How to Care for a Newborn Robin

If you are a bird-watcher or simply own a lot of land with trees, you may come across a robin that has fallen out of the nest before it is able to fly, or a wounded fledgling just learning to fly. Our natural instinct is to help, but most of us have no idea how to help or whether our help will actually cause more harm than good. There are some questions to ask yourself and steps to take in this situation than can allay your conscience and give the newborn robin the best chance of survival.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken wire
  • Earthworms
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Instructions

  1. Returning Newborn Robins to their Parents

    • 1

      Determine whether the bird actually needs rescue. A chirping fledgling is most likely trying to tell its parents where it is and that it is hungry. The parents should bring food in a short period of time, perhaps thirty minutes, and will coach the bird back to safe cover.

    • 2

      Return birds in peril to their nest or to well covered branches. If the robin is in danger from other animals, or the parents do not return in the expected time, it is perfectly appropriate to lift it back into its nest if you can find it or onto well covered branches of the nearest tree if you cannot find the nest. The old adage about bird parents abandoning any bird touched by human hand is a myth. If you cannot find the nest, try lining a basket with tissues and tying it to the tree in a shielded area. Once you leave, the parents will find the bird in no time and take care of it.

    • 3

      Repair a broken nest. If the babies have fallen because their nest was forced down by wind or rain, you can place the nest in a bread basket and connect the basket to the tree with wire. Cover the wire with tape so that it will not harm the birds, and they will be able to use the nest again. Leave quickly after setting the nest, but keep an eye on it.

    • 4

      Locate a professional care center. A local veterinarian or animal shelter may be able to assist you if your robin is injured.

    Emergency Care for Newborn Robins

    • 5

      Feed the baby robins canned beef dog or cat food, or small pieces of earthworms on the end of a toothpick. Feed the baby robin as often as it wants to eat.

    • 6

      Keep the babies warm to the touch. Place a towel around one or two hot water bottles (empty shampoo bottles filled with hot water will work) and place them in the bottom of the box or basket holding the bird. This heating method works better than direct heat from the hot sun which could overheat a bird that cannot reach shade.

    • 7

      Take the babies to a bird center if you are certain the parents are not returning. If a robin hasn't returned to the nest in the last two hours when it has young, you can be relatively certain it isn't coming back. Care for the robins for only a day or two until you can find professionals in your area. If you do not know how to prepare the birds to find food in the wild, caring for them yourself until they are completely fit or grown will do more harm than good. It's also illegal to keep wild birds as pets without a license in many areas.