How to raise a baby bird

[Roy Neher Wildlife]

NO WATER, EVER! It will kill them, period.

1. They must be fed soft bodied insects, worms or larvae every 30 minutes, all day long. A 1 or 2 hour delay will be too long. I've even put a container in my vehicle so I could take them with me and continue feeding them when I had to go somewhere. They get all the fluids they need from this feeding. Make sure the food is dead before giving it to them.

2. They must be kept warm.

3. For doves and pigeons I've had to rinse my mouth out thoroughly and chew up milo or millet seeds into a pulp for a substitute for dove's milk and force feed them with that. Still, saliva is better than water. They must eat until their craw, located in their upper breast, feels full of seed. Eventually, they stick their beaks in my mouth and feed that way. Yes, really. lol


This is very labor intensive but, luckily, they grow up a lot faster than kids.
I've raised birds of prey. When I had them grown and healthy, then I had to teach them how to hunt and fend for themselves. And then teach them to distrust me.

It is so rewarding to see a bird that you've raised take to the air, makes it all worth it.
Good luck.

Below is an account that I posted on another forum awhile back.

About 25 years ago we raised a Barred Owl and it was a hoot! I rescued it from some boys who had found it in the woods.
The personality that this bird had would make one believe that they are, indeed, reincarnated people.

We also had a litter of Doberman pups at the same time. they were about the same size and all great friends. One day I heard one of the puppies barking. The owl, Albert, was strutting toward a puppy in perfect John Wayne form and the puppy was barkin' and backin' up.

Another time the crows saw the owl and came in, screaming at him. Albert got down into the middle of the puppies and became one of them, staying in the middle of the pack and getting into their doghouse with them.

During his acclimation to the wild period, and he was living outside, we had an outdoor cookout. After dark a, somewhat tipsy, friend of mine informed me that he had just had a huge owl fly right by his head! "Really?", I asked. Then I held up my arm and yelled, "Albert!" Albert swooped down and landed on my arm right in front of the guy. I asked, "This one?" I don't think my friend will ever be the same. Aw, good times

Albert found a mate and, at 25 years old, keeps us supplied with Barred Owls. I do love to hear them in the yard at night, talking to each other with their loud calls. Sometimes I will go outside and I will see one owl fly off and I will look around and I will see one that didn't fly away and is just sitting up in the tree, looking down at me. "Hello, Albert". Sometimes, life is sweet.

[Neil Rigby]

Thanks Roy for taking the time to write up this informative article.

I will be gathering everyone's contributions into a guide for dealing with baby birds.

I must say it did make me laugh about the pigeons!