Feeding the bird properly is important to make sure that the baby bird does not choke. The steps below detail how to feed the bird and how to change its diet as it gets older.
How often should I feed the bird?
While the bird is very young and still mostly, you should feed it around every 30 minutes. At night, it is usually o.k. not to feed the baby bird since it wouldn't eat at this time in the wild either. When the bird has its feathers, you can lengthen the amount of time between feedings to around 45 minutes and begin to wean it off hand feeding.
Feeding Instructions
Instructions:To make the plastic scoop:
1) Hold the plastic drinking straw horizontally 2) Cut the straw at an angle about 5 inches from the bottom of the straw as seen at right - If the straw has a bendable top, cut off and discard
To feed the baby bird: The baby bird food should be stored in the freezer (recipe here) 1) Remove about a tablespoon of baby bird food from the batch in the freezer 2) Allow the tablespoon of baby bird food to thaw to room temperature
3) Use the plastic scoop to pick up a scoopful of bird food (enough to fit on the end of the straw) 4) Hold the scoop of food just in front of the chick's face
5) When the bird's mouth is open place the straw in the back of its mouth towards its throat 6) Allow the bird to lunge at the scoop. The plastic scoop will not hurt the chick.
For birds older than 4 weeks:
1) Purchase live mealworms at any pet supply store or bait shop. 2) Store mealworms in fridge. They will go into a suspended state and cease to move. 3) Remove mealworms from fridge when ready to feed. Upon warming, they will move again. 4) Place live mealworm in front of bird. The movement should attract the chick to peck at the worm.
5) Feed the mealworms by hand if bird does not instinctively eat. This will accustom the chick to live food. 6) When the chick is consistently able to feed itself, you may begin to provide water in a shallow dish.
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