|
Feeding Wild Baby Birds 101 |
|
|
|
Did you ever find yourself in the position of baby bird caregiver?
In feeding wild baby birds, there are a few options available to you. To help you in feeding these birds in need, you can use several tools to feed these creatures. Easily available tools to consider are: eye-droppers, tweezers, syringes, your fingers, small paint brushes, popsicle sticks, blunt toothpicks, and pipettes. The tool you use will depend on what food or formula you're giving, sometimes a combination of tools will be the most suitable. Thickness of the food formula is dependant on the bird's age, so if you are feeding a flock use any combination of tools that are most effective.
Baby birds will reach out for food until they are full. Do not over-feed baby birds, but remember they need small feedings frequently. Dehydration, or being full, will casue them to slow on taking food. If a baby bird does not take food, it may be nervous, sick, or unaware that your gesture is an attempt at feeding. Try taping the side of the nest or whistle lightly to mimic a parent birds arrival home.
Baby birds in the wild are fed throughout the day. You should do the same thing as the bird's caregiver. Hatchings should be fed every twenty minutes, as a rule of thumb. Young birds that are not babies should be fed every two hours. Baby birds should be fed the same things that the parent birds would feed them in the wild. Research what that particular bird species usually eats. If you are unable to find out call the local animal center and ask. Baby birds should be cleaned after feeding as this can cause the bird's feathers as this can cause skin problems or feathers to fall off.
The goal is to provide care until the bird is well enough to survive in it's natural environment on it's own. You should avoid interacting with bird other than at feeding and cleaning times. You should also not allow the wild birds and domestic, or pet, birds to interact.
|
Baby Birds 101