Help! Muted baby bird! :(

[kq_fan]

I found a fledgling in the bushes on Monday and I feed him sometimes but he stays outside and he is always hungry. I also give him water. His parents left him, they are nowhere around so anyways all the sudden he doesn't do his loud calls and he just does little chirping. Is he ok? He still runs around and try's to fly and he likes to sit with me but the quietness??? Is he ok? He is wild and he is not my pet although I did name him Boo. Anyways is he ok??? Im so concerned! BTW he stays far away from Lilo well Lilo lives inside but I change my clothes every time I go to Boo.

 

[kq_fan]

Ok I just went out there to check on him again and he was on his bush and was squealing and flapping his wings but I haven't heard him make his jay sound ( he is a steller's jay) in a while maybe at noon. He was very thirsty for his water so I hope all is better.

 

[kq_fan]

Ok I had to bring him inside for now because the neighbor cat was trying to kill him! So he is hanging out in my bathroom in a spare cage.

 

[happycat]

If you have no experience with baby birds you may want to bring him to an animal shelter. I find baby birds often and I always bring them there.

 

[kq_fan]

Ya I wish but they don't take wild birds.

 

[Kiwibird]

Depending on what kind of baby bird, if it is a fledgling already, it would probably eat canary-size seed mix and worms (which you can buy in the reptile section of the petstore). I'm pretty sure that's a relatively close match to the natural diet of songbirds.

 

[Kalidasa]

The fledgling shouldn't be given water, but worms. Water will leach out the nutrients in his system, he's not designed to take water yet, only meat. No grains or anything like that. The safest thing to offer is worms and slugs. Waxworms from petsmart are also acceptable.
No vegetable matter whatsoever, it will kill him. No meal-worms. No ants.

 

[kq_fan]

Oh ok because I made a food mix for him that I found online and he loves water but no water ok he will hate me though

 

[Kalidasa]

It's ok, better for him to be mad than to die.

 

[Kalidasa]

Btw, if that formula is less than 90% protein then the bird will only starve more slowly. Live food is best, as that's what he's designed to take, and will eat when he's released.

 

[kq_fan]

ok I will try to look for worms but it has been hot so the worms are staying deep down in the ground!

 

[Kalidasa]

If u can't find any, you can always get some anywhere where bait is sold. Many gas stations carry bait worms, as does Meijers. Petsmart carries wax-worms.

 

[kq_fan]

Ok thanks! Also will he get dehydrated? And he drinks just fine but if water isn't good then I won't do that anymore.

 

[Kalidasa]

No, he won't get dehydrated. The parent birds do not carry water to the chicks. Their systems are in overdrive and are making the most of water from their food. Water can easily make them aspirate, and will leach nutrients from their bodies at this time. What he needs most now is juicy live food (worms, slugs).

 

[Kalidasa]

Ps, how's Lilo doing? What's the monkey up to??

 

[kq_fan]

What age should I start giving him water. And thank you Lilo is as mischievous as always She is also very demanding but I love her!

 

[Kalidasa]

You won't need to give it to him. They discover it on their own after they are independent. Seriously, don't worry about water. Get it out of your mind.
You do plan on releasing??

 

[kq_fan]

Ok I will sop on the water thing. And yes I will release him! He is wild not a pet but I bet I will be seeing him around!

 

[Kalidasa]

Yup he'll probably hang around for a while until he hooks up with his own kind. Then they come less and less, and then they're gone.

 

[kq_fan]

Aw it will be hard but they grow so fast and he will leave the nest sometime!