for something stupid like over feeding him or something of that nature, also Ive been reading on the internet that they dont drink water??? in its whole lifetime or just in the food that is moist with water?

[Crossy]

I have absolutely ZERO experience in caring for owls, but since he's a bird of prey he'll be expecting meat, probably partially digested and regurgitated by mum

RAW diced chicken ought to keep him going until you get better info. How to get it into him, now there's an interesting problem

[cmsally]

A lot depends on the size and how easy it is to feed him.

But he will need to be fed using a pair of tweezers (thick plastic are best - as not too sharp).

Things that work well for the younger birds are scrambled egg and canned dog food, sometimes difficult to get in the mouth but practice makes perfect. Depending on the size, some raw meat cut into manageable strips (start off small and see what is easy to digest). Worms and bugs if the bird is larger.

The bird will need to have it's head tilted well back to receive the food, some will do this automatically if they know you are feeding but might need coaxing at first by tapping on top of beak or around sides.

Don't force feed the bird water, have some nearby in case it wants to drink but I don't remember seeing young birds drink at all.

The key for food is little and often, room temperature.

I have raised owls and birds of prey when I was a child but afraid I have forgotten all the finer points - but those are the basics.

[burman]

I imagine it should be in a nest in the wild somewhere with it's mother, so it seems irresponsible enough to purchase it in the first place, let alone not knowing how to care for it all. You may even find it's illegal to keep depending on the species.

I would say this is a specialist bird of sorts and perhaps you should also be seeking advice on specialist forums. These links should help you get all the info you need.

Owl Pages Forum

More Owl Links

Owl Forum

Falconry Forum

I hope it does well, owls are fantastic creatures and if I lived out in the countryside would love to keep some bird of prey myself.

[cmsally]

This site looks fairly up to date , maybe try and contact them.

Try and find someone that can help you with where your bird is native to (where there is an existing population) and possibilities of returning it to the wild when its fully grown.

Maybe lizards if your bird is as big as this?

[cmsally]

This site looks fairly up to date , maybe try and contact them.

Try and find someone that can help you with where your bird is native to (where there is an existing population) and possibilities of returning it to the wild when its fully grown.

Maybe lizards if your bird is as big as this?

Whoops sorry, forgot link:

Thailand birding

[p_brownstone]

I went to JJ market and fell in love with an Owl, I bought it without knowing anything to care for it, and also I dont know which species it is for that matter, anyways I would like to care for it and nurture it, it has feathers on its body already, but Im not sure how old it is, maby 2-4 weeks? Any advice would be grealty apreaciated , I dont want him to die for something stupid like over feeding him or something of that nature, also Ive been reading on the internet that they dont drink water??? in its whole lifetime or just in the food that is moist with water?

I am sorry to be blunt but it is totally irresponsible to buy a wild bird – especially a nestling – from anywhere, let alone Chatuchak:

1) You admit to having no experience in raising wild birds

2) By buying the bird – almost certainly stolen from its’ nest in the wild – you create a Market for the people trading in Wildlife.

The bird will almost certainly die – as will the next bird the dealer purchases to replace the one you so thoughtlessly bought.

I will say no more because of Board rules about Flaming but people who act as you have done make me extremely angry; you are playing with a living creature - not a toy.

Patrick

[burman]

2) By buying the bird – almost certainly stolen from its’ nest in the wild

And often with the mother of the bird killed first.

Try and find someone that can help you with where your bird is native to (where there is an existing population) and possibilities of returning it to the wild when its fully grown.

There are organisations in Thailand that can help get these wild animals back where they belong. Bambina can better advise the OP better here, because I'm sure there are some unscrupulous ones.

And a return to the wild does need to be considered at this stage. Which will also effect how you treat the bird now.

You most definitely need to find out what species it is. As I said there is a chance you are keeping an illegal animal which may leave you open to criminal charges and resulting fines/imprisonment/deportation.

Sorry to put a dampener on your spirits, but you do need to take some responsibility in this matter.

[DragonQuest]

So you saying all the birds sold at JJ market are Illegal? What about peolpe buying dogs or cats? lizards or snakes? whats the difference? Im sure I can take care of the bird better then the shop owner does. I understand the complexity Im in, and I know for the better part Im wrong in buying it because Im supporting the bad guys that capture these poor things, But one way or another Im not the only one out there, there was this japanese guy who bought an older Owl there too as well, I opted for the chick in Hoping that I will let it into the wild once fully grown and ready, but Now that might be impossible because I heard they wont adapt to the wild once human care has been given.

[Nignoy]

Please seek help from wild life carers young raptors need fur ,feather and calcium powder , mixed with finely chopped heart, 3 to 4 weeks it should be able to tear bits off a lump off heart, or offerit half a mouse or a a headless day old chick,DONT FEED IT CANNED DOG FOOD!! it wil do irepairable damage,it will drink water , dont feed it before it has thrown its pellet from the previous meal, hand raising owls and other raptors was how I financed my Uni studies ,the photo is my god daughter with one of my owls Nignoy

[burman]

Dogs and cats are generally not endangered species, owls may very well be. Just because a Japanese guy is foolish enough to buy one, it doesn't mean you have to as well.

Yes it may very well be illegal, since you don't even know what type of bird you have bought it is impossible to say.

I opted for the chick in Hoping that I will let it into the wild once fully grown and ready, but Now that might be impossible because I heard they wont adapt to the wild once human care has been given.

If you honestly feel that strongly about letting this bird have a good life then I suggest you take it along to a professional organisation which can help.

At the very least they may be able to identify it for you and give professional advice on it's care. And if it is a protected species then they can arrange for it to go back to the wild.

[cmsally]

So you saying all the birds sold at JJ market are Illegal? What about peolpe buying dogs or cats? lizards or snakes? whats the difference? Im sure I can take care of the bird better then the shop owner does. I understand the complexity Im in, and I know for the better part Im wrong in buying it because Im supporting the bad guys that capture these poor things, But one way or another Im not the only one out there, there was this japanese guy who bought an older Owl there too as well, I opted for the chick in Hoping that I will let it into the wild once fully grown and ready, but Now that might be impossible because I heard they wont adapt to the wild once human care has been given.

There is definitely a market for endangered species at these pet markets. I have seen young birds of prey for sale there a couple of times. Unfortunately as sorry as you feel for them, don't buy them. They will only stop bringing the birds when the demand dries up. It is likely your owl was not actually on display but in a cardboard box which could be conveniently concealed if the wrong people came along.

I have seen this before.

There is a big difference between buying birds of prey -or a poodle and a couple of goldfish.

[Goshawk]

I went to JJ market and fell in love with an Owl, I bought it without knowing anything to care for it,

oh my god...

[Patsycat]

Maybe Mobi can send you some of his surplus toads?

[bina]

if u hand feed it, it will not be able to be returned to the wild. for get it....

u have just done a stupid thing,

however, if u use a tweezers, and hang small chopped pieces of mouse (u cut them in four, with skin; u can store them in the freezer and then defrost them (not in microwave, just soaked in warm, not hot, water inside the plastic bag u stored them in so they dont get soaked) .... u hold your hand up over its head a bit, and sort of dangle and wave the piece around...

the only way to keep it from getting used to u is to hide behind a piece of cardboard or something and then feed it (put eye holes in the thing so u can see what ua re doing...)

small siberian hamsters are good food also... just day old chicks arent so good as a main diet(not enough fat or protein either)...

some types are nocturnal and some are diurnal so u have to figure out when its supposed to eat (when its parents would feed it)... as it gets older u have to transfer it to live food if u want to release it...

provided it survives of course...

we (my daughter and i) have done some minor raptor re-release stuff (israeli falcons and some kind of hawks dont know what they are called in english)...thru the petting zoo and the raptor release programs here...

it needs a tree branch and something to perch on (thick, it has talons); and depending on what type it is, needs a small box with a small hidey hole, or a quasi log with hole in it , as a house...

how dumb can u get...

bina

israel

lizards or snakes

yep, big market in endangered species smuggled around and about and then sold to stupid naive people or to experienced wild animal collectors ...

[Gary A]

A friend of mine bought a Black Shouldered Kite from a Thai who had planned to eat him. My friend gave him a 150 baht for the bird. When he got him home, he opened the cage and turned the bird loose. The bird had been raised by hand so he did not fly away. He was fed strips of pork, beef and chicken. Eventually the bird tested his wings and flew further and further every day. It was a beautiful bird. It stayed around about seven months before finally disappearing.

[geriatrickid]

Just a quickie on the moral issues of purchasing creatures in the markets. Obviously I am vehemently opposed, but I do understand because I too have engaged in this conduct. There are times when one faces a moral dilemma when you can't walk by some wretched creature cooped up. So don't be too hard on the OP.

[Gary A]

A friend of mine bought a Black Shouldered Kite from a Thai who had planned to eat him. My friend gave him a 150 baht for the bird. When he got him home, he opened the cage and turned the bird loose. The bird had been raised by hand so he did not fly away. He was fed strips of pork, beef and chicken. Eventually the bird tested his wings and flew further and further every day. It was a beautiful bird. It stayed around about seven months before finally disappearing.

Here's the Kite waiting to be fed.

[p_brownstone]

Just a quickie on the moral issues of purchasing creatures in the markets. Obviously I am vehemently opposed, but I do understand because I too have engaged in this conduct. There are times when one faces a moral dilemma when you can't walk by some wretched creature cooped up. So don't be too hard on the OP.

I understand the sentiment but you have to harden your heart; by taking pity of the first creature you simply condemn others to the same fate by creating a Market.

Patrick

[Goshawk]

A friend of mine bought a Black Shouldered Kite from a Thai who had planned to eat him.... It stayed around about seven months before finally disappearing.

Bravo to your friend.. the only way to see a Black Shouldered Kite is in the wild...

unfortunately, big bird = meat. Many Thai's trap and snare some of the larger bird species, Coucal's in particular, but this is the first time i've heard of someone attempting to scoff a raptor. Most Thai's revere them..

talking of caged wild birds, it's no just the dumb farang who stupidly buys them. A popular bird in Thai homes & gardens is the Black Naped Oriole..

for it's obvious 'yellow' this bird is frequently taken from the wild (along with many other species)

[chuchok]

p1p has quite a bit of experience hand raising birds.Try a pm.

[MrSnrang]

My dad was considering getting one of these to deal with a bit of a rat problem. The guy selling them said that people buy them and raise them until they're old enough to hunt by themselves but as long as there is food in its cage it will still come back.

I'm not sure what you would feed a small one but a girl who goes to my school had one and gave it mice as well as freedom to hunt on its own.

[jdinasia]

Personally I moved to Thailand to avoid the nanny state rules and regs. While I would not choose to buy an owl or raptor. I do plan on getting a bird or 3 soon

[Goshawk]

Personally I moved to Thailand to avoid the nanny state rules and regs

Point ?

While I would not choose to buy an owl or raptor. I do plan on getting a bird or 3 soon

inventive

[burman]

I think you'll find he is talking about the feathered variety and not making a pun.

[Goshawk]

btw

buy an owl or raptor

an owl is a raptor

[burman]

Goshawk, do you know if there is any Falconry clubs in Thailand? A popular hobby in many countries but I've not found out much information on it here.

[Goshawk]

burman, good question. I've never come across any club of sorts, and the only falconer (Thai) i've ever seen in Thailand was near Laem Prom Thep in Phuket a couple of years ago..

[jdinasia]

burman, good question. I've never come across any club of sorts, and the only falconer (Thai) i've ever seen in Thailand was near Laem Prom Thep in Phuket a couple of years ago..

The guy with the sea eagle and th hawk? He lives in Baan Kamala. Nice guy

[Shu]

hello Mr.DragonQuest ... i used to have an owl befor ..and all i can tell you is :

1- DO NOT SHOWER THEM WITH WATER (( but they shower thier selfs by .. standing on a rock or anything and around it water .. but dont put alot of water around and leave your video camera there and see what he's gonna do or she .. hehe .. )) cos it's really bad for thier skin if we shower them .. they clean thier selfs .

2- YOU have to be calm with them .. they are so senstive .. and when they starting love you .. they gonna miss you and wait for you (( my owl used to wait for me standing on the flower next to my Door ... So Cute ..

3- feed them ... some of them eats warms and meat .. but when you feed them meat they have to be a bit big .. i mean a bit old like 5 months or so ..and when you feed them they will love you and feel safe with you .

4- they like to watch you and some of them BLINKS *_< which is cute as well ... you should try to play with the owl and touch thier head ... cos they love it and when ever you touch them they sleep ..

5- the last thing is make sure anytime when you feel something wrong with it take it to the pets hospital .. cos they can die really quick .. i mean not in one day mybe in 3 or 4 .. so you have to make sure cos it's a wild animal .. but keep few tree's around her/him so they will feel happy ...

thanks for your nice topic

Peace