How to Hand Feed a Bird

Feeding by hand is necessary for newborn baby birds without biological parents. Whether the bird has been removed from its bird parents intentionally, or moved to a pet store before it was properly weaned, hand feeding is vital to the survival of the pet bird. Regressed pet birds, due to illness or emotional trauma, are also candidates for hand feeding. The slow tedious process ensures proper nutrition, quantity of food and a chance at raising a healthy bird.

Things You'll Need

  • Hand feeding bird formula
  • Plastic syringes
  • Gram scale
  • Water
  • Bath towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ask how often the baby bird was being fed by the previous owner. Observe a hand feeding session before taking home the bird and doing it yourself. Duplicate the previous owner's feeding methods, keeping the bird interested and ready for mealtime. Feedings twice daily are common. Allow the bird to eat more frequently if he indicates hunger or begging by vocalizing or sitting with an open beak and bobbing his body.

    • 2

      Prepare the bird formula. Purchase baby bird hand-feeding formula powder at a veterinarian's clinic or a large pet retail store. Choose the brand the bird had previously been fed. Measure the powder and water using a gram scale, following the recommendations of the breeder or the food package. Add room temperature or heated water to the formula to make a mush-style food, preparing it to a similar consistency and temperature as previous feedings. For first feedings, follow recommendations on the formula package.

    • 3

      Fill the syringe with formula. Slowly draw the food into the syringe by pulling up on the plunger. Feel the barrel of the syringe, making sure the formula isn't too cold or hot.

    • 4

      Prepare the baby bird. Place a bath towel on the table. Place the bird on the towel, holding him with one hand, and the feeding syringe in the other hand. Gently open the bird's beak if he hasn't already opened it, and aim the tip of the syringe to your left (the bird's right) inside his mouth. Press the plunger slowly, and little by little deposit the food near the bird's crop, inside the back of his mouth. Avoid overflowing the beak with food.

    • 5

      Weigh the bird each morning before it has been fed. Use a gram scale to log weight gain and loss. Losing weight is a sign of illness, according to the Tailfeathers Network. Consistent loss of weight should be evaluated by a veterinarian.