How to Feed Orphaned Baby Birds Seed

If you find a baby bird that appears to be orphaned, don't attempt to care for it until you're sure. Look in surrounding bushes or trees for a nest from which it might have fallen. If the baby bird has fallen out of its nest, you can pick it up and put it back provided that you can reach the nest. Watch from a distance to see if any parents are still caring for the bird. If there is no evidence of a nest or parents, you can take the bird and care for it.

Things You'll Need

  • Shoe box
  • Old soft towel
  • Heating pad
  • Dropper
  • Corn or oatmeal
  • High protein baby cereal
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the orphaned baby bird's age by the amount of feathers that is has. A hatchling will have only a soft, fuzzy down and the appearance of the formation of pin feathers. Baby birds with this appearance are approximately one week old. A two-week-old baby bird will have feathers and its eyes will be open. At three weeks a baby bird can move around, and at four weeks it will be attempting to fly.

    • 2

      Place your heating pad in the bottom of an old shoebox or similar container. Turn your heating pad on low and place an old towel or rags over the heating pad. Check the temperature of the towel with a thermometer. Your nest should be kept at approximately 98 degrees to keep the orphaned baby bird from getting cold.

    • 3

      Contact a veterinarian or wildlife rescue center to determine if your orphaned baby bird is a seed eater. Not all birds eat seeds as their main source of nutrition. You must feed a baby bird food that is similar to what its parents would feed it.

    • 4

      Feed newly hatched baby birds up to1 tsp. of high protein baby cereal and corn or oat meal mixed with water. The consistency should be that of baby food. Feed your orphaned bird from morning to night every 20 minutes. Parent birds do not feed babies after dark.

    • 5

      Continue to feed your orphaned bird your grain formula, but offer seed when your orphaned bird is three weeks old for it to practice with. Cut your feedings to every hour at this age. As your orphaned baby bird grows, increase the amount of food that you feed it. Your baby bird will stop eating when it is full.

    • 6

      Offer more seed than formula at 4 to 6 weeks of age. Fledglings can feed themselves at this age, but still rely on parents to get enough nutrition. Formula can be used as a filler to keep your fledgling from losing protein needed to sustain rapid growth. Feedings of formula should be no more than every three hours. By the time your orphaned bird is 8 weeks old, it should be able to fulfill its nutritional needs without the formula.

    • 7

      Place your birdcage outside when your orphaned baby bird shows signs of being able to fly. Put the cage up high enough to protect it from predators and leave the cage door open during the day. Your bird will become more in tune with its natural habitat and eventually venture out of its cage. Keep birdseed and water in small bowls in the cage.

    • 8

      Continue to offer seed, and add water to a small bowl even if the bird is venturing out on its own. In time your bird will be able to care for itself.