Expert: Roger Lederer - 7/28/2007

Question
Today I found a baby swallow in the barn where I ride. I don't know if it had fallen out of its nest or been pushed out by the mother. It is very very young, still has that soft, downy feathers coming out, and it is too small to fly. It was impossible to get it back up into its nest, and everyone said that its mom might reject it anyways because it has been handled. I had to take it home. We've been feeding it wet cat food out of a syringe, which has been working very well. What are the chances of it living? and what else would be good to feed it?

Answer
First, a couple of facts. Baby birds rarely fall out of their nests and their mother never pushes them out. They jump when they are ready to leave the nest and the parents take care of them on the ground until they are ready to fly. Second,the mother will NEVER reject the eggs, nest or babies simply because they were handled. That is a myth. Now, to your situation. Best thing to do is contact your local wildife rehab center or Audubon Society or Humane Society if you have one for advice/help. If that is not possible, go to www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for information on raising baby birds. But it is VERY difficult to do so and it's chances of survival are slim. Wet cat food is not bad, but may not be sufficient. Good luck and thanks for your concern.