Corrente

If you have "no place to go," come here!

Uncommon Household Remedies Request- Halp!

Valley Girl's picture
Submitted by Valley Girl on Thu, 06/28/2012 - 9:15pm

OH DEAR!

Ms. Cat just brought in a baby sparrow! I think it's what is called a fledgling, but not sure. Baby seems okay, so far, but what to do now? I found a dropper and have been giving it water.

Course it would be obvious to look on the internet, but time is short!

0
No votes yet

Comments

Valley Girl's picture
Submitted by Valley Girl on

I checked out the first link, and it's really helpful, especially as to how to keep the bird warm. Also, from the link, looks like the sparrow is healthy, b/c it does show a strong gaping response. Been giving it water (not tap water) from a syringe.

Looks like it may be a long night.

Cat has been locked out for now, but it's a safe neighborhood. She was prowling around under the table looking hopeful. She has not brought in prey before. But, between 10:30 and 11:00 this morning she brought in a lizard, and another baby bird (too far gone to rescue- and I thought it had already been injured).

Is tonight a full moon or something?

a little night musing's picture
Submitted by a little night ... on

I found a baby sparrow. Took it home and kept it in an old hamster cage until it was ready to fly.

I fed it mashed hard-boiled egg yolks upon someone's advice. It seems young birds need a lot of protein. I also left it peanut butter mixed with some mashed yolks and birdseed to snack on. I kept the cage out on my fire escape so the baby could get sunlight and also be exposed to other birds without threat. Again, this was upon advice.

It did well and when I finally gave it its freedom, it flew off. Buh-bye!

(I did not cry that much even when my son moved out. I hope no prowling cat took my little "Baby Cheep and Chirp"!)

Submitted by PunchnRun on

You are OK over night just keeping it in a closed box. Passerines (perching birds) that are not nocturnal don't eat at night, even the babies.

Give water by wetting a Q-tip and placing into beak. I'm a little concerned the dropper bit might be too much.

Even though sparrows are largely seed eaters, at this age the high protein meat-oriented diet is good advise. Canned cat food is good emergency food, add some water so it's runny like soft-serve ice cream use a 3cc syringe to feed. You may want to cut off most of the tip. If you don't have a syringe a medicine dropper or some other McGuyver-kluge will have to do. Fill syringe with food, poke it into gaping maw and empty at moderate speed -- slow enough the bird can get it down. If at first the bird won't respond -- it has no idea it's new mom is a 3 cc syringe -- try to touch the hair-like feathers around the base of the bill. That triggers feeding response. It will get the idea soon enough. Look for the black hole behind the tongue -- that's the start of the esophagus. Depending on size of bird, 10 -- 15 cc per feeding is usually about right. It will stop gaping when it is full. When done, clean the bill area with wet Q-tip. This is important. A dirty mouth area with dry stale food is bad for the bird, it won't clean itself.

Get more advise from Tri State Bird Research and Rescue, in Newark Delaware (look them up on the web). Give them a call, they can help you with food formula. If you are in driving distance take it there after calling them. I learned all this stuff by volunteering to be a baby bird feeder and taking their training a few years ago. They are great.

Still best to turn it back over to the regular parents. Might be a bit of a look around but if it's a fledgeling they may be looking for it. They will always take it back. Woulnd't you?

Submitted by PunchnRun on

1 more thing, feed every 3 hours or so, should be enough. It will grow so fast you will be astounded when it flies away in 8 days or so. Do call Tri-State, it's what they do.

Valley Girl's picture
Submitted by Valley Girl on

Just got up and the little bird is doing fine. I closed the lid of the plastic thermos box to darken inside last night and just left it alone. It seems to have calmed down. It was breathing so rapidly last night I thought it would expire from the effort.

I have q tip and syringes etc.

As soon as I get enough coffee in me, I'll call Tri State, and also look around outside to see if I can spot the nest. I know mom bird is around b/c she was squawking loudly at the cat. Cat is under house arrest, btw.

BDBlue's picture
Submitted by BDBlue on

I checked this thread first because I was so anxious on whether there was a happy ending! Kind of desperate to read about those right now.

lambert's picture
Submitted by lambert on

Don't know about happy endings, but I honestly think there are happy beginnings all over. It's more that they are not visible to each other than that they are not happy, if you see what I mean.

Submitted by lbjdem on

always call your local Humane Society or animal shelter for suggestions on individuals in your area who can take wild birds. It's actually against the law here to raise them yourself without a special license, although I've never heard of anyone charged over it.

Do NOT contact the PA Game Commission or a Wildlife Conservation Officer. More than likely, they will euthanize the animal.

Turlock