fostering baby starlings

[islayhawk]

Help!! I have been landed with a baby starling. It has all its feathers but cannot fly. Can anyone tell me what is the best thing to feed it. I have only had it for two days and have been feeding it with chicken petfood which it takes eagerly but I am sure that this is probably not the best food.

islayhawk

[wildliferescuer]

A good quality meaty cat or dog food is fine short-term but you really need to get this little fella to your nearest wildlife centre as it needs to be put with others to avoid it becoming imprinted (reliant on humans). It will also need an aviary to be moved to prior to release so that it can build up its flight muscles etc. If you let me know where you are in the country I can see if we have anyone listed close to you who could take it.

[islayhawk]

Thanks for your reply. I live on the isle of islay- off the west coast of scotland. I do not know of any wildlife centres on the island so it looks like I am on my own. I will do my best in rearing it. Any further assistance will be greatly appreciated

islayhawk

[mrs fish]

If it is eating you have a good chance to keep it alive

Can you see the parents anywhere ?

[Ferret]

The best possible thing is to return it to the area in which it was found as its parents are probably looking for it. Failing that parents would be feeding it on a mainly insect based diet, mealworms, crickets, locusts and similar insects can be brought from pet shops that sell Lizards and the like. Or take it to one of the Wildlife rescue centres or if you want to try yourself take a look at this siteBritish Wildlife Helpline

[ChrisJB]

Send off for some live mealworms. My local starlings empty the pot of them I put out each day, taking them up to their young. You could also dig up worms too, but you might need to chop them up.
Don't forget water either!
Good luck!

[mystic meg]

Hi, Just checking in to see if there is anything i can help with You may be able to buy some EMP superior egg food, place a couple of tablespoons in a bowl, pour on some warm water and mash it up, try not to put too much water in to start with otherwise you will end up with a sloppy(too much water) mess, just add a littlle at a time until you make a consistency that will stay on the end of a small childs paint brush. Feed the starling about every 40-45 min, what a shame he could not be left where he was picked up from Just one other tip, birds do not need to be given water when they are hatchling, fledgling size, they receive all the moisture they need from food. When they become independent, while hand rearing, only then do they have a bowl of drinking water and a bath. If you think a bird is in need of moisture( only in exceptional hot weather) paint water along the beak just where the top and lower beak meet. If water is dropped into a birds mouth there is danger of it being taken down into the birds lungs because there is a hole in the middle of the tongue which is the entry to the lungs. Hope this helps