Sad news to start off the day, the baby bird passed on.
Zhe Han writes:
Dear Dr Chan,As per request these are the photos taken yesterday. The 1st 4 photos was taken in the noon and you can see it actually still able to move it’s head, body and chirp. I’ve tried different foods like bread, biscuits, rice, and oats. However it starts getting weaker and weaker, I wonder is the food that I fed not enough with nutrients or protein for it. From the last 3 photos are taken during at night and you can see its getting even weaker. Yet my mum says its body seems to be bloating but fyi its already looks like that when I found it.Unfortunately this morning I get up, its not moving anymore.Anyway I’m very grateful of your and all the warm-hearted readers’ help. Many thanks to all of you and condolences to the baby bird. I’ll buried it in the backyard.
We wish the baby bird a pleasant journey to its next destination.
Fly free, and fly high now.
I’m sure Zhe Han did his very best for the bird.
And information and offer of help came in this morning, from Joey Quah. It may come in useful should we be faced with a similar situation next time:
Featherless babies are extremely fragile. Without heat, they die easily.
I dont have anymore baby bird food but have pellets for parrots which can be grinded and soaked with warm water. Do not make the food too watery. The little baby will cry for food and bob his head regularly about every 20 minutes . Use a chopstick to “scoop” the food to feed to the baby. The baby bulbul I picked up 6 years ago managed to survive with the soaked pellets but he was extremely lucky and already feathered at that time.
If the person who found the little baby is not comfortable to take care of it, I can try. But most importantly to keep the little baby warm at all times. The cold of the night might kill the little baby. 1 easy way is to line a small container or a small aquarium (guppy sized) with lots of tissue paper. Cover the top of the container (at least 1/2 or 3/4) to keep the baby warm. No cold breeze at all cost.
Do hope the little baby bird is ok.
Regards,
joey
Thank you very much for your kind offer to help, Joey.
The baby bird has moved on now….to a better place.
Comments
3 responses to “The baby bird passes on…”
Zee Han,
Don’t feel bad. At times, mother birds toss out their sickly babies from the nest. At times, the fall from the nest may have injured the little one internally and it would be a matter of time.
You have done your very best for the little one. Thank you.
Just wanted to add, if anyone do find a baby bird, dont be afraid to keep it warm. Use as small a container as possible. For quick emergency container, use a 1.5l mineral bottle. Cut the bottle about 3″ from the bottom. Line the bottom with lots of tissue paper or cotton hanky/towel. Cut off the top part of the mineral bottle (3″) and use it as a cover. Poke a few small holes to act as ventilation holes. In a nest, babies huddle together to keep warm. When there is only 1, the little baby is unable to maintain its body heat. Dont be afraid to cover the little bird with something light, like soft tissue paper. If you have a light cloth, it can be used too. Try to maintain a temperature of say… 28 degrees. Do not expose the baby to cold wind, not even fan – yup, it wont be easy. One would probably be sweating like hell with shaking hands when trying to feed the little one.
Food – feed a little at a time. You will know when the baby is hungry. It’ll chirp for food, opening its mouth to beg. Depending on how old the baby is, feeding can be like every 20 to 30 minutes. Nestum/oat can be good emergency food. Grind to make it powdery. Soak it with a little hot water to make it soft. The consistency should be something like baby food, not too watery or the baby will choke. Again, food needs to be warm, NOT hot, NOT cold. As the baby opens it mouth to beg, pop in a little piece. It might be easier to use a chopstick then a spoon. Always throw away unfinished food, do not re-use or re-heat.
Hope this helps.
Forgot to add, if the baby bird is bigger in size or as it grows, one can always use a 5l mineral water bottle.