22/08/2022
HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A BABY BIRD:
If you find a naked baby bird (hatchling/nestling) it most likely fell out the nest or been kicked out by the parents - sometimes they do that when the baby bird is sick. The first thing to do is to look for the nest where it was found and if you can reach, put it back. If you can't find the nest the most important thing is to keep the bird warm as they can't regulate temperature when they don't have any feathers. You can put them in a box and create a little nest from cloth or something similar. The box can be placed in a hot water cupboard plus you can use other heat sources such as a hot water bottle or heat pad. Make sure you don't put the bird directly on a heat source. You can cover the hot water bottle with a towel.
Don't try to feed the chick straight away as it won't eat when it's cold. Once you warm the bird up you can feed it cat biscuits soaked in water or jelly meat. Pet shops also sell a special hand-rearing formula for birds.
Many people try to give a baby bird water when found, please don't do that as they can easily aspirate and die. They will get water from your soaked cat biscuits or jelly meat.
If you find a feathered baby bird (fledgling) that is able to walk but can't fly properly yet you shouldn't take them. Most people think they fell out of nest and try to save them not knowing the parents are around and still feed them while they are learning to fly and feed for themselves. You can watch them for a bit to see if the parents are coming back or not. If they are not or the baby bird is injured then take them.
The birds can get really stressed when handling which can also cause death so best thing again is to place them in a box in a dark place and let them settle down before trying to feed them.
Every injured bird, especially with cat wound injuries, has to be treated with antibiotics otherwise they will most likely die. It is best to seek veterinary help when you find an injured bird.
