youngbirds

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If you have never hand-fed a baby bird, here are the basic steps to follow once you have prepared the formula and are sure it is at the correct temperature to feed.

Pick up the baby with both hands - one hand under the bird, one hand over the back and wings. Don't be afraid. Just handle it calmly and gently but be sure it is securely confined in your hands because baby birds can jump quickly and erratically. Set the baby on a towel on a smooth, stable surface, or put it in a margarine tub lined with a soft washcloth.

Depending on the size of the bird, either gently hold the sides of the lower mandible with your thumb and forefinger so that one hand is mostly covering the back and wings, and the movement of the baby's head is limited. Gently pull the baby's head upward so you can see the crop as it fills. If you are tense and push the baby down, the pressure on the crop may cause the baby to regurgitate

If you are using a syringe, pipette or eyedropper, touch the tip of it to the notch in the left side of the bird's bottom beak. It is important to feed from the bird's left side because the opening to the bird's crop is on the right side of its throat. The opening to the lungs is on the left side, so you want to aim the food past that opening to avoid getting good into the lungs. The baby's head will start to bob, and this begging motion may be accompanied by little begging sounds that stimulate parent birds to feed. Slide the tip of your feeding instrument into the open mouth and start squeezing and give the baby a chance to breathe, then continue. Watch the crop as it fills; stop feeding when the crop is plump and soft, before it is bulging and tight. The baby may continue to beg, but as with people, birds can be full before the message gets to the brain that they are no longer hungry.

It is not always easy or possible to provide a bird with its natural environment and diet, or even to know the natural diet. However, when possible, the bird's natural diet should be fed as this will reduce the stress associated with a change in the diet, and will ensure that the bird's nutritional needs are adequately provided.

Some facts that may help you when considering feeding are :

1. Generally birds that look at you with one eye (parrots, finches etc) eat food that does not move, for example, seed.

2. Generally seedeaters have short, stumpy bills, while nectar and fruit eaters have long curved bills.

3. The bigger the parrot the bigger the seed it will eat.

4. Parrots, specially cockatoos, should be fed a minimum of 20% sunflower

5. Birds fed excessive greens (lettuce etc) will pass loose watery droppings.

6. When required to force feed, always start by giving the bird 10% glucose (1 teaspoon Glucodin/50ml warm water) orally at 10mg/kg body weight.©