Baby birds.... - Paw Talk

Lovemysibs · #1 06-21-2006, 11:25 PM

OK, i want to state that I DID NOT REMOVE THESE BIRDS but... a coworker called me tonight because he found 3 baby wild birds.. sparrows maybe, dunno... they dont even have feathers or anything.. he gave them to me.. right now i have them bunched together in cotton balls... what on earth should i feed them? i mean, its 11:30 at night.. i know what their parents would feed them, but obviously i dont eat worms.. any opinions or help?????

Lovemysibs · #2 06-21-2006, 11:45 PM

Lovemysibs · #3 06-22-2006, 08:59 AM

Oh and they're starlings

CrazyHorse · #4 06-22-2006, 09:09 AM

If you have a cat or can by a box of dry cat food you can use that.
Put about a 1/4 cup of the dry food into a warm cup of water and wait till they are mushy. Then take a tooth pick or tweisers and hold it above them and they should want to eat it.Sparrows are hard because as they grow feathers and want to use more of their wings they need a tall cage.

Good luck!!!!!!

CrazyHorse · #5 06-22-2006, 09:12 AM

Starlings are the same, they are even more active, and grow to be bigger. I rehabilitated 2 of those but only one made it.... Sadly it was my first time and I didn't know they try to fly as soon as they have even a sing of feathers, he had jumped up and i only had about a foot tall cage and he hit his head ( broke his poor little neck ) and pasted away.... I would just like to tell you this so you don't make the same mistake.

SwC · #6 06-22-2006, 08:48 PM

Your best bet is to check with the local vet or online for a name and number of a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in your area. They are the best qualified as I work with several of them in our area in Florida. They do have special formula mix for wild birds but if not experienced in feeding can result in worse case senerios. Usually any vet listed as Exotic will know of a rehaber in your area comparative to most general vets.

TortieBaby · #7 08-25-2006, 12:18 PM

Do what crazyhorse said, but use kitten food, not regular cat food. It is a good temporary substitute because it is very high in protien, which is what they would be getting alot of on a bug diet. Whatever you do, do NOT give them water. If you look in the back of thier throats there is a tiny hole before the throat, if water gets in there they will get pnemonia and die. Also, squeeze out any excess water from the food so it is not dripping wet.

Do not use kitten food for a permanent diet though because they need more nutrients than that. Look on the internet and you can find some good recipes. They will need to be fed about every 15-30 minutes. If they don't open their mouths, try bumping the boxes a little(it replicates a mama bird landing in the nest) and tap the sides of their beaks with something, this ussually works, if not, they are probably not hungry. Don't worry, they will let you know when they want to eat

I live in the mountains and have cats, so I am used to finding baby birds. However, if a bird has been bit by a cat, it WILL die. Something in the saliva kills them within 24 hours.