Lost chicks are not uncommon to see in the spring. Her pitiful great-grandchildren awaken the maternal instincts in everyone, even those who are relentless. It is natural for you to want to take the chick home and care for it until it returns to health, but first you need to take a moment to assess the situation around you and make sure that what you are about to do is the best decision for the chick. Try to find out if the chick has really been abandoned by its mother. Also find out if there is an animal rehabilitation center in your town that can take better care of the poor chick. If you do, in the end, decide to take care of the chick yourself, it's important that you understand the commitments you have to make. Chicks are physically very susceptible to disease, and need to be fed almost all the time. If you feel ready to take care of them, this article will tell you everything you need to know about how to feed and care for chicks.
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Method 1 of 3: Assessing the Situation
Step 1. Identify whether the chicks you find are altricial or precocial
The first thing you should do when you find a stray chick is to identify the breed, whether it is an altricial or precocial bird. Altricial birds are birds born with their eyes closed, without feathers and completely dependent on their mother for food and warmth. Most parrots and songbirds are altricial birds, such as robins, blue jays and cardinals. Meanwhile, precocial birds are birds born with more developed physique. When it hatches, its eyes open and there are fine hairs on its body. This bird can walk and immediately follow its mother while pecking at the food it finds. Some examples of birds belonging to the precocial species are killdeers, ducks, and geese.
- Precocial birds are easier to care for than altricial birds, but they usually tend not to need much help. Precocial birds usually make their nests on the ground so that they cannot fall or be thrown from the nest. If you find a precocial chick, try helping the chick to reunite with its mother before you take it home for care.
- The newly hatched altricial chicks are completely helpless and, therefore, will need help. In suburban areas, finding altricial birds that have fallen or been thrown from their nests is common. If this happens, you can immediately return the chick to the nest. If not, you can take it home and take care of it yourself. You can also just leave the chick where it fell. Let nature decide its fate.
Step 2. Identify if the chick is a nestling (baby bird) or a fledgling (young bird)
If you find a chick of a parrot or songbird that seems to have fallen out of its nest or been abandoned by its mother, first identify whether the chick is a baby bird or a young bird. A baby bird (nestling) is a chick that is too young to leave the nest because the feathers on its body are not fully developed and its eyes are not open yet. Meanwhile, young birds (fledgling) are more mature chicks, with more developed feathers and sufficient strength to learn to fly. Young birds can leave their nests and know how to perch on branches.
- If the chick you find is a baby bird, it shouldn't be outside its nest and something is usually wrong. The baby bird may fall from the nest or be pushed by a stronger sibling. Baby birds abandoned by their mothers have almost no chance of survival if left alone.
- If you find a young bird, you can take the time to assess the situation around you first before committing to a heroic act. Even though the young bird looks as if it has fallen from its nest or has been abandoned by its mother, trying to flap its wings and squeak resignedly on the ground, it is probably learning to fly. As you observe it longer, you may notice that its mother comes to feed it for a period of time. If this is the case, it's a good idea to leave the bird alone and not take it home.
Step 3. If possible, return the chicks you find to the nest
If you are sure that the chick you found is a baby bird, and it is lying helplessly on the ground, you can take it back to its nest. First, find out if there is a bird's nest in a nearby tree or bush. The nest may be completely hidden or difficult to reach. Once you find the nest, take the baby bird. Lay him in the palm of your hand, with your other hand covering it. Leave it for a while until the baby bird starts to feel warm. Check for any wounds on the baby bird's body and, if he is okay, carefully return him to the nest.
- You don't have to worry that the mother bird will reject it because of the 'human smell' attached to her body. This is not true. In fact, birds have a poor sense of smell. They recognize their children (almost always) by sight and hearing. Often, the mother bird will still accept the fallen chick when it is returned to the nest.
- Once you've returned the baby bird to its nest, back off immediately. Don't stay near the nest to ensure that the mother will return, as you will scare the mother away. If possible, you can observe the nest from inside your home using binoculars.
- Keep in mind that, in most cases, returning a baby bird to its nest does not guarantee its safety. If the fallen baby bird is the weakest of its brethren, it is likely that it will be knocked back from its nest by its stronger brethren as they will compete for food and warmth.
- If you see a baby bird that has died in the nest, then the nest has been abandoned by the mother so there is no point in returning the fallen baby bird to the nest. In this case, you will have to take care of the baby bird yourself, along with its surviving siblings to ensure its safety.
Step 4. Make a replacement nest if necessary
Sometimes, entire nests can fall due to strong winds, tree cutting or predators. In this case, you can take the nest (or build a new one) and return the fallen chicks to the nest. If the original nest is still intact, you can place the nest in a small basket (berry basket) or butter container (with holes in the bottom for drainage). Use wire to hang the basket (with the original nest in it) from a tree branch. As much as possible, hang the nest where it was previously. If this is not possible, you can hang it on a nearby branch. Make sure the place where you hang the nest is protected and not exposed to direct sunlight.
- Collect the fallen chicks and warm them with the palm of your hand before returning the chicks to the nest. After you return them to their nest, leave the place but try to monitor their condition from a distance. The mother bird may feel strange and suspicious about her new nest, but her maternal instinct to care for her young will help to overcome these feelings.
- If the original nest is completely damaged, you can make a new one using a small basket lined with paper towels. Even if the original nest is made of grass, you should not cover the spare nest you made with grass as grass contains moisture which can chill the chicks.
Step 5. If you believe that the chick you found was actually abandoned by its mother, contact a bird rehabilitation center first
It is important that you make sure that the chicks you find are abandoned baby birds before you take them home. The most common situations for providing assistance to a chick or adult bird are: when a baby bird falls from the nest and cannot find or reach the nest; when baby birds are injured, weak or dirty; or after you've watched over a spare nest that's been built for more than two hours and the mother bird doesn't come back to feed her chicks.
- The best thing you can do in a situation like this is to contact a bird rehabilitation center that will care for the chick. Apart from that, they also have experience in caring for chicks and do their best to keep them alive.
- If you can't find a bird rehabilitation center in your city, contact your veterinarian or local environmental protection officer who can provide the information you need. In some cases, there may not be a bird or wildlife rehabilitation center in your area, but there may be a licensed rehabilitator living in your area.
- If you don't have any options, or you can't take the found chick to a rehab center, you may need to take care of the chick yourself. Keep in mind that self-care at home should be a last resort because caring for and feeding chicks is a very time-consuming job. In addition, the survival chances of the chicks are very low.
- In addition, it is technically illegal for you to keep or care for a wild bird in a cage, unless you have permission to do so.
Method 2 of 3: Feeding the Chicks
Step 1. Feed the chicks every 15 to 20 minutes, from morning to evening
Chicks have a feeding schedule that can take up your time. The mother actually makes hundreds of trips in search of food every day. To follow a proper feeding schedule, you should feed the chicks every 15 to 20 minutes, from morning to evening.
- Once the chick has opened its eyes and on its body, a few feathers have grown, you can feed it every 30 to 45 minutes. After that, you can gradually increase the amount of food at each meal and reduce the time he eats.
- Once the chicks are strong enough to leave the nest and begin to jump in the box (the nest), you can feed them every hour. You can gradually reduce the time to eat every 2 to 3 hours. Also, try putting bits of food in boxes and letting the chicks pick them up on their own.
Step 2. Find out what foods are allowed to be given to chicks
There are many different opinions regarding the right type of food for chicks. However, most experts agree that as long as the chick is getting the nutrients it needs, the type of food is definitely not that important. Although some adult birds have a special diet-some birds eat insects, and others eat seeds and berries-almost all chicks have the same nutritional requirements and need to be given a high protein intake.
- For altricial baby birds that have just hatched, the types of food that are suitable as basic food are a mixture of pellets or dog or cat food (60%), hard-boiled eggs (20%) and mealworms or mealworm beetle larvae (20%). You can buy mealworms on the internet.
- The pellets must first be softened with water to a spongy texture. However, make sure you don't use too much water as the pellets can absorb a lot of water and make the baby bird choke. Boiled eggs and mealworms should be cut into small pieces so that baby birds can swallow them easily.
Step 3. Begin to diversify the food types for your chicks as they progress
When the chicks you raise grow up and begin to jump, you can start to vary the type of food and provide the types of food that he will eat when he has become an adult bird.
- Insect-eating birds will eat chopped earthworms, grasshoppers and crickets, as well as insects that collect under the bug zapper or bug trap.
- Fruit-eating birds will eat berries, grapes and raisins that have been soaked in water.
Step 4. Identify what types of birds require certain types of food
The exceptions to the food types described in this article apply to bird species such as pigeons and pigeons, parrots, hummingbirds, fish-eating birds, birds of prey and precocial chicks.
- Pigeons, pigeons and parrots usually consume 'pigeon milk,' a liquid produced by their mothers. As a replica of 'pigeon milk', give a liquid formula made especially for parrots (available at pet supply stores). You can feed the chicks using a plastic injection, of course with a discarded needle.
- While you probably won't find chicks of any other bird species, you need to know that there are certain types of food that you should feed certain types of birds. Hummingbird requires a special nectar formula as food. Fish-eating birds need finely chopped minnows (you can buy them at a fishing shop). Birds of prey will eat insects, mice and other small birds. Finally, you can give precocial chicks turkey meat or other game poultry that has been cut into small pieces.
Step 5. Don't give the chicks bread and milk
Many people make the mistake of giving milk or bread to the chicks they raise. Unlike mammals, milk is not a type of natural food for birds and their bodies will reject the intake of milk that comes in. Meanwhile, bread contains a lot of zero calories and cannot provide the nutrients needed by the chicks to stay alive. Also, make sure that any food you give your chicks is served at room temperature.
Step 6. Use proper feeding techniques
The chicks need to be fed very carefully. Therefore, use tools such as blunt claws or plastic tongs when feeding your chicks. If you don't have either of these, use a small chopstick that fits the width of your chick's mouth. Squeeze some bird food using a claw or stick a small amount of food on the end of the chopsticks, then carefully put the food into the baby bird's mouth.
- You don't have to worry about the bird choking on food because the glottic valve at the base of the chick's throat closes when it eats.
- If the chick's mouth doesn't open, try gently touching the beak with a feeding device (such as a plastic claw) or rubbing food around the tip of the beak. This becomes a kind of marker of feeding time for the chicks. If it still won't open its mouth, gently force its beak open.
- Keep feeding him until he refuses to open his beak or starts to refuse the food you give him. It is important that you do not overfeed him.
Step 7. Avoid giving water to the chicks
The chicks should not be given water to drink because the water can fill their lungs making it dangerous for their safety. Water should only be given after he is big enough to jump in the cage. Once your chicks have reached this point, you can place a shallow container of water (such as a jar lid) in the cage so your chicks can drink on their own.
- You can put a stone or a few marbles in the water container so birds can't get in and stand in the container.
- If you feel that your chick is dehydrated (lack of body fluids), take your bird to the vet or bird rehabilitation center for a fluid injection, so that it is no longer dehydrated.
Method 3 of 3: Caring for Chicks
Step 1. Make a temporary nest for your chicks
The best way to make replacement nests for your chicks is to use cardboard boxes, such as shoe boxes, that have been lined. You will also need to make some holes in the bottom of the box. Place a small plastic or wooden bowl in the box and line the box with a paper towel (no color). The box can be a beautiful and comfortable nest for your chicks.
- Do not line the box with materials such as yarn or scraps of patchwork, as these can wrap around your chick's wings and neck (throat). Also, avoid using grass, leaves, moss or tree branches because these materials are easily damp and moldy.
- Change the box base immediately whenever it starts to get damp or dirty.
Step 2. Keep your chicks warm
If the body of a found bird feels damp (wet) or cold, you need to warm it up as soon as you put it in the box (cage). You can keep her warm in two ways. If you have a heating pad, you can set it to a low heat and place it on top of the box. Alternatively, you can fill a ziplock bag with warm water and place it on top of the box. You can also hang a 40-watt light bulb above the box and turn it on.
- It is important that you maintain the temperature in the nest. Therefore, it's a good idea to put a thermometer in the box. If the baby bird is under a week old (eyes closed and body without feathers), set the box temperature to around 35 degrees Celsius. Every week that passes, you can lower the temperature by 3 degrees.
- In addition, it is important that you keep the box in a place protected from direct sunlight and strong airflow. Newly hatched baby birds are very susceptible to cold and very hot weather because of their large body surface relative to their body weight and underdeveloped body feathers.
Step 3. Create an environment that doesn't stress your chicks
Chicks don't thrive unless they're kept in a calm and stress-free environment. When chicks feel stressed, their heart rate increases significantly and this is bad for their health. Therefore, place the kennel in a quiet place that is not accessible to children and pets. Try to avoid the following:
- Excessive or improper handling, improper room temperature, keeping too many chicks in one place (if you keep more than one), and irregular feeding schedules and improper feeding.
- Observe and hold with the baby bird down. Try to align your height with the position of the chick when you try to observe and hold it because it does not like to be seen from above. Holding it when your height is at par with the chick's position makes you less 'threatening' to the chick.
Step 4. Record your chick's development
Monitor her progress by weighing her every day to make sure she's gaining weight. You can use a food scale or a postal scale. Your chick should gain weight every day and, within 4 to 6 days, it should reach twice its weight when it was newly hatched. In the first two weeks, your chick's weight should continue to increase rapidly.
- Read the bird growth chart to get an indication of whether your chicks are growing normally/
- If your chicks gain weight slowly, or don't gain weight at all, it's a sign that something is wrong. If this happens, take your chick to the vet or bird rehabilitation center immediately, or it may die.
Step 5. Let your chick learn to fly, then let go
Once your chick has fully developed into a young bird, you will need to transfer it to a larger cage or covered patio so it can spread its wings and learn to fly. You don't have to be afraid if your chick doesn't know how to fly-birds have an instinct to fly and, after several failed flight attempts, they finally fly well. Usually birds learn to fly for 5 to 15 days.
- Once the chick can fly easily and reach a sufficient height, it is ready to be released. Take your chicks to a place where birds of the same species and many have food sources visit, then let the chicks fly.
- If you plan to release it in your garden, you can take the cage to the garden and then leave the door open. Let your chick decide for itself when it's ready to go.
- The less time he spends in a cage, the better his chances of survival in the wild. Therefore, do not delay the release of your chicks longer than recommended.
