Fledgling Crow

[Vegan]

I have been hand rearing a fledgling crow since Wednesday 25th May. I don't know how old she is. Would anyone know when it's likely she will start to feed for herself? Also she has been kept indoors initially in a brooder but no longer needs the light on. Is it warm enough overnight for her outside in my aviary or should I keep her indoors for longer? I have no intention of losing her at this stage! I am looking forward to giving her, her freedom like the adult crows and jackdaw I helped last year. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[valleyforge]

Hi Vegan,

If you can post a photograph, then perhaps we can take a stab at estimating your youngster's age, but they would normally still be in the nest 30 to 35 days after hatching.

Was yours fully feathered when found, or still downy?

If it is now fully feathered, then it won't need the heat lamp any longer (as you suggest is already the case), but whether or not it can survive overnight will depend on just how well developed it is, and of course how mild the overnight temperatures remain in your part of the country.

I'd not be prepared to overnight any young bird outside, if it were younger than the normal age for leaving the nest, and if air temperatures were likely to drop below 15 degC (factoring in for wind chill). The optimum temperature for them when feathered, but still in the nest, would be between 20 - 25 degC.

Birds which are hand-reared indoors may also be prone to 'dry' feathers, which have not been water-proofed adequately through normal grooming ... you can greatly assist that process if you regularly mist the feathers (using a clean sprayer such as those designed for misting house plants). Damp birds of course lose body heat much faster than when they are dry.

In any case though, once in the aviary, it will still benefit greatly from a roost box which is sheltered (at least from the prevailing wind, and ideally on 3 sides) and has a roof to keep the rain off.

[elvisoneill]

Hi Vegan

Here's a great book you might enjoy ,if you haven't read it already!

Corvus: A Life with Birds by Esther Woolfson

Check it out on Amazon!!

Best

Elvis