Baby bird fell out of nest

AmandaF · #1 (**permalink**) 13-05-2007, 03:33 PM

Not sure this is where to put this, but I'm kinda worried about this baby.

We have a nest of 4 baby birds in our patio. well, earlier today, one fell out and he's hopping around the yard. I tried to put him back but he went through our gate, and his mom (who has been watching him) was screeching and yelling at me. But I mean, he can't fly yet and it's not like his mom can help him or anything. Should I go get him and put him back in the nest?

leon-b · #2 (**permalink**) 13-05-2007, 03:51 PM

im not to knowledgable on this but i fear that now you have touched him he will have your scent on him and the mother will not go near him
but saying this we put one that fell out of the net in a box and the mum continiued to feed it
leon

Bramble · #3 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 10:52 AM

I don't know much about this either, but I remember handling a baby starling and mummy loved him just the same afterwards

I suppose it depends on how young and what kind of cover there is.

Lincs Yellowbelly · #4 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 12:43 PM

What type of bird is it?? and how old? it could be ready to leave the nest, Blackbird young always seem to young to be out, but it's natural for them to be

Lance Morgan · #5 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 01:34 PM

Just leave him and the parents will continue to feed on the ground. They won't give up on him at fledgling stage.

SparklySarah · #6 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 03:33 PM

We had this problem too, but we had no choice but to save them really. The nest completely disintegrated, and it was beginning to pelt it down. Raised them and freed them, was a great privilage.
There is always the problem of the mothers rejecting them if they smell of humans, sometimes gloves help, but I suppose someone will have better information than I do! :P

Vixen · #7 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 10:55 PM

just a note to say birds don't have a sence of smell.

if you see a baby bird unless it in danger, please leave it alone.

mrs fish · #8 (**permalink**) 17-05-2007, 05:45 AM

I took a baby blackbird in this week, it was by a road and it sibling had been run over, it was pouring of rain and looked in a sorry state, it wasn't even calling mum.
I fed it lots of worms, it was very hungry and kept it for the night, in the morning 5.15am it started calling very loudly so I put it out the front of the house after a big breakfast of worms, by lunchtime mum was back feeding it, we were so pleased

I had to put it out and take a chance, I had thought about turfing the bottom of the cage and placing worms on the turf if I kept it

Wild-Woman · #9 (**permalink**) 17-05-2007, 06:22 AM

The biggest worry when fledglings are first out of the nest, is predators. The continual calling from the chick attracts cats and the like. So I would say just keep an eye out for the local moggies and foxes and shoo them off as much as poss.
There's not a lot else can be done other than turning a patch of soil over as close as possible so that the parents have nice easy access to worms and grubs, enabling them to feed the chick up quickly and get it flying.

birdgirl · #10 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 03:23 AM

giving baby bird just worms isn't good.
I've had three starlings ( which is VERY similar to blackbirds when it come to worms and that.) that I fed worms, and they all died.

my latest ones have been a success giving them cat biscuits and small quantities of worms.

Pops · #11 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 02:54 PM

This is really interesting and could be of immense practical help for the future.
It does however seem to have some contradicting advice.

I wonder if someone with previous practical experience could sort of take it upon themselves and condense this thread into something that, well I for one, could copy and use for furure ref.

Sorry if I'm asking a bit much.

Lance Morgan · #12 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

The biggest worry when fledglings are first out of the nest, is predators. The continual calling from the chick attracts cats and the like. So I would say just keep an eye out for the local moggies and foxes and shoo them off as much as poss.
There's not a lot else can be done other than turning a patch of soil over as close as possible so that the parents have nice easy access to worms and grubs, enabling them to feed the chick up quickly and get it flying.

They won't call until the parents are nearby. Best advice is to leave well alone unless they are in obvious danger. In which case put them somewhere safe outside. Do not tke them into the house and don't try to feed them. leave them alone and the parents will usually do the rest. If not nature takes its course.
QED

buteo_buteo · #13 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 06:38 PM

What did the bird look like? Did it have any feathers or was it pretty much 'naked'? If it was even partially feathered then it'll probably be a fledgling and it's normal for it to be hoping around on the ground. The mother will still be feeding it and keeping an eye on it and it should not be tampered with, no matter how tempting

If it's 'naked' then chances are it has fallen out, or was pushed out, of the nest and you could try to put it back in and if that's not possibly I'd try to fashion a makeshift nest but place it as near to the original one as possible so the mother can still feed it. And as someone else already said try to keep predators away if you can to give it the best chance.

And no, birds don't reject their young if they come into contact with humans as they have no sense of smell (if they did we wouldn't be able to ring young birds of prey and the likes)

What kind of bird is it by the way?

Coley · #14 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 06:58 PM

In the past, I've rescued a number of birds and other small creatures, but they were all grown up. However in one case I rescued a tiny duckling that could barely keep its head above the water. A man told me to put it back so I did and the other ducks attacked it. I felt sorry for it and took it to the nearest vets, they passed it on to a local who rased it. It turned out to be a little girl that was successfully released in a nearby park. I felt good about my decision. If the worst comes to the worst, phone the RSPCA, they will advise you or take it from there.

Goatboy · #15 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 08:50 AM

Just as an aside, it's not quite true to say birds have no sense of smell. Some birds do use smell to locate food, kiwis, fulmars and turkey vultures are good examples. Though I'm guessing that not many of us will ever have to deal with turkey vulture chicks in our back garden.

I've never seen anything to suggest that birds use smell to identify or bond with chicks though. I have read that diving petrels, which lay their eggs underground, use smell to identify their burrows.

birdgirl · #16 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 06:22 AM

I don't know WHY worms aren't good for a young bird.

but I think that it's probably that the worm is to strong for the younglings.
if you know what I mean.
I think the parents probably dilute it somehow and mix it with something else. ( maybe some other sort of bugs, I don't know.)

also I believe a possible way to tell how healthy the bird is, is by looking at it's poo.

by my experience a lot of white is good, and if the poo isn't runny but jelly formed, is also a good sign.

this is only by my experience though ( I have had a few birds in my time.)

but I do know that worms snail and slugs and ectectect, aren't good for a baby bird.

Pigeon feather · #17 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdgirl

I don't know WHY worms aren't good for a young bird.

but I think that it's probably that the worm is to strong for the younglings.
if you know what I mean.
I think the parents probably dilute it somehow and mix it with something else. ( maybe some other sort of bugs, I don't know.)

also I believe a possible way to tell how healthy the bird is, is by looking at it's poo.

by my experience a lot of white is good, and if the poo isn't runny but jelly formed, is also a good sign.

this is only by my experience though ( I have had a few birds in my time.)

but I do know that worms snail and slugs and ectectect, aren't good for a baby bird.

I think the main reason why worms/snails/slugs etc aren't too good for young fledgelings is because they play host to parasites. I know that worms can carry the eggs of gape worm which is eventually fatal to young birds if not treated, as it's name suggests, once ingested the eggs hatch out and infest the birds trachea causing it to gape as it finds it very difficult to breathe.
I know that many birds feed their young worms and many young birds do not get gape worm but you can't tell just by looking at a worm whether or not it is playing host to this dreadful parasite so it's just best not to feed it in the first place. Good substitutes to feed baby birds is moist catfood, chopped hard boiled egg with insectivourous bird food mixed in and also mealworms, waxworms and other farmed insects and perhaps a bit of fruit depending on the species.

birdgirl · #18 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 02:57 AM

thankyou

birdgirl · #19 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 03:01 AM

Wow.
I had no idea. thanks a lot. I've been looking for the reason why for a LONG time and never found it. so it's so great to finally know

that would explain why some of mine died when I fed them worms. they were gaping a lot.
I'm raising one now, a blackbird, which I'm giving soaked cat biscuits and it's
doing very well.

it's learning to fly, peck for it's food, and it alway's GOT to be next to me.

also a bad thing is to over feed them, they always SEEM hungry,
that was also another problem with our other birds, we fed them to much.

maybe the mother knows how to find gape worm.
also do you know if it affects the adults???

Pigeon feather · #20 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 09:23 AM

Hi Birdgirl, that's good to hear, I had a young blackbird some time back that also loved soaked cat biscuits

blueberrys and mealworms.
I don't know too much about gape worm but found out about it as I worked at an Animal Hospital where we had a high number of fledgeling casualties brought to us and one of the nurses who was very experienced with birds told me. I'm sure if you google it you will find plenty of info, anyway good luck with your little one, it's lovely being mum

I wish I could be again, although since moving and leaving the job I haven't had an opportunity.

birdgirl · #21 (**permalink**) 15-12-2007, 04:05 AM

yea it's doing so well. it's about 3 weeks now.

the only thing I'm worried about it, is stress. because I'm very busy and I have to take him with me.
also do you know if cat food is alright??? not soaked biscuits but cat food.

Coley · #22 (**permalink**) 16-12-2007, 02:04 PM

I'm no expert, but don't Hedgehogs eat slugs and worms and similar stuff to birds? They like cat food meat too don't they? maybe birds can eat it too.

Pigeon feather · #23 (**permalink**) 16-12-2007, 02:12 PM

Yes cat food is fine as well but should have fruit and insects mixed in too, kitten food is better for young birds as it has higher protein, if you get it in chunks make sure to mash it so it's easier for the bird to swallow

birdgirl · #24 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 08:57 PM

My bird is doing great!!!

he can peck for himself, fly VERY well, and he comes to his own name,

even when outside in the trees. he's perfectly tame, and loves to be with me. soon he'll be able to live outside.

He'll still come back I'd say. with my other bird I had, A song thrush, she came back for a long time. and I showed her a window where she could go in out happily. I'd always have a cup of soaked cat biscuits for her to eat. Her mate would wait outside. A couple of times he came in but got scared and went out again. it's an amazing experience having a tame wild bird. you get to watch them grow up, find a mate, have children. it's like watching your own children grow.