House Martin in trouble please help

[dragana85]

Since here itwas raining for more than several days the nest of the house martins on my balcony colapset and was not even one whole peace to be reused. Also the place is very dangerous for me to go up there because is the 7th floor of a building.

Since i put them on as much high as i could so that the parents see them and breed them, the parents saw them buut didnt come close. 4 of the chicks died and since one was alive i thought i should give it a try by myself. I took the chick inside put it in a box with a termophore beneath so it woud heat him, and put a cotton towel above. I give him as much insekts as i can because of the rain there are so little of them so i give him boiled yolk and chicken meet on very close timings and i give him water. He eats fine and drinks water and making poops properly.

Please give mi some advices about how to make a proper care because i have no ideas what is the best..

Should i feed him at night? How often ? Please tell me advices..

p.s. Sorry for my english

p.s. it is very urgent!

[Naturenutz]

I bought one up on bread soaked in milk years ago. so if your short of insects,try that. i never fed mine at night and it lived to be released,the parents dont feed them at night . when it was fully feathered it used to sit on my washing line and it helped him get his balance. Only thing was i was unsure if he would ever learn how to catch insects,how can you ever teach them that bit. i did feed mine insects when i could find them. nothing very big though. Try and give him a perch if you can,something like a washing line if he is fully feathered and near to flying. I used to feed mine regular intervals but nothing like every 5 minutes or so like parents may do.Remember the parents may feed them often but it might be only a very small fly each time. so you may deed a bit more but less intervals. i know this as i have done it. Dont let him get to hot either. warm is all you want . dont over do the water either. they wouldnt get alot in natural circumstances but a little is a good idea in my eyes. just a few drops every now and then. i kept mine in a plastic cage with newspaper on the floor.
regards
vic

[Picidae]

Hi dragana

Here's a link to a web page that might help you get through the night with regards feeding and keeping it warm etc! Sorry to hear about the other chicks, very sad.

The link below contains lots of useful info but I'd recommend that you contact a rehab first thing in the morning - it's very difficult to hand rear birds and requires lots of commitment including up to the time when it's ready to fledge.

Hand-rearing Swallow and Martins (Techniques)

One thing the above site does say is that a licensed ringer may be able to foster the chick to another nest so you could contact the BTO (NB ONLY to be carried out by LICENSED ringers otherwise against the law)

The contact details are here:
http://www.bto.org/aboutBTO/contact.htm

They may be able to put you in contact with a ringer in your location.

I'd urge you to read carefully the information on the first link - the priorities at this moment are keeping the body temperature optimum, regular feeds (depending on how old it is but until it stops gaping then I'd suggest every few daylight hours) and an appropriate 'nest' box (see specific House Martin advice on the link) such as a covered box with a hole in the side within a larger open box.

Sounds like you are doing fine - Don't panic and call the RSPCA and BTO for advice in the morning on how to proceed.

Good luck.

Ps Bread shouldn't be fed - it swells up in the belly and lacks the necessary vitamins for healthy development. You also have the responsibility to ensure the bird actually survives once released, which includes knowing it is able to fend for it's own diet. With insectivores especially, this is a difficult process of rehabilitation but it starts while the bird is in your care.

Pps. You need to age the bird asap as this will determine how it is cared for.

[dragana85]

thank you mu dear friends for your fast answers... it means a lot to me... he sleeps now he seems fine.. ill do my best for him.. i know this is the most i can do.. he is making noises when is alone in the box.. when i put him in my hand he is calming and sleeps... he still hasnt got feathers but i can see tham beggining to grow...

[valleyforge]

Further to Picidae's excellent advice, I would only add that milk should not be fed to baby birds either ... they can't digest it properly, which leads to diarrhoea that dehydrates the bird further.

It is much better to use feedstuffs mixed with water to the consistency of a 'gloop', or thick custard, than to attempt to administer water directly. That's much too easily inhaled into the lungs where even a small quantity of fluid will quickly prove fatal.