To feed a baby bird properly, follow these key steps:
- Identify the bird's age and species to tailor the feeding approach and diet accordingly, as different species have specific nutritional needs
- Prepare an appropriate food mixture : For very young chicks (less than a week old), use a thin, warm formula with about 70-90% liquid content, as they still rely partly on yolk sac nutrients. Older chicks can have thicker mixtures. Common homemade mixtures include soaked dry dog food or mynah pellets mixed with baby food, cooked egg yolk, turkey, and water to an oatmeal-like consistency. Avoid feeding milk
- Feeding tools : Syringes without needles are preferred for accuracy and control, but spoons or chopsticks shaped like spoons can also be used, especially for beginners. Be very gentle to avoid injury or aspiration (food entering the lungs)
- Feeding technique : Stimulate the bird’s natural feeding response by gently touching the corners of its mouth or gape flanges with the feeding tool to encourage it to open wide. Give small amounts of food slowly, allowing the bird to swallow between bites. Do not force food down the throat. The bird’s head bobbing indicates readiness to feed
- Feeding frequency : Newly hatched birds need feeding every 2-3 hours (6-10 times a day), including sometimes at night for the first week. As they grow and open their eyes, feedings can reduce to every 5 hours, then 2-3 times a day as feathers develop. Baby birds should not be fed during the night once they start sleeping through it
- Hygiene : Clean and disinfect all feeding utensils thoroughly between feedings to prevent infections, as baby birds have weak immune systems
- Transition to self-feeding : As the bird grows and starts to eat on its own, introduce natural foods and reduce hand-feeding gradually
- Never feed milk to baby birds, and avoid overfeeding-feed only until the crop (a pouch on the side of their neck) feels full but not distended
These guidelines help ensure the baby bird receives proper nutrition safely until it can feed independently
