Raising A Baby Bird

You've probably just found a young bird, and don't know where to start. Read through this page to find out how to meet the young birds immediate needs.

Does the bird have feathers (young birds who have just grown their feathers are called 'fledglings') or not? If it does have feathers, I would recommend doing nothing, although you may want to put it up on a branch if it allows you to, or shoo him under a safe nearby bush. But do not chase it too much if it is afraid of you. You might drive him into a more dangerous situation.

Fledglings (as opposed to nestlings, which are naked or covered with down or pin-feathers) have most of their feathers on their bodies. There may be areas of nakedness, such as under the wings, but for all intents and purposes, they now look like 'flying' birds. This does not necessarily mean that they can indeed fly. Many fledglings leave the nest before they are capable of flight, and some few species even tend to leave the nest before they are completely feathered! This is completely normal behavior, and requires no assistance on our part.

Most baby birds go directly to the ground when they have fledged (attempted their first flight), and the parents continue to feed them there. The parents may not be present for some time, and this is normal. At this point, they are trying to teach their young some independence.

I repeat, please leave small feathered birds alone during breeding season, unless they are in CLEAR danger. Most of the mail I received last year was for advice concerning fledglings. Once removed from their environment, you will not be able to return them until after the hard-pen time since at this time they will not be able to survive without their parents, who will have given them up as lost if you keep them.

Ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, plovers, killdeer, and other shore birds, produce 'Precocial Chicks'. The young of these species are able to walk and forage shortly after hatching. They are often left alone while the mother searches new territories. She will return for them. It is very rare for a Precocial chick to need rescuing.

--> If you have rescued a fledgling, please proceed to the 'Fledglings' page.

--> If you have rescued a Precocial chick, please proceed to the 'Precocial Chicks' page.

--> If you spot a nest that seems abandoned, please proceed to the FAQ page.

--> If a rescued bird seems injured, move on to paragraph #3 of this page.

--> If a rescued bird does not have feathers, or has very few, small, undeveloped feathers (pin feathers) read on.

Put him back in the nest. Nobody is more capable of raising the chick than its own mother. It might seem fun, but it is a lot of work, and too many things can go wrong too easily. That being said, maybe you would have done this, but it was not possible for some reason (in my case, we did not have a ladder that went up high enough to reach the nest).

** WARNING! ** Even small birds will sometimes attack intruders. Be ready for the possibility that the parents may try to forcibly repel you from their nest. It's a little unusual, but it does happen. Be careful if you are using a ladder, climbing a tree, or otherwise lack stable footing! If the attacks are distracting, unnerving, or painful, best to give up the attempt altogether for your own safety.

If he is sick, there is probably not much you can do. Call a vet, rehabilitator, or wait it out otherwise. He may get over it, but most likely not. If he is injured, is it internal (are there any unusual black, blue, or red marks, keeping in mind that these colors might be normal sometimes) or to a limb? If there are internal injuries, do not feed the bird until you can get him to rehabilitator or vet. Try to wait until there are signs that the injury is subsiding. Again, he will most likely die if this is the case.

If the injury is to a leg or wing, he may survive, but will most likely be lame if you cannot get him to a professional rehabilitator or veterinarian in time. He may never be able to return outdoors. Will you keep the bird as a pet in this case, and is it legal where you live? You should find out. If it is not legal, (and it probably isn't) you could probably do a little more research for a shelter or organization that can keep the bird. A sick/injured bird can use a little more heat than normal, maybe up to 95 degrees or a little more. Check for over heating (panting, open mouth, restlessness).

Visible external parasites need to be diagnosed properly to be treated accordingly. Sometimes physically removing them will be sufficient, but for many, dusting treatments are required. Extreme care must be exercised in the application of these products. Please ask someone with experience about the appropriate treatment necessary.

If the bird is injured or sick, check out the first aid section of the "Mistakes" page for some helpful tips.

Check the following link to the ID page to see if you can confirm an ID on your nestling. Properly identifying which species you have can sometimes be vital when care requirements are considered. At present I have few pictures on the page, so descriptions are verbal.

Handling should be kept to an absolute minimum to avoid injury and stress. However, on the rare occasion that you must handle a bird, the use of thin gloves is highly recommended to prevent the bird from transmitting any diseases to you. ( plastic dishwashing gloves will do)

Touching the bird with naked hands can also erode the natural oils on the feathers, causing micro-damage to the hairs which is not visible. This leads to poor flight skills and virtually non-existent insulation properties. A bird released with such damage cannot survive outdoors.

Give him no water whatsoever! Even 1 drop may give him pneumonia, which is always fatal. This is probably the most common killer of orphaned birds. Baby birds get enough moisture from their food to maintain their water needs.

Keep him warm (around 90 degrees), with no direct heat from a light bulb. If you must use a light bulb as a heat source, place a towel between the bird and the light bulb (but not directly on the bird) to avoid burns or over heating until you can call a local animal shelter or organization that is equipped to deal with these birds. Try to be quick about finding a place, if there is such a place in your community.

Young birds that have been rescued should not be given food immediately. They need to recoup from the trauma that led them into your care, and they need to adjust to the new surroundings. Even if the bird seems malnourished or extremely out of sorts, you must refrain from feeding them right away. Wait at least 1/2 hour after setting them up in your home, before attempting to feed them. A complete hour would be even better, but don't wait too long after that.

During this time make sure they are comfortable, in a quiet room, and keep all visitors away! Children and nosey neighbors will just have to wait until later! :-)

Use the hyperlink at the bottom of this page to find a rehabilitator in your area.

If after all your efforts, you cannot find a local rehabilitator that will care for the bird, and you decide that you will attempt to raise it yourself, please read the rest of my site carefully and completely. The needs of these young birds are quite specific, and can be demanding in time and effort. Continue to the next page, which deals with the general care necessary for young birds. (click here to go to the 'General Care' page)

Avoiding stress and injury are the 2 main concerns. Keep noise levels down as much as possible (this includes talking around the bird), make sure the ambient temperature is sufficient, and look for any possible dangers.

Use a small box or container stuffed with paper towels or other soft material. A box or container just large enough to accommodate the bird is preferred to a larger one if you are bringing him in the car. This will prevent unnecessary tumbling during the ride. A cloth should be placed in the box or container, as well as over and around the box to prevent drafts and reduce stress.

For the quick (under ten minutes) transport of a stressed or injured bird if you don't have a box available, the bird may be placed in a paper bag with the top folded over once. The paper bag has the effect of calming the bird. Carry the bag gently! DO NOT use plastic bags, or the bird will suffocate.

Hands can be used for very quick relocation, but the utmost caution must be observed. Place the bird in one hand, and gently cover the whole bird with the other hand. DO NOT keep a bird in this manner for more than a couple of minutes. The risk of injury is high, whether through your own actions or those of a struggling bird.

SPECIAL NOTE! Relax and prioritize. Rushing around in a panic will help no one, including the bird. Take a moment after you've set him up to sit down, take a deep breath, and relax. After that, then consider what it is that you have to do. You've read the directions on this page, so now you should go on to the next 2 pages (General Care and Recipes) right away. After that, you may proceed to the following pages at a more leisurely pace. Do try to read them within the next day or 2.

By proceeding calmly, and planning what it is you'll have to do, you will offer your bird the best chance for survival.

Click this box to go to the next page,

General Care

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This web site is not intended to replace the expert care that is only available by professional rehabilitators. The use of this web site is only intended for those where the option of bringing an orphaned bird to a rehabilitator is not possible. By raising a wild bird yourself, you greatly diminish it's chances for survival. Please check this link for a rehabilitation center in your community: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm. If none are listed near you, call a local animal shelter, veterinarian, or wildlife office/agent for information on local rescue centers. Thank you.

Nestlings	Fledglings	Precocial Chicks	General Care	Recipes
Species Info.	Common Mistakes	Release	Bird Essays	FAQ