Instructions for Hand-Feeding Baby Birds

Baby birds may need to be hand fed for many reasons. The death of the mother bird, the inability or desire of the mother to care for them, or a large clutch of eggs that is more than a mother can handle. Feeding baby birds takes commitment and some hard work, but it can be done.

  1. Housing and Supplies

    • Baby birds should be kept warm at all times. A small aquarium can be outfitted with a towel-wrapped heating pad and paper towels to protect the towel. A mesh cover will allow airflow, but covering a portion of the mesh to eliminate drafts is a good idea. Be sure to keep the babies well away from predators such as cats and dogs.
      There are a variety of ways to get the food in to the baby's mouth. Small syringes can be used to squirt small amounts of food in at a time, or the food can be dripped in using a small paint brush. Even a small spoon or bent cup can be used to slowly pour the food in to the mouth of the baby bird. You can experiment to find what works best for you and the babies.
      Be sure to keep the housing area clean by changing the paper towels after every feeding. Feeding utensils should be thoroughly washed and sanitized after every use.

    How to Feed

    • With newborn birds you should usually feed less than 1 cc per feeding unless it is a large species of bird. Feeding should be repeated every 1 to 2 hours. You should begin by holding the baby firmly and securely in one hand. Make sure that he can not jump out of your hand, but do not hold so tightly that you hurt him. With a healthy baby you should be able to initiate feeding by touching whatever feeding instrument you choose to the corner of the beak. This should cause the baby to open his mouth, allowing you to then slowly drip the food in to it. Babies can also be fed by a tube that is inserted in the throat. But this should only be done after extensive research, as you can drown the baby by accidentally inserting the tube in the windpipe.

    What to Feed

    • There are several good baby bird liquids such as Kaytee Exact, ZuPreem and Lafebres. These foods can be found at large pet stores such as PetSmart or online at sites such as Amazon or Online Pet Depot. Package directions, which usually consist of mixing with warm water, should be followed exactly.