How to Look After a Newly Hatched Bird

Nestling Songbirds

• 1

  Examine the baby bird for any signs of injury before picking it up. If it is bleeding or wounded, contact a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitator.

• 2

  Pick up the baby, and hold it in your hand. It is a myth that birds reject young that smell like humans. Holding the baby in your hand will help it warm up and stay safe until you can locate the nest.

• 3

  Look for the original nest. If it is still in the tree, replace the baby bird in the nest. If the baby felt cold when you picked it up, hold it in your hands a few minutes to warm it up so the parents don't reject it.

• 4

  Create a new nest if the original nest has been destroyed or is out of reach. Find a small, curved container, such as a small basket, margarine dish or fruit container. Pierce a few holes in the bottom to allow for drainage, and line it with dried grass or straw. If the nest blew down, you can use it to line the new nest. Nail the new nest to the tree as high and as close to the original nest as you can. Place the baby in the new nest.

• 5

  Watch the nest from a distance for the parents to return. You may see the parents nearby working up the courage to return. If no parents return within two hours, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

• 6

  Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, humane society, veterinarian or Department of Natural Resources if the baby bird is injured, both parents have been killed, or the parents have not returned after several hours. See Additional Resources for links. Raising the bird yourself is extremely difficult and illegal unless you have the right permits. If it is late at night, a weekend or a holiday, see the section about providing emergency care.

Waterfowl, Game Birds and Killdeer

• 7

  Examine the baby bird for signs of injury. If it is bleeding or wounded, contact a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitator. Otherwise, leave it alone until you locate the mother.

• 8

  Try to locate the mother. Most likely the mother and baby got separated. If you find her, pick up the baby and release it as close to the mother as you can. Move away, and observe from a safe distance.

• 9

  Call a wildlife rehabilitator immediately if the mother bird has been killed, cannot be located, or if the mother does not reclaim the baby after an hour. If it is late at night, a weekend or a holiday, see the section about providing emergency care.

Emergency Care

• 10

  Place the baby in shoebox or small container lined with a soft cloth or paper towels.

• 11

  Place the container on top of a heating pad on low or under a 60-watt light bulb. The baby should be kept at a temperature between 80 and 90 degrees.

• 12

  Feed wild songbirds every two hours during daylight hours. Soak cat food in water until it is soft. Break the food into pieces, and drop it into the bird's mouth. Waterfowl and wild game birds do not need to be fed by hand. Crushed dog or cat food, hard-boiled egg yolk or chopped lettuce should be offered in a small dish as a temporary food source.

• 13

  Place a shallow dish of water in the box for waterfowl and wild game birds. Nestlings do not need water as they are getting it from the soaked cat food. Ducklings and goslings need fresh water at all times. The dish should be deep enough that they can dip their beaks in it but not too deep that they might drown.