How to Feed and Raise Fledgling Birds

Saving the life of a young bird can be a rewarding experience, but it requires various skill sets like carpentry, veterinary medicine and nutrition. Baby birds need numerous, regular feedings and have special diets based on the breed of bird. Removing a wild bird from its habitat is unlawful unless the bird is injured or you know with certainty that the mother of the birds is dead. Often, it is best to help nature without attempting to raise the birds in your home. Not only is the practice illegal, rehabilitating birds in residences is seldom successful.

Things You'll Need

  • Gloves
  • Ventilated covered box
  • Canned dog or cat food
  • Peanut butter
  • Eggs
  • Water
  • Berries
  • Knife
  • Duck starter
  • Sugar
  • Warming pad
  • Towel
  • Small basket
  • Hammer and nails
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Instructions

  1. Baby Birds

    • 1

      Look for injuries on the bird. If the bird is having trouble moving or breathing, is bleeding or is shivering it probably has sustained an injury either from a fall from the nest or from an encounter with a human or another animal.

    • 2

      Put on gloves and immediately pick up the injured baby bird and place it in a ventilated, covered box and call a local wildlife center or veterinarian for further direction.

    • 3

      Try to identify the type of baby bird to determine what to feed it until you can get the bird to a veterinarian or wildlife center. The baby's diet will depend on the type of bird. Insectivores should be fed canned dog or cat food. Jays should be fed dog or cat food mixed with peanut butter. Seed eaters need slowly scrambled eggs mixed with water. Cedar waxwings require berries cut into small pieces with a knife. Ducklings require duck starter mixed with water. To feed a hummingbird boil four parts water and dissolve one part sugar into it. Cool the nectar to room temperature and offer it to the bird with an eye dropper. Pigeons must be taken to a wildlife center immediately because feeding these birds requires a feeding tube.

    • 4

      Keep the bird warm by using a warming pad on low that is covered with a towel.

    • 5

      Attempt to locate the nest if the bird is uninjured.

    • 6

      Put on gloves and place the baby bird in the nest if you can find it and it is safe to access.

    • 7

      Create a makeshift nest out of a small basket if the nest could not be found, is too hard to get to or has been destroyed. Use a hammer and nails to secure the basket to a tree near the baby bird.

    • 8

      Put on a pair of gloves. Pick up the bird and place it inside the nest.

    • 9

      Wash your gloves and hands after handling the baby bird.

    Fledglings Without Injuries

    • 10

      Put on gloves and pick up the uninjured fledgling.

    • 11

      Place the fledgling in a bush or other hidden location near the ground.

    • 12

      Leave the area so the mother can approach the fledgling.

    • 13

      Wash your hands and gloves after handling the fledgling.

    Injured Fledglings

    • 14

      Approach the fledgling bird slowly and look for signs of injury.

    • 15

      Put on gloves and pick up the bird by the shoulders so that its wings cannot flap.

    • 16

      Place the bird in a ventilated, covered box lined with a towel.

    • 17

      Keep the box covered to keep the bird calm.

    • 18

      Contact your local wildlife center or local veterinarian and arrange to drop off the bird.

    • 19

      Take the bird to the wildlife center or local veterinarian.