Baby Bird
Young birds are broadly classified into nestlings and fledglings.
- Nestlings. Stay in the nest, are unable to fly and cannot procure food. They are fed by the parent(s).
- Fledglings. Can leave and return to the nest. At first their flight may be for a short distance and is not well coordinated. Their food may be supplemented by the parent(s).
Young birds may also be classified according to certain characteristics at birth, namely:
- Precocial. They are born covered in down, are able to walk and self-feed and leave the nest following the parent(s). They only need the parent(s) for warmth and security — for example, ducklings and chickens.
- Altracial. They are born featherless, cannot walk and the eyes are closed. They are fed by the parent(s) — for example, budgerigars.
Care of Precocial Orphans
- Temperature. House the young orphan in a cardboard box lined with shredded newspaper. Place a 40 watt light bulb above the box, sufficiently high to maintain the floor temperature within the box at 30-32°C (86-90°F). Check the temperature by placing a thermometer on the floor of the box, directly under the heat source. Provide space for the chick to move away from the heat source to prevent overheating. Gradually reduce the temperature to 20 °C (68 °F) by moving the light bulb further away as the chick becomes feathered.
- Feeding. Sprinkle crumbled chick-starter pellets throughout the bedding and provide whole pellets for consumption from a suitable dispenser. A special water dispenser should also be provided so that fresh water is freely available while there is no danger of the young bird falling in water.
Care of Altricial Birds
- Temperature. House the young orphan in a cardboard box lined with shredded newspaper. Place a 40 watt light bulb above the box, sufficiently high to maintain the floor temperature within the box at 30°-32°C (86°-90°F). Check the temperature by placing a thermometer on the floor of the box directly under the heat source. Provide space for the chick to move away from the heat source to prevent overheating. Gradually reduce the temperature to 20°C (68°F) by moving the light bulb further away as the chick becomes feathered.
- Feeding. Feed the chick hourly. Orphan birds caveat the same food as adults except it must be of an. appropriate consistency. Slurry is a thin paste made by adding water to solid food to create a fluid consistency. Feed small amounts frequently, allowing the crop to empty between feeds. When the crop is full, there is swelling on the side of the neck. Most altricial breeds gape for food, an instinctive response that can be stimulated by touching the orphan’s beak or top of the head. Blunt tweezers, syringe, eye dropper or spoon cane used to place food in the orphan’s mouth. At this stage, sufficient water is obtained through the food.
Baby Bird Diets
Grain eaters such as cockatoos, canaries and budgerigars
- Add 3 teaspoons of water to 3 teaspoons of rearing mix and feed as a slurry (thin paste).
- If feeding by syringe, add sufficient water so that the slurry (thin paste) can he sucked up into the syringe.
Carnivores such as birds of prey
- Add water to tinned cat or dog food to make a paste.
- Add water to dry cat or dog food and feed as a slurry (thin paste).
- Chicken or rabbit flesh broken up into small pieces provides a more solid type of diet.
Insectivores such as lorikeets
- Mix crushed plain biscuits and rolled oats with honey, then add water to form slurry (thin paste).
Omnivores such as crows and magpies
- Blend together chicken, hard-boiled (hard-cooked) egg, wholegrain (whole wheat) bread and tinned cat or dog food to a porridge-like consistency.
Insectivores such as wrens and wagtails
- Mix together climbed hard-boiled (hard-cooked) egg, cheese, tinned cat or dog food, wholegrain (whole wheat) bread and water and feed as a slurry (thin paste).
Unidentified orphan
- A suitable diet is 2 parts tinned cat or dog food, 1 part mashed hard-boiled (hard-cooked) egg, and 1 part cooked spinach (silver beet) and 1 to 2 drops of a multivitamin supplement. Add water and feed as a slurry (thin paste).