Feeding Wild Baby Birds

[F1fanatic]

A week ago the men who go round with a monkey taking the coconuts, turned up at my gate with 2 tiny baby birds....

The baby birds had been knocked out of their nest. I thought about leaving them underneath the coconut palm, but decided that they were too small for the parents to stand any chance - they would be devoured be ants if a snake or cat didn't get them first.

As you can imagine, I was not happy - knowing that I had no option other than to do my best, and then watch them die.

Unbelievably they are still alive! I am force-feeding (syringing) them a mixture of blended egg and dog food and, recently now they are bigger - small bits of dog food.

I have no idea what they are. At first I thought possibly sparrows, but the bigger of the two is looking too big to be a sparrow.

Yesterday they started showing an interest in food (flapping wings when I went near - but NOT looking up and opening their mouths). However... they go off the idea when I start feeding them, so even though they're surviving I'm obviously going about it the wrong way and giving them the wrong food.

I've tried 'wiggling' bits of food in front of them to replicate worms (which are too rare to find in my garden) and tapping their beaks, without success - I still have to force their beaks open to feed them.

Any advice would be appreciated as, despite my best intentions not to get 'involved', after a week of feeding them every hour and half or so, I'm beginning to think they may survive!

[ETatBKK]

bring them to the vet ! until they could eat by themselves, we are too innocent to do anything :-)

very often young birds fall down from their nests and land on my lawn, I have to be very quick since I have a cat around. you are absolutely right, bring them into the house. once I did wrong and put them into a cage, then they became dinner of something else :-(

force feed sometimes work, but not dog food :-)

any picture of these birds ?

[isanbirder]

The first thing is to find out what they are (pics?) so that you know what they should eat. What you've done so far seems to have worked, so the probability is that they're omnivorous (sparrows or mynahs). I think the real problem is going to come when they get larger, and should start eating by themselves; if they're too imprinted on humans (inevitable), it will be a difficult job to get them to feed themselves (and not fly to the nearest human for food!).

[F1fanatic]

bring them to the vet ! until they could eat by themselves, we are too innocent to do anything :-)

very often young birds fall down from their nests and land on my lawn, I have to be very quick since I have a cat around. you are absolutely right, bring them into the house. once I did wrong and put them into a cage, then they became dinner of something else :-(

force feed sometimes work, but not dog food :-)

any picture of these birds ?

The vets in England backed off from baby birds - I've no doubt the vets here will be even less interested!

I've put them in a small container in a cage that hangs in my patio, but I started bringing the cage into the house at night a couple of days ago, when I got a bad feeling about snakes...

After receiving you much-appreciated post I took a photo - but can't find the bloody leads to connect my camera to the computer... The largest of the two (twice the size) looks like a large sparrow.

I agree that dog food is not right as they are not enjoying it. I tried today crushing nuts, but they weren't interested. What else can I try?

[F1fanatic]

The first thing is to find out what they are (pics?) so that you know what they should eat. What you've done so far seems to have worked, so the probability is that they're omnivorous (sparrows or mynahs). I think the real problem is going to come when they get larger, and should start eating by themselves; if they're too imprinted on humans (inevitable), it will be a difficult job to get them to feed themselves (and not fly to the nearest human for food!).

Thank you for the post. I'll search the house tomorrow for my 'connector' leads.

I'm fairly sure they're not sparrows as the larger of the two is too big, but whilst I'm still wondering about mynahs (they got excited when some were making a noise in the garden) - they don't have the same black markings. Perhaps they're too young?

Your point about them feeding themselves is well appreciated and my greatest fear. I need to get them to the point where they can fly away and find their own life as I've 4 dogs - and they WILL kill them if they get the chance.

[F1fanatic]

I'm now pretty sure they are baby doves.

I found the larger of the two on one of the perches in the bird cage today, so he's obviously starting to think about using his wings. The other is about half his size.

A friend gave me some pigeon food this p.m. but whilst the larger pecks at it, he hasn't quite got the hang yet as the seeds go flying.... I'm hopeful though that he may be able to feed himself in a couple of days.

I'm now mixing dog food and pigeon food together and trying to get it down their throats.

Any better ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

[fredob43]

I'm now pretty sure they are baby doves.

I found the larger of the two on one of the perches in the bird cage today, so he's obviously starting to think about using his wings. The other is about half his size.

A friend gave me some pigeon food this p.m. but whilst the larger pecks at it, he hasn't quite got the hang yet as the seeds go flying.... I'm hopeful though that he may be able to feed himself in a couple of days.

I'm now mixing dog food and pigeon food together and trying to get it down their throats.

Any better ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

I dont know where you are but my local pet shop sell mealworm's (live) I'm not in a big town and they do them. So maybe give your local one a try. Best of luck hope all work's out.

[bina]

if they are doves or pigeons then u have to make sure they are getting water as well as if they are eating dry dove food (the loose powdery granular stuff like chicken feed) then it will sit in its sac undert the throat (cant remember the english term) and just build up. u should feel under its throat that it fills the sac, then slowly the sac empties out by which time the dove should be hungry. dog food, not. u have now adopted and imprinted an annoying couple of doves. while i waas in thailand a few years a go, my dog sitter who is a bird fanantic also hand fed two rock doves from a couple that were living over a balcony closet. i hadnt been able to get rid of them as hubby dearest refused to kill them, and also refused to remove incubated eggs or fledgling until they could fly,, by which time, the couple had already got new babies. the dog sitter closed off the nesting area and hand reared the darn birds who still sit on my balcony, eat my garden greens, are not afraid of my dogs, and while i cant handle them, are very 'imprinted'. they were raised loose in my house so used to fly inside ignoring the dogs,and sit and shit on my sofa.

the best thing to do in most cases of baby birds is to either bring them to wildlife preservation groups if the birds are an endangered species, or just leave them for nature to deal with, as ravens, crows, blackbirds, mynas, doves et al become annoying wing pets and pests.

if the doves arent drinking on their own, use a dropper and place water on their beaks, or drip over their beaks iwth a spoon. use a towel around their necks as thier necks get wet and then they develop a sort of 'icky sticky fungal' type problem on their skin. also, u cannot pour water down their throats as u will just cause an eventual pneumonia.

we tried various combinations for hand rearing besides egg and baby foods; wetting down the chicken feed, grinding it and spooning small amounts in to their mouths, sprinkling some over their beaks so that they would open the beak and feel the food, and learn to self feed. mothers feed their young a sort of rich milk long after the babies can fend for themselves...

if they are indeed some sort of pigeon or dove.

bina

israel

[Goshawk]

the whole business or process of hand rearing wild found (or given, in this case) young birds is fraught with problems.. I really don't like to advise or encourage anyone to do it, so i won't.. More often than not, the bird(s) will prematurely die resulting in the 'carer' feeling guilty & upset at ever taking on such an extremely challenging task. If they survive, then they are equally doomed to a life inside a cage (depending on the species) having been totally imprinted on humans - in effect they don't know they are a 'bird' & can very rarely be released back to a successful life in the wild, the place where they should be.

With any wild creature its always hard to see a young helpless life, especially if its in the palm of your hand, and not want to instinctively intervene. Its a tough call to make as to what is the best, least distressful choice for both parties...

[p_brownstone]

the whole business or process of hand rearing wild found (or given, in this case) young birds is fraught with problems.. I really don't like to advise or encourage anyone to do it, so i won't.. More often than not, the bird(s) will prematurely die resulting in the 'carer' feeling guilty & upset at ever taking on such an extremely challenging task. If they survive, then they are equally doomed to a life inside a cage (depending on the species) having been totally imprinted on humans - in effect they don't know they are a 'bird' & can very rarely be released back to a successful life in the wild, the place where they should be.

With any wild creature its always hard to see a young helpless life, especially if its in the palm of your hand, and not want to instinctively intervene. Its a tough call to make as to what is the best, least distressful choice for both parties...

It's also important to understand that in the vast majority of cases baby birds one finds which appear to be "lost" or "abandoned" or even to have "fallen from their nest" have in fact just recently left the nest as a natural progression towards adulthood - learning to fly and be independent.

Their parents are almost invariably nearby, anxiously waiting for the clumsy scary human to get the h**l out of the way so they, the parent birds, can continue feeding their offspring, encourage it to get to a place of safety and, eventually, teach it to fly.

By far the best solution is to leave the bird where it is and let nature - and fate in whatever form, take its' own course.

Patrick

Edited May 28, 2011 by p_brownstone

[F1fanatic]

the whole business or process of hand rearing wild found (or given, in this case) young birds is fraught with problems.. I really don't like to advise or encourage anyone to do it, so i won't.. More often than not, the bird(s) will prematurely die resulting in the 'carer' feeling guilty & upset at ever taking on such an extremely challenging task. If they survive, then they are equally doomed to a life inside a cage (depending on the species) having been totally imprinted on humans - in effect they don't know they are a 'bird' & can very rarely be released back to a successful life in the wild, the place where they should be.

With any wild creature its always hard to see a young helpless life, especially if its in the palm of your hand, and not want to instinctively intervene. Its a tough call to make as to what is the best, least distressful choice for both parties...

It's also important to understand that in the vast majority of cases baby birds one finds which appear to be "lost" or "abandoned" or even to have "fallen from their nest" have in fact just recently left the nest as a natural progression towards adulthood - learning to fly and be independent.

Their parents are almost invariably nearby, anxiously waiting for the clumsy scary human to get the h**l out of the way so they, the parent birds, can continue feeding their offspring, encourage it to get to a place of safety and, eventually, teach it to fly.

By far the best solution is to leave the bird where it is and let nature - and fate in whatever form, take its' own course.

Patrick

Your comment that most baby birds in fact have just recently left the nest is right - but not in this case . They were too small and it was obvious that they had been accidentally knocked out by the coconut pickers.

I'm happy to report though that they are both thriving. Having realised that they were doves, I switched them to a human baby food formula and they are finally demanding to be fed! How they survived my pathetic feeding technique and entirely the wrong food I will never know.

Thank you everyone for your comments, but I have finally found the right food and things will either work out or they won't....

[samurai]

After receiving you much-appreciated post I took a photo - but can't find the bloody leads to connect my camera to the computer... The largest of the two (twice the size) looks like a large sparrow.

I hope you can find the cable that connects the camera with your computer.

You have followers, eager to read the daily updates and we want to see some photos too.

[F1fanatic]

After receiving you much-appreciated post I took a photo - but can't find the bloody leads to connect my camera to the computer... The largest of the two (twice the size) looks like a large sparrow.

I hope you can find the cable that connects the camera with your computer.

You have followers, eager to read the daily updates and we want to see some photos too.

Unfortunately I can't find the dam_n thing anywhere..... I'm going into town tomorrow so I'll see if I can buy one at a camera shop.

Its odd, but the smaller of the two is progressing better than the larger (who was at first twice the size of the other). The smaller bird has learned how to eat pigeon seed, whilst still needing a lot of syringe feeding - but the larger just scatters the seed everywhere...

[PoorSucker]

Forget about the cable.

Buy a USB memory card reader.

[F1fanatic]

Sorry to resurrect such an old post - but despite still not having got round to sorting out my camera connections.... I wanted to let everyone know it IS possible to help some baby birds.

They both grew up to the stage where they could go out and fly, even though I'd been giving them the wrong food for so long.

Unfortunately one of my dogs caught and killed one of them when I was not around .

The other bird is thriving - only coming back to be fed 3-4 times a day .

His adult feathers are now coming through, so he looks a right mess - v sweet!

[IMA_FARANG]

How old are these birds? Are they capable of feeding themselves if you place food near them? Fro.m what you say I assume they are not.

But you need to know, and this is a scientific fact, that at a certain stage in a young bird's life...the parents will kick them out of the nest. Usually that is because the parents think the birds are grown enough to take care of themselves, and the parents are ready to mate and try for another group of hatchlings. This is entirely normal.

Many people who actually find young birds underneath a tree with a bird nest in it automatically assume the birds "fell" out of the nest. This isn't usually true. Many times the parents have pushed the half grown baby birds out because it is time for the young birds to go out on their own..and the parents know it. This may sound cruel, but is nature's way. Either learn to survive on your own or become food for someone else...that's nature's rule.

I'm not saying this is what happened, but don't automatically assume a young bird someone found underneath a tree has simply fallen out of a tree.

[isanbirder]

How old are these birds? Are they capable of feeding themselves if you place food near them? Fro.m what you say I assume they are not.

But you need to know, and this is a scientific fact, that at a certain stage in a young bird's life...the parents will kick them out of the nest. Usually that is because the parents think the birds are grown enough to take care of themselves, and the parents are ready to mate and try for another group of hatchlings. This is entirely normal.

Many people who actually find young birds underneath a tree with a bird nest in it automatically assume the birds "fell" out of the nest. This isn't usually true. Many times the parents have pushed the half grown baby birds out because it is time for the young birds to go out on their own..and the parents know it. This may sound cruel, but is nature's way. Either learn to survive on your own or become food for someone else...that's nature's rule.

I'm not saying this is what happened, but don't automatically assume a young bird someone found underneath a tree has simply fallen out of a tree.

You're confusing two different things. When the young can fly, the parents 'push them out' (it's not quite like that, but that'll do for the moment); in most species, the parents continue to feed them for a longer or shorter period of time until they can fend for themselves. If the birds you find on the ground etc cannot fly, that normally means that there has been an accident of some kind; maybe the young fell out or the nest blew down or the young were pushed out by a cuckoo chick.... all sorts of possible hazards.

[F1fanatic]

How old are these birds? Are they capable of feeding themselves if you place food near them? Fro.m what you say I assume they are not.

But you need to know, and this is a scientific fact, that at a certain stage in a young bird's life...the parents will kick them out of the nest. Usually that is because the parents think the birds are grown enough to take care of themselves, and the parents are ready to mate and try for another group of hatchlings. This is entirely normal.

Many people who actually find young birds underneath a tree with a bird nest in it automatically assume the birds "fell" out of the nest. This isn't usually true. Many times the parents have pushed the half grown baby birds out because it is time for the young birds to go out on their own..and the parents know it. This may sound cruel, but is nature's way. Either learn to survive on your own or become food for someone else...that's nature's rule.

I'm not saying this is what happened, but don't automatically assume a young bird someone found underneath a tree has simply fallen out of a tree.

You're confusing two different things. When the young can fly, the parents 'push them out' (it's not quite like that, but that'll do for the moment); in most species, the parents continue to feed them for a longer or shorter period of time until they can fend for themselves. If the birds you find on the ground etc cannot fly, that normally means that there has been an accident of some kind; maybe the young fell out or the nest blew down or the young were pushed out by a cuckoo chick.... all sorts of possible hazards.

Precisely. Once the baby birds were able to fly I left the cage door open and encouraged them to 'leave' by putting them on the entrance.

As it turned out, they were both keen to fly and leave the nest after a couple of weeks.

The remaining 'baby' is now approx 75% of the adult size and only comes back a couple of times a day now for feeding and 'milk'.

I'm v happy and just hope that he's cautious when my dogs are around (and I'm not).