Someone just brought me a baby bird :(

[mrob]

Canned cat/dog food is the way to go.
DONT give milk, lactose, bread, etc (it used to be you gave them bread soaked in milk - v v bad)
You can blend up the dog food with some water or at best pureed sweet potato and water (or applesauce, or overcooked brocollii - anything with fibre really,) - then if you get one of those plastic eye dropper things and cut the end off (so that your lovely cat food slurry can get through without hassle) then you can feed them without too much mess.

Be warned. Cat/dog food poop STINKS. Its way better to feed with a large plastic syringe than try with a spoon - the dog/cat food is WAY more offensive than formula, and a few spills end up reeking to high heaven.
Newspaper is an easier option than shavings - unless you have a LOT of them. You cant leave doggy food poops like you can lovely sweet smelling eccie poos!
Ifyou can get bugs then give them and feed them - but that might be asking to much.

Its a labour of love that, in my experience, ends in the baby eventually taking off and rejoining the wild (they dont domesticate that easy - although they may still come back to visit). Keep them warm, and of course leave water for them.

keep them AWAY from your flock. Wash everything thoroughly. It is SO rewarding saving and releasing a baby back into the wild - but it is a lot of work without the reward you get from your parrots. And wild birds have diseases (as you know).They dont so******e as well (there are exceptions of course - aprticularly in magpies/crows etc)

I have run an informal wild bird rescue for years - and I love it - but i still call them the 'vermin' - not as a slur, but the risk of cross contamination is great, and you must be VERY strict with your hygeine - and keep them in separate rooms. Wild birds are not so so******ed tohumans in my experience so if you arnt feeding them they are ok with being by themselves. Its all about building up their strength and getting them ready to go out into the world.

Sorry I bet you already know 90% of this stuff but its rare that I know enough about a topic to actually reply!
Good luck, you are doing a good (if stinky) thing!

 

[IcyWolf]

Thank you for all of your help everyone! The baby, who we've been calling jeremy(I don't know why it just kind of popped into my head.) has made it through the night and is doing good. He is finally eating well, he didn't quite seem to understand that I was trying to feed him at first but once he realized it he picked it up pretty quick. I just hope what I'm feeding him is okay. I'm just using our dogs dry food, I soak a few bits of kibble in scalding hot water until it plumps up and then I smash it up with the back of a spoon. Here are the ingredients and analysis for the food.
Lamb, lamb meal, egg product, cracked pearled barley, millet, ground rice, pea protein, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, potatoes, tomato pomace, flaxseed, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, salmon oil (source of DHA), potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, dried kelp, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, dried skim milk, cranberries, rosemary extract, parsley flake, yucca schidigera extract, L-Carnitine, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.


Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 27.0% Minimum
Crude Fat 15.0% Minimum
Crude Fiber 3.0% Maximum
Moisture 10.0% Maximum
Calcium 1.2% Minimum
Phosphorus 1.0% Minimum
Zinc 150 mg/kg Minimum
Selenium 0.4 mg/kg Minimum
Vitamin E 150 IU/kg Minimum
L-Carnitine * 30 mg/kg Minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids * 2.2% Minimum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids * 0.3% Minimum
DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) * 0.05% Minimum

Does anyone have any guesses as to how old he is? He has a good bit of feathers, as you can see from the pictures but he does not perch at all yet. And I was also wondering, why is it that everything says they have to eat every half hour? That seems like a ton of food! Does the momma bird actually find enough food in the wild to feed all of her babies and herself every half hour? I thought my freshly pulled parrot babies were a lot of work having to feed them every 3 hours but this is just a bit ridiculous! Especially when it takes me over ten minutes just to prepare his food. :52:

 

[Sulphiria]

See! Another reason we should move closer. I could help, lol.

Its so sweet of you to do so and for the kids to have known who you are and to bring him to you You must have a great reputation in the community.

 

[msminnamouse]

Take it to a licensed wild life rehabilitator or the humane's society so they can get it to one.

Without the proper training and education, you can cause the baby to aspirate, cause him to imprint on you, cause malnutrition, and a whole host of other problems. Dog food is NOT a suitable diet to be feeding. The baby must also be raised with his own kind since starlings are very social birds and live in flocks. Unless you have other starlings, it's not going to learn the social skills that it needs in order to live in a flock necessary for it's survival. If a wildlife rehabilitation center only has one starling, they transfer it out to another rehabilitation center that has other starlings. Do you have other starlings to raise this single starling with?

I've volunteered for years at a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center and I've seen first hand the problems that occur when people try to raise wild animals on their own. People usually finally concede and bring in the animal when it's on death's door and it's usually too late to save them. I say this from experience, please get it to a licensed professional.

 

[IcyWolf]

A dog or cat food mixture is what is suggested as the appropriate diet and I have been hand feeding birds for half of my life, just not wild ones. European starlings are an invasive species and the wildlife rehab place will not take them, they euthanize all starlings. I have him set up in a heated brooder and he is eating very well. I am aware that being raised by himself he may never be able to be a wild bird but they are legal to keep in captivity so that's really not an issue.

 

[msminnamouse]

A dog food mixture is NOT an appropriate diet and just because you read that online doesn't make it true. I can still find people online telling you to feed bread soaked in milk to baby birds. And a cat food diet isn't an appropriate diet EITHER as it's not high enough in protein or fat and it doesn't contain the probiotics that a baby bird needs. A specific brand of KITTEN food mixed with certain SUPPLEMENTS is the correct diet and what licensed wildlife rehabilitators use. It has been proven to be the BEST diet for baby starlings.

The starling may or may survive in your care but so what? It'll never achieve it's optimal health because you're not providing the correct nutrients OR care for it.

 

[IcyWolf]

Dog food is NOT a suitable diet to be feeding.

What? Feed Dog Food To A Starling? -- A discussion about the importance of animal protein in the starling diet.

 

[IcyWolf]

A dog food mixture is NOT an appropriate diet and just because you read that online doesn't make it true. I can still find people online telling you to feed bread soaked in milk to baby birds. And a cat food diet isn't an appropriate diet EITHER as it's not high enough in protein or fat and it doesn't contain the probiotics that a baby bird needs. A specific brand of KITTEN food mixed with certain SUPPLEMENTS is the correct diet and what licensed wildlife rehabilitators use. It has been proven to be the BEST diet for baby starlings.

The starling may or may survive in your care but so what? It'll never achieve it's optimal health because you're not providing the correct nutrients OR care for it.

I have yet to find a local rehab place that will take him. Trust me, I breed parrots and I have my hands pretty full feeding my own hookbill babies at the moment, and keeping this bird in strict quarantine is stressing me out quite a bit. If you can find a rehab place close to york or harrisburg pa that will take him and NOT KILL HIM, I will gladly give him to them. But as of now his options are stay with me and possibly live or be euthanized. I'm sorry but until I can find a more qualified person to take him I am going to continue to do the best I can for him.

 

[IcyWolf]

This bird is screwed. Have fun killing it just so YOU can enjoy playing doctor.

Like I said, there is no one that will take him without killing him, you try and find somewhere and I promise you he will go there but it doesn't seem to be happening. Starlings are an INVASIVE SPECIES. You can legally go outside and shoot as many as you want and it is completely legal, most wildlife people don't make it a point to help invasive species.

 

[ann]

i understand where your coming from msminnamouse, but icywolf really does know what she is doing. i know your worried about the bird, so is icy, everyone here wants whats best for the bird and that's what icy is doing. she has tried to find rehabbers but they will kill him, at least he has a chance with icywolf. also yes we're all concerned for the outcome of the bird, but thats no reason to be rude. we can still make our point without name calling. i trust that icy will and is doing what is best for this bird, she may not have tons of wild bird experience, but she has buckets of parrot experience including hand feeding and raising. i truly think this bird came to her for a reason and will get the best care possible, and if it doesnt work out, she should know she has our confidence and support that she loved and did her best for this bird. its clear you love birds, your lovies are gorgeous and look very healthy and happy, so were are bird lovers so lets get along, have a nice day :0)

 

[dishgal1]

Icywolf is right. Starlings are a legal kill in our area as well maybe in other states as well. Everyone wants to get rid of them. They do create a lot of problems. Keep up the good work Icy you are doing what is best for the bird until you can find someone which probably won't happen..

 

[MikeyTN]

They're invasive in a bunch of area....I guess some people skipped reading what I wrote. Both the rehab AND humane society told me they would euthanize the baby robin that was under my care. So I applaud Icy for stepping up to care for a invasive specie that they won't take in.

 

[Al_96789]

Wild birds are regulated. There are four types, endangered, protected, not protected, and injurious. You need to have a Federal permit to handle endangered or protected birds, and a state permit for all others.

 

[IcyWolf]

Wild birds are regulated. There are four types, endangered, protected, not protected, and injurious. You need to have a Federal permit to handle endangered or protected birds, and a state permit for all others.

Even though these birds are wild, they are not indigenous to this state, or even to the country, there is no permit required to have them in captivity. That is one of the first things I checked because I know it is illegal for me to have any PA indigenous species.


"Please be aware that in the U.S., wild birds other than Starlings, House Sparrows and Pigeons are illegal to have without Federal Wildlife Permits. If you live in the U.S. and have a different bird species please contact a wildlife rehabber. Some rehabbers will not accept Starlings, House Sparrows, Pigeons, and some other birds, please check to be sure that they will rehab your bird before turning it over to them." ~Starling Talk Website

He is on his third day and seems to be doing well, eats like a little piggy. I am still trying to find someone that may be a bit more qualified than myself to take the little guy. I had one person recommend a rehab place but I'm not sure if they even take starlings and it would be a 400 mile round trip and I just can't do that with my baby birds needing fed every 3 hours

 

[dishgal1]

If he is still alive you are doing the very best you can for him. Don't beat yourself up. NO one else would have given him a second glance.
Good job. Wild birds are a lot harder to keep alive I think than domesticated ones. You are a very good person to do that for him.

 

[IcyWolf]

Thank you dishgal and to everyone else for your kind words. I haven't been holding him and have even been feeding him inside his brooder so he doesn't get used to handling but he is already crying whenever he sees me and will turn to face me no matter where I stand. When we first got him just two days ago he would try and hide his face from us, obviously afraid. I had originally thought he was older than he was because he had so many feathers but after looking online at day to day pictures it seems like he was only 12-13 days old when we got him. I'm starting to worry that he is imprinting on humans I know that they are legal to keep as pets and it seems like quite a few people do have them in captivity but I wasn't originally planning on keeping him. This is where I'm at a loss, I'm used to hand raising birds with the intention of them bonding to people and making good pets, it's apparently not as easy as I thought to keep his fear of people instilled in him.

On a good note, he started to stand up today! I don't know if he couldn't stand up at first because he was just weak from not having food for quite a few hours or if he just wasn't old enough but those big legs are working great now! I just took some pics at his last feeding, sorry they are a bit dark, his room doesn't have the best lighting, which works well for everything but pictures since I try to keep his brooder nice and dark like a nest.

Feed me!

Feed Me!!!

Waiting Patiently....

FEED ME NOW!!!

okay, now I'm full

 

[dishgal1]

Looks like he is thriving. I FOUnd a pet crow several years ago that had fallen from a nest. I brought him in and took care of him because his parents didn't even come around. He became so tame and eventually I gradually got him used to the outside. Then I turned him loose. What I didn't realize was when a crow bonds with people it will never leave and go with other crows. It hung around for about 2 years. It was an attack bird. Sit on top of the house or in the tree and when someone drove up it would attack them. When we went outside and sat down he would join us on our head or shoulder. It was so awesome. This story does not have a happy ending......eventually he started to bug the neighbors and attack them and someone did away with him. It was heartbreaking. That was actually the first time I had ever truly bonded with a bird. I should have taken him to a rescue but the thought never crossed my mind because he was free and had already bonded with us. In your case they wouldn't help your bird.
If our pet birds fly off surely he will too when he gets old enough. The wild should be more ingrained in him than our pet birds. Good luck.

 

[Figment]

Aawww....What a cutie! I wish you the best with this situation.

 

[KatherineI]

He is adorable!! That's all I got tho

 

[IcyWolf]

Dishgal I'm so sorry to hear about the crow, I would have been heartbroken! That's what kind of scares me about letting him go, people around here seem to really hate these little guys and I've heard of people doing some pretty horrible things to them I'm so afraid that he might fly up to someone expecting them to be friendly and they might do something nasty to him I just fed him again and I had to pick him up to change his bedding, this was the first time I've held him since they dropped him off, the first time he just kept backing up and trying to get out of my hands(and he couldn't even stand up at the time), this time he just nuzzled down into my hands and when I tried to put him back in the brooder he didn't want to get off my hands :20: It's pretty cute but a bit frustrating, with the baby parrots if you don't actually hold them all the time they will constantly try to run or fly away from you and it really does take a good deal of time getting them to enjoy being handled, yet with this wild bird that I had no intentions of taming it's like he just automatically accepted us, go figure.

Not sure if I mentioned this or not but we have been calling him Jeremy, I have no idea why but from the first time I saw him I said, "He looks like a jeremy". We didn't name him with the intentions of being a pet either, it just popped into my head as soon as I saw him so I started to call him that. But then again I am always naming the wild toads and snakes that live on our property too :09: