Most people forget that chicks are wild animals. The best course of action for wild animals in most situations is to leave them alone, especially since it is illegal to keep them in the home without a permit. However, if you must carry and feed him, this article will provide the information you need to care for him.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Deciding whether or not the chicks need help
Step 1. Put on gloves
If you plan to touch the bird, wear gloves. That way, the chick doesn't peck you.
Step 2. Check the fur
Birds that are already feathered are fledglings (newly flying chicks), while those that are not yet feathered are nestlings (baby birds).
Step 3. Leave fledgling
Fledgling has every reason to be out of the nest. If the feathers are fully grown, the chick is likely learning to fly and should be outside the nest. Even though it is on the ground, its mother will still feed it.
Step 4. Return the nestling to its nest
Nestling is more likely to need help. If you find a nestling, you can return it to its nest. The location of the nest should not be far. If you can't find it, you may need someone else's help to find it.
- Try to hear the sound of the bird's brother. The nest will be quite easy to find if you follow the squeaking sound of the chicks being fed by the mother.
- To catch a nestling, approach the bird by holding its head and back with one hand and holding its belly and legs with the other. Don't worry the mother will reject it because you touch it. The mother will accept it back to the nest.
- Warm the nestling by holding it in your hand until the bird is no longer cold to the touch.
Step 5. Check for other baby birds
If you find a nest and find that the other nestlings are dead, you can conclude that the nest has been abandoned by its mother and you should bring another nestling that is still alive.
Step 6. If you are not sure, do a finger check
If you can't determine that the bird you've found is a fledgling or a nestling, try letting the bird sit on your fingers. If you can hold it enough, the bird is likely a fledgling.
Step 7. Pay attention to the nest
If you're worried about leaving the bird alone in the nest, you can check whether the mother is back by watching the nest for a few hours. However, be sure to keep your distance as the mother may not return if you get too close.
Step 8. Create a temporary nest
The bird's original nest may have been destroyed by weather, predators, or humans. If you can't find the original nest, build one yourself. You can use a plastic container and cover the container with a cloth, small towel or blanket.
Keep the nest in a dark place near where the bird was found. You can also nail them to trees in the area. Place the bird in it, and make sure to position its feet under its body
Step 9. Wash your hands
Always wash your hands after touching birds. It's a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly when you're done, as birds can carry disease.
Part 2 of 3: Knowing the Right Time to Seek Help
Step 1. Examine the mother bird
If the mother does not return to the nest within a few hours or if you believe the mother is dead, contact a professional for assistance.
Step 2. Check if the bird has suffered any injuries
Birds that have difficulty moving or flapping their wings may be injured. Shivering birds may also be in trouble. Call a professional if the bird is injured.
Step 3. Don't try to maintain it yourself
The storage and maintenance of wild birds is actually illegal. To keep wild animals, you must get a permit from the government.
Step 4. Contact the agency that rehabilitates wild animals
These parties have the expertise and insight to care for baby birds. You can find them on local government websites. Or, try contacting your local vet or animal shelter for references to a wildlife rehabilitation agency in the area.
Ask for advice on how to warm and feed and drink chicks. Ask politely and ask for additional advice by asking "Is there anything else I should know (or pay attention to)?"
Part 3 of 3: Identifying and Feeding Birds
Step 1. Understand the risks
Remember that keeping birds is illegal. The bird is also likely to die if cared for without the insight or expertise to feed it properly. Maintenance is also not easy because baby birds must be fed every 20 minutes. Lastly, you also can't teach birds what their mothers do, like how to hunt for food or stalk predators.
Maintenance can also be dangerous if the bird becomes very used to humans, can't fly, and always expects food from humans
Step 2. Identify the type of bird
You can identify the species by checking websites such as the "Cornell Lab of Ornithology" or the "Audubon Society's Guide".
Precise identification will be easier if you've seen the parent. However, if it is still there, let the baby bird be cared for by its mother. Adult birds have a strong instinct to care for their young and are able to do so
Step 3. Identify the bird's food source
The baby bird's diet will depend on the mother's diet. For example, cardinals eat seeds, while crows eat everything from nuts, berries, insects to small rodents.
Step 4. Feed the omnivore cat or dog food
For omnivores, try dog or cat food. Many wild birds are omnivores and, when young, are fed by their mother with insects. Therefore, foods that are high in protein, such as dog or cat food, are suitable for these birds.
- If you use dry food, soak the food first. Soak the food for an hour. However, make sure the food does not drip water when it is given because water can enter the bird's lungs and cause death. Food should be chewy, but not dripping.
- Make a small ball. Make the food into small, pea-sized balls. Feed the bird by dropping its food in its mouth. Popsicle sticks or chopsticks can be useful for this process. You can also cut the end of the straw to make a small spoon. Baby birds will be ready to receive and eat them. For dry dog or cat food, if the pellets are too large, be sure to crush them first. Basically, all foods should be made the size of a pea.
Step 5. Feed the herbivorous bird bird seed formula (a special blend of grains for birds)
If birds only eat seeds, use a bird seed formula that can be purchased at a pet shop. The type of seed formula that is often sold in pet shops is intended for parrot chicks.
Use a sprayer to push food through the glottis, which is at the base of the trachea. You will see a small opening in your mouth or at the back of your throat when the trachea opens. Ensure that the tip of the spray is directed past the glottis to prevent food or water from entering the bird's trachea
Step 6. Provide food until the baby bird looks full
When they are hungry, baby birds will actively eat. Birds may be full if they don't appear enthusiastic about eating.
Step 7. Don't give the bird water
If the food is wet enough, baby birds do not need additional water before learning to fly (becoming a fledgling). Water will actually harm or even cause the bird to die if it enters the lungs.
If your bird seems dehydrated the first time you are brought in, you can use an isotonic drink or Ringer's acetate solution. Put the liquid on the bird's beak with your hand so the bird can suck it. Some signs of dehydration are dry mouth and reddened skin. When dehydrated, the skin on the back of his neck will also not immediately bounce if pinched
Step 8. Prepare food every 20 minutes
Baby birds need constant food to stay energized. However, you don't have to get up at night to feed him.
Step 9. Don't touch it too often
In order to be able to release it later, make sure the bird is not related to you or assumes that you are the mother. Limit your interactions with the bird and don't treat it as a pet.
In fact, baby birds, especially those less than 2 weeks old, will almost always think of the person caring for them as their mother
Step 10. Let the bird eat its own food at 4 weeks of age
At about 4 weeks old, baby birds will be able to start learning to eat their own food. However, the process can take about a month. You should still feed him during this period, but leave a small container of food in his cage. During this period, you can also provide a very shallow container of water.
Over time, baby birds will no longer be attracted to bribes
Step 11. Feed the nestling until it becomes a fledgling
The process of becoming a fledgling can take weeks. Birds will not survive until their wings grow and they can fly. Birds can only be tried to be released into the wild if they can fly.
- If you nurse the bird into adulthood, change the diet to a diet for adult birds. This diet is different from the previous one.
- Also, once the baby bird jumps around the sides of the box, you can transfer it to a cage.
