Baby bird

[Brinjal]

This morning I rescued a baby bird from my cat. It seems quite ok I put it in a cage and out under a tree to see if its parents came but so far nothing. I have started feeding it worms and pronutro but I don't know how often I should be feeding it. Has anyone raised a little bird. I phoned a bird sanctuary but they didn't seem interested in taking it so I would like to try raise it myself.

[redman41]

Unusual to find a baby Bird this time of the Year as it's not the breeding Season now. Might be best if you let it go

[Brinjal]

Im in Africa Redman. He cant fly yet. If I let him go he will just die or become a tasty morsel or my cat. Its eithr a babbler or thrush. Cant tell yet as his plumage isnt properly in.

[redman41]

Sorry Brinjal, thought you were in UK !!

[flump1]

I raised a chick years ago Brinjal, it was a love bird chick whose mother rejected it. The chick was fed regularly ( Like most baby creatures) with baby formula, then seeds, crushed up. It took time and dedication, but it was worth it Good luck. x

[Graham-W]

If it's a thrush type bird worms should be ok. This could be supplemented with insects or even moist cat-food. They need about 10-15% of their bodyweight per feed, but just feed them until it begins to loose interest. Start feeding about every half hour during daylight hours. As they grow, slowly increase the amount you feed them at each feeding and stretch the interval between feeding. The baby will help tell you – when it isn’t hungry, it will not open its mouth or it will sling the food morsel out. By the time it is hopping out of the nest, it can be fed every hour. Then you can leave food nearby so it can feed itself at will.
Time consuming and not always successful but worth it when it works.

[boxtops]

I guess it depends somewhat on how old the bird is, what it can stomach.

[Teddio]

I would be surprised if the bird is a baby bird at this time of year. Meal worms (dried perhaps) and water should get it on its feet.

[237SJ]

I`ve rescued baby birds in the past. You can save them from starvation. I had a crow and it was a full time job to keep it fed. The trouble arises when you let them go into the wild. You can`t teach them to find food for themselves so they will almost certainly die unfortunately. I was lucky in that my Dad knew a farmer who took in injured birds and he took a few off me.

[wildwood]

If it is a babbler it will take a long time to get it to eat by itself. Is there any way you can hang the cage up from the ground in the tree? Indeed, keep feeding the baby but cover the cage when it is raining. After a while it will come out of the cage and flies on your shoulder when it sees you, as it associate you with food. When it has had enough food it won't gape for more. Remember that insectivorous birds have a fast digesting system so the more frequent you can feed it, the better. Is there a pet shop around you area that sell livefood for pets? That way you don't have to keep digging for worms. Don't feed mealworms live to a baby as they do not know to kill it first and mealworms have been known to gnaw their way through baby's intestines.

Once it can fly properly leave the cage door open so it can come and go as it pleases. It will then learn to look after itself while you supplement the diet until it feeds enough to sustain itself.

Good luck.

[Brinjal]

Thanks for all the replies and help. I do hope that it will survive. Unortunately we dont have very many pet shops here but one of the vets has meal worms so I will get some tomorrow. Seems to be enjoying the earthworms and the pronutro. I raised an owl a few years ago. That was quite easy but this luttle thing is so delicate. ill let you all know how it goes.

[Graham-W]

If you're going to feed live mealworms, nip the heads off first. They don't always die in the gastric juice of young birds.

[Kiki-frog]

Aw, Brinjal, how wonderful! But baby birds do need to be fed almost constantly during daylight hours. Chopping up mealworms or feeding earthworms would be fine. There's no way that the parent birds will be back now, as baby has been tainted by humans.

Baby will let you know when s/he's had enough to eat, but you will wear yourself out! Hopefully someone can help you. I raised an orphaned blackbird once, and it really was a full-time job.

Looking forward to seeing some pics soon!

[Brinjal]

He is a greedy little soul. I have my maid here who will help out when I have to go out. I dont know how to put pictures up. How do I do that.

[Svejk]

Hi Brinjal, let's hope it aint an ostrich, you'll be worn out.
Regards photos, I think if you type in the red box, loads of info will come up. Sorry I can't help much but all this is quite new to me.

[Brinjal]

An ostrich would be a nightmare but im fairly sure it isnt one of those lol

[Svejk]

Hope it's not too hot for you there, Brinjal.
It's L L L Lovely here.

[Kiki-frog]

Brinjal, the easiest way to share photos is using a free site like Photobucket. A lot of AB folk seem to use it.

http://beta.photobucket.com/

It's got easy instructions for how to upload a pic from your computer, and then all you need to do is copy and paste the link into AB.

How's baby getting on today?

[jomifl]

I raised a crow a few years ago, you can teach them what to eat by taking them out for a forage in the garden where they will instinctively kill insects but won't eat them. If (as it's substitute parent) you give the bird the insect it has killed it will eat it and any similar ones it subsequently finds (crows learn very quickly).
An easy way to feed young carnivorous birds is to beat an egg, put it in a poly bag and immerse it in boiling water 'til cooked. It can then be cut up into appropriate shapes.

[Brinjal]

Bird is doing quite well. Seems he is a type of thrush. Is having a diet of minced worms pronutro and hard boiled egg and now the rains have started flying ants. I have started putting him out I. The aviary for short periods during the day.

[Tilly2]

That is good news. Well done to you.