Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/12/2006

Question
Hi

My grandma has just found a baby budgie at a friends, it was a long trip home in a polistirene box. It isn't energetic, it's sits quite still, i think it is only young & it doesn't seem to want to eat, or he eats reguritated food still. What should I do ?

Please reply A.S.A.P

Reguards

Marty

Answer
Hi, Marty.  Thanks for posting!

If it's a baby bird and it was found outside, depending on the outside temperature/outside conditions where this bird was found, it's likely in shock, suffering from exposure, probably dehydrated, very hungry and possibly sick.  You need to keep this baby bird warm with a heating pad/heat source under/over it's cage/box/enclosure.  Offer the bird cool water (not hot or cold).  If it won't accept, try dripping drops of water off your finger into it's mouth or use an eyedropper and drip 1 drop at a time into the side of it's beak.  

Do you know anything about handfeeding birds with a handfeeding syringe?  The bird needs food...you can try using something such as Slim Fast or Ensure Plus and feed warm (102 degrees F) with an eyedropper or handfeeding syringe or try offering the bird spray millet or parakeet seed.  The bird may not eat right away, but water is the most important right now.  When the bird warms up some, it may start to eat.  If the bird accepts the Slim Fast or Ensure Plus, what you really need to use to feed it is baby parrot handfeeding formula that you can buy at most pet shops that sell bird products.  I recommend Kaytee Exact, but there are several brands on the market.  

I have a website with lots of information on how to care for birds, including how to handfeed:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

The method you use to feed this bird depends on how old it is and it's condition at the moment.  If it is sick, you will likely need to take it to an avian veterinarian ASAP.  A domestic bird that has gotten loose to the wild can easily die of exposure if it's cold outside in your area.  This cold would cause it's body functions to slow down considerably, so don't expect too much if it's body is still cold on the inside.  This is why it needs warmth right now (depending on when your grandma found the bird an how long it's been inside).

Give me as much information as you can on the situation and I'll help out as much as I can.

Chrys