Found a wild bird

[Mygala]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pet Sitting 14 inorder to feed a baby bird you have to pry it's beak open with your hands i have experience with hand feeding doves.

Actually, a healthy baby bird should solicit food by opening it's mouth and chirping. There is often a "pumping" motion associated with this.

Younger birds especially will react to any movement near them with this gaping behaviour.

As birds get older, and develop a fear of humans, this behavior can be suppressed by the fear. In that case, you might have to force feed.

If that's the case, you have to be extremely careful. The beak, the musculature, and it's skeletal components are very very fragile. You can easily damage a small bird by using too much force.

This is one of many reasons that it is illegal in the United States for anyone without a rehabbers license to raise, foster or even possess native species of birds. ...Even if you are unable to find a rehabber for them.

Bob

[Pet Sitting 14]

Thanks I forgot to mention that. The birds i am hand raising are from my breeding pair of doves. I hand raised there first baby at 1 week old. Now i'm hand feeding his brother and sister.

I had a hard time getting them to open beak, due to them being used to inserting beak into parents mouth. But now all you have to do is gently grab beak, and they open their beak no more prying open. They are 2 weeks old now. And doing great. The female, Aurora, will stay with me she will be a part of another breeding pair, and the male, white one, will be going to my grandma. Snowy there first offspring is fully tame i can put him on my pillow and when i gently stroke his head he falls to sleep.

[Brittney]

Thanks for the responses everyonw.

Next time I see a bird would it just be wise to leave it or should I try helping it?

[Mygala]

Generally, IMO, it's best to leave them for the parents to care for. Either that, or you can do some research ahead of time to find out local rehabbers who take them.

Same for mammals like squirrels and rabbits... you never know when you might need the info for yourself, or others.

I keep a list of phone numbers ..including to state fish and wildlife that I can call.

I also know which vets in the area will take care of wildlife..

Bob