Newly hatched birds need frequent feedings.
Raising newly hatched birds is a challenge. In the first weeks of life, birds require frequent feedings, so caring for them is a major time commitment. You can raise healthy hatchlings successfully if you provide a warm home and nutritious diet to the birds.
Instructions
1. Create a safe environment for the newly hatched birds. If you do not have a bird cage handy, a shoe box, plastic container or aquarium will do in a pinch. Use washable items like old socks and T-shirts to line the container and keep it in a warm area of your home. A heat lamp or heating pad is needed to keep the birds' "nest" at 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This is important because without feathers, birds cannot regulate their body temperature. Clean and change the box lining frequently.
2. Feed the birds as soon as you have established a warm container for them. Do not feed chilled hatchlings. Dry cat or dog food soaked in hot water can be fed to most songbirds. Even if the adults of the species eats fruit and seeds, for the first couple weeks, the young are usually fed insects that have a high protein content. Let the food completely soften in the water until it is room temperature. You will not need to give them water separately since there is enough of it in the soaked cat or dog food.
3. Feed the birds carefully and often. You must give room-temperature food to newly hatched birds every 30 minutes during daylight hours. Birds usually do not feed their young at night. When you are ready to feed the birds, if they don't have their mouths open already, tap their beaks to get the gaping mouth response. The birds may be weak if you just rescued them and you may need to carefully open their beaks the first few times. Use tweezers or your fingers to give each bird three or four mouthfuls at each meal.
4. Reduce the temperature in the nest box as the birds grow feathers. You can visually check the bird for signs of distress such as panting or shivering and adjust the temperature accordingly. When the birds are fully feathered, they are comfortable at room temperature.
5. Offer solid foods when the birds are around two to three weeks. About this time, the baby birds will be almost fully feathered and will have their eyes open. Research what kind of birds you have and what their natural diet is in the wild. If your birds are naturally seed-eaters, provide grains. Insect-eaters will need meal worms. You can purchase meal worms at pet shops and fishing bait stores. Dip the worms in water first before feeding them to the birds. Provide fruit-eaters items that are typically grown in the area. Continue to hand-feed the cat or dog food mix.
6. Place the birds in a cage when they are one month old. At this time the birds will be fully feathered and almost ready to fly. The birds can also feed themselves if you provide food and water in bowls in the cage. If you plan on releasing the birds back into the wild, put the cage outside so the fledglings can hear wild bird songs and learn to catch bugs that come inside the cage.
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