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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Baby bird help

    Once again, I am caring for a baby bird.

    I went outside and saw a dove sitting on the ground with 2 babies that apparantly fell out of their nest.

    I have a golden retriever that loves to eat baby birds, so I had to move them into a tree.

    When I went back to check on them, one was gone (the one was strong and could fly a bit), the other was huddled, shivering in the pouring rain, and no sign of mama.

    I currently have it in a giant reptile tank I used to have, on shredded newspaper, with a torn up sweater of mine for warmth, and a heat rock (covered in a towel, so it isn't too hot for it)

    I bought some bird hand-raising formula at the pet store, and have syringes and eyedroppers to feed it. I managed to get a little bit in its mouth, but it's so small, I can't wedge the dropper into his mouth very well

    Anything else I could/should do?

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    God/dess pookie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby bird help

    if you touch baby birds sometimes the mothers will abandon them. Its important to wear gloves and not get your human scent on them.




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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby bird help

    ^Actually, that's an old wives' tale. Most birds have very poor sense of smell, and can't distinguish "human contact".

    I took the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation center, and tehys aid he should be okay. They think he's a nestling that fell out of the nest with all the rain we've had.

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    Featured Member Perry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby bird help

    You have to really shove the syringe down the baby's throat and fill it untill the "gullet' is full. He should sleep right after that. I used to voluteer at a bird rescue center. Are you in the midwest? I could give you the address.

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    God/dess loveandluxury's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby bird help

    Ohhhh... pictures? I love baby birds

    Animals are my friends, and I don't eat my friends.
    - George Bernard Shaw

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby bird help

    Update:

    I decided to take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center, since I really don't know if the baby bird foruma I was using was good enough, if it was warm enough, etc.

    I called one center nearby and they were really rude, and not the least bit helpful.

    So I took it to another center about an hour away, the Schuylkill Wildlife Clinic http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/departments/wildlife/

    They were wonderful. Really nice and helpful, and swooped right in to take care of him. And they weren't the least bit pushy...I gave a donation because I was so grateful they were helping me, but they never asked or pushed, and they would have taken care of him even if I gave nothing.

    They said the baby was a nestling, whow ouldn't have survived out of his nest...he probably got knocked out with all the rain we had

    When I got home, I took my dog out...who found the bird's little brother, cold and skinny and crying pitifully for food.

    Gave THAT one some food (he was so hungry it was easy...he opened his beak wide and squawked for food), ...but the Turnpike was backed up with traffic, so I couldn't take him to the Schuylkill one, so I had to take him to the other one that was kind of rude

    They seemed to really care for the animals, but need to brush up on their people skills. They yelled at me and said I stole him from his mom, because his stomach was full, and I explained that when I saw him, he was all shriveled and hungry, and that he was full because I just fed him. I told them what the other center had said about his brother, and they continued to yell that I stole him.

    And then asked me for money

    But at least they seem to care for the animals.

    All in all, I spent about 4 hours in the car taking birds to centers. I am insane.

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    God/dess CKXXX's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby bird help

    Good for you for taking him in. It can be very tricky hand feeding baby birds..you have to do it just right or the food will go into their lungs and not their crop. Plus, if the baby was out of the nest it most likely had something very wrong with it...thats why many mother birds kick them out. So they can concentrate their energy on the babies that will live. And yes, the touching thing is an old wives tale...birds cant really smell and it wouldnt make a difference. BUT..since he was likely kicked out of the nest for being sick, if you had put him back..mom would very likley have kicked him out again. This way..he at least has a chance.

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    God/dess pookie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby bird help

    Quote Originally Posted by kandie_kitten View Post

    All in all, I spent about 4 hours in the car taking birds to centers. I am insane.
    Yes, but it also makes you a nice person. =)




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