Birds get plenty of water through the appropriate food source for their species, so it is not necessary to supplement their diet with water. Doing so can be fatal.
For help identifying your bird’s species, visit http://www. babybirdid. com/, where you can view a gallery of images of common nestlings. If you have a large social network on Facebook or Twitter, you can also try posting a picture of the baby bird and asking for help with an identification. When you get a response, be sure to do a Google image search to verify that the identification is correct. Once you have identified the bird, you need to search the internet or a reliable reference book for information about that species’ diet. For example, if you have found a baby chickadee, an internet search for “what do chickadees eat” or “chickadee diet” will tell you that they mostly eat insects but also like some seeds.
For insect eaters: chopped mealworms (available at pet stores) or insects like flies, crickets, grasshoppers, and moths. You can supplement the insects with chopped, cooked, and cooled to room temperature hard-boiled eggs. [1] X Research source
Feed seed-eaters high protein dry infant cereal mixed with water (for example, Gerber brand baby oatmeal), wheat germ, corn or oatmeal that has been powdered in the blender.
Feed them high protein dry kitten or dog food that has been soaked in water so that it is soft, or canned pureed meats prepared for infants such as chicken or beef. [2] X Research source You can also feed them boiled chicken or live insects like flies and mealworms.
Mix up the amount of bird food that you will need for one feeding at a time– generally just a few teaspoons for a small bird. Remember that most baby birds eat food that has been digested and regurgitated by their parents, so keep the consistency wet but not liquidy.
If you see a nestling on the ground, it has probably fallen or been kicked out of its nest by its parents. You will need to place it back into its nest. A fledgling, on the other hand, may have flown to the ground and is probably practicing important skills like foraging for insects. You should not attempt an immediate rescue of a fledgling bird, but instead observe it from a distance (inside your house if possible) to see if the parents are nearby. In some cases, the fledgling will practice living on the ground, hopping around for days or even weeks! Keep children and pets away and let it be.
You may be worried that the mother bird won’t care for its baby if it has been handled by humans, but that is actually a myth. Most birds have a poor sense of smell, so they won’t pay much attention to your smell. Put on gloves or use a tea towel or infant blanket to very gently pick up the baby bird. This protects the bird from your germs and also protects you from pecks or scratches as well as mites that live on wild birds.
Drill a couple of holes in the bottom of the container for drainage, then nail the plastic container up in the closest tree. Very gently place the nestling inside the new makeshift nest (using gloves or a small blanket or towel to lift the bird).
If no parents have been observed after a day, it may have been abandoned and you will need to get it to the proper authorities to care for it.
If there is no rehabilitator close by (or if they are closed, for example on the weekend) and the parent birds have absolutely abandoned the baby, that is the only time you should attempt to feed and care for a nestling. Consider this: if you make a wrong guess at the species or dietary requirements of the bird, you may kill it. Only risk feeding it if it is definitely going to die without your intervention. Remember, birds can go 24 hours without eating, so avoid feeding it unless absolutely necessary.
Keep the box inside your home where it is warm, out of direct sunlight and in a quiet area away from noisy children or pets.
One way to keep the bird warm is to place a heating pad set on low under one end of its box. Never place the bird directly on the heating pad as that can overheat it. Instead, wrap the heating pad in a shirt or cloth and keep it beneath the bird. [4] X Research source You can also use a hot water bottle wrapped in a cloth and placed into the bird’s box, but be sure that the bottle will not leak as this will get the bird wet and cause it to become chilled. [5] X Research source
Don’t pry open the bird’s mouth. If it is hungry it will open its mouth for you. Try to have only one person care for the bird and feed it as this will limit its contact with humans and help to feel safe.
Wild birds have mites that can infest your home, and bird droppings can spread disease. [7] X Research source Also be sure to wash your hands very thoroughly after handling the bird.
