When will fledgling robin begin eating himself? (1 Viewer)

[Cyndy]

I am hand feeding a baby robin for the first time and need help. I was driving in my car when two baby birds fell out of a very tall tree directly onto a busy street. One of them was run over and killed immediately and I stopped and scooped up the other one. I could not get it back up into the tree, nor could I leave it on the busy street so I brought it home.

I have been feeding him/her every hour since bringing him home and he is doing great, although my garden is probably running low on worms <smile>. My question is this: when will they begin eating on their own? He never looks down, even when I put a bunch of worms right at his feet. I take him outside and let him walk around on the grass as much as possible but he never looks down. I estimate it to be about 14 days old.

Any advice is appreciated. My main goal is to hopefully get him able to live on his own.

 

[timmyjones]

Have you got any photos of him as this will help but he wont eat by himself until he's fully feathered at least and even after that.

 

[Katy Penland]

Hi, Cyndy! I see this is your first post, so a warm welcome to you from all of us on staff here at BirdForum!

If you haven't seen the below page yet, please take a couple of minutes to read it so you can call a local professional for the advice you need.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=36564

 

[chippingsparrow]

Cyndy, I remember as a child of about 10, I found a baby robin with a broken leg that I raised successfully. The robin was fully feathered when I found him, unable to fly and I think about 3 wks. old. I kept him in a box and fed him worms, chopped up. Buy some at a bait store if you're running out, or maybe neighbours can help out. It seemed it was quite a while before robin became self-sufficient. Even when it learned to fly, I can remember it would look for me coming home from school on my bicyle (in those days I also came home for lunch), and he would fly half a block to meet me and land on my head, shoulder or bicyle bars. I recall it started eating on its own, mainly by watching the other robins digging for worms on the lawn. I remember it wasn't quite feeding itself when I had to go on vacation for 6 wks., but when I returned home it was getting still around and getting its own food. It recognized me and would let me approach quite closely, but was a bit wild by this time and would not land on me or let me pick it up. I know it was the same robin as its broken leg has healed at a peculiar angle. It was most gratifying to see how the robin become completely independent. Hope you have as good luck as I did. Keep us up to date.

 

[Cyndy]

I'm not very computer savvy but I hope I have included a couple pictures.

Chippingsparrow, I loved the story you shared with me/us. How wonderful. I have spent most of today outside with him. He can fly a short distance and likes to hide inside a tree. I have put worms repeatedly at his feet but he still doesn't look down. Hopefully, in the next day or so?

 

[Chris Oates]

I don't have any advice but thanks for the wonderful stories - sounds like you have a good chance raising a Robin.

 

[chippingsparrow]

I'm not very computer savvy but I hope I have included a couple pictures.

Chippingsparrow, I loved the story you shared with me/us. How wonderful. I have spent most of today outside with him. He can fly a short distance and likes to hide inside a tree. I have put worms repeatedly at his feet but he still doesn't look down. Hopefully, in the next day or so?

Your baby looks to be about the same age as "Petie" (finally remembered what I called him) when I first found him. You'll have to keep feeding him for some weeks. Try offering the food gradually lower down until he'll pick it off the ground. Did you give him a name? Say his name every time you give him food. I found when "Petie" started flying and staying outside, I could just call his name and he would come. Good luck!

 

[chippingsparrow]

Cyndy, just a thought....if you can't commit to feeding baby robin every 3-4 hours during daylight hours for several weeks until he looks like he's feeding himself, try and find a bird rehabilitation centre and get advice from them.]

 

[Cyndy]

Cyndy, just a thought....if you can't commit to feeding baby robin every 3-4 hours during daylight hours for several weeks until he looks like he's feeding himself, try and find a bird rehabilitation centre and get advice from them.]

I have named him "Twerp". Yesterday I called a very reputable local bird shop and asked them if there were any bird rehab organizations near me (Vancouver, WA). I spent most of the day on-line looking for one, to no avail. To my surprise, she said there aren't any in our area.

I have committed to helping him so I guess I'm this for the duration. I was just hoping it wouldn't be quite so long. As mentioned, I am fearful that he's capable of flying away now. I don't want to keep him trapped in a cage and I want him to get used to the outside. It's kind of a no-win situation. If I keep him trappd in order to let him eat, that keeps him alive but it doesn't teach him about the outdoors. I am just afraid that he'll fly away before he's able to fend for himself. :-(

 

[nirofo]

By the looks of the chick in your photo it will be about 5 to 7 days before it can fly (fledges), it will probably be at least 2 weeks after that before it can start feeding itself. Even then it will still need top up meals from it's parents (you) for another couple of weeks. watch out for cats if you let it fly free when it fledges!

nirofo.

 

[Katy Penland]

Cyndy, please don't be "fearful" of him flying away -- that's what he's supposed to do. Either he'll learn to fend for himself or he won't, that's the hard part about watching nature in action, especially when we try to help nature along, such as when unfledged birds literally fall into our laps as yours did. Problem is, you can't keep this bird so it's probably best to simply let him go and make sure he knows where your feeder(s) are so he can return whenever he wants.

Another point I'd like to make is that because we're an international forum, advice can come from other countries where the laws regarding wildlife are not the same as they are here. In the US, it is illegal to keep captive any wild bird as all species, except for a few that have been introduced, are federally protected. This is why I urged you to contact a professional right away. In addition to breaking federal law, Washington's state Dept of Fish & Wildlife's own website says: "Taking wild babies out of the wild is not only unsafe for animals and people, it's against Washington state law. The minimum fine for holding any wildlife in captivity is $152."

I hope the below links may be of help to you in trying to find someone locally who can help and/or take the bird off your hands: :t:

Vancouver WA Audubon Society
http://www.vancouveraudubon.org/

And since Portland, OR, is just across the Columbia River from Vancouver:

Oregon, Northwest region (Portland)..... 503-292-0304

Bob Sallinger, Audubon Society of Portland Wildlife Care Center
bsallinger AT audubonportland.org
Wildlife Species: all wildlife native to Oregon

 

[Cyndy]

Thanks for your replies. Katy, I did contact the Portland Audubon Society and they basically told me they don't take healthy birds, which he is. They told me the same thing....that there is not a rehab in this area. :-(

I know that technically (and legally!), I should not be trying to help this little fellow but I just could not bring myself to drive off and leave him to a certain death. Try as I might, I'm running into brick walls and have no alternative but to try to help him survive.

I do plan to contact the President of the Vancouver Audubon Society and see what advice he can give me. Again, I really appreciate all the advice I have received from all you experts!

 

[Kara]

Caring for Baby Birds

I have worked as a wildlife rehab professional for sometime. We get so many baby animals, especially birds that it is impossible to care for them all. I am always frustrated when the first reponse someone seeking help gets is "it's illegal to care for that animal". The person might as well hear "you should have just left it to die".

I believe that our laws were made to protect the wildlife. But like so many of our laws, they harm just as much. In my experience, those who stop to help will stop regardless of what the law states. And those who will harm will do so as well. What good is a law if there is no way it can be enforced. Even the local gaming commission doesn't have time to chase baby bird caregivers.

The people who seek advise and guidance so they provide proper care to a baby animal are the people we, the rehab professionals, want around. We want to teach as many people as possible about caring for baby animals, especially the baby birds. Wildlife rehab is at the last of state funding list, if we're even on it, and we rely on dontations and volunteers, most of which do not have a license to help us care for the animals.

While I know it is against the law to care for your small bird. I commend you for doing it. I suggest picking up one of the many wildlife rehab books on "Caring for Wildlife" for the next time you run accross a baby animal. If you can't find someone to take the baby animal then seek help and care for it yourself. So long as it's not one of our seriously endangered animals, a fine is all you're likely to receive, if anything at all. I consider even a $200 fine more than worth saving a baby bird from a car.

Now, that's not to say anyone should be allowed to care for animal. Baby birds especially, need feedings every 30-60 minutes ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO WORK, TAKE THE KIDS SOMEWHERE, OR WHATEVER. And even if your job will let you take the baby with you, the AC is probably too cold and you'll need to keep him warm with a lamp.

BASICALLY, BE A BETTER MOTHER THAN MOTHER NATURE WOULD HAVE BEEN OR DON'T BE ONE AT ALL.

Kara

 

[Cyndy]

I am so appreciative of your replies. Today, I'm about ready to cry. :-(

I have had this little fellow almost two weeks. While he is capable of full flight and eats like a trooper, he WILL NOT make any attempt to eat himself (except for blueberries). He stays near my back deck and won't leave, even tries to get in the house if the door opens. I have not had him in the house for days but he knows I'm in here and he clearly thinks I'm his Mom. I take him to the back of our property and put him on the ground to try and get him to eat, or at least look at the ground, and he immediately flies back to my deck.

I am very worried that he is imprinted on me, has become accustomed to my feeding him and only feels safe when he is next to the house.

I am so frustrated that there is no place I can take him to continue his rehab. Am I wrong to think that by now he should at least show some interest in the worms I place at his feet? Again, the only thing he will pick up and swallow is blueberries....clearly not something he would ever find in the grass.

I do not regret saving the poor thing (what could I do?), but I am just so worried that he isn't making any progress in the feeding himself department. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[prairiemerlin]

Patience... one day he'll suddenly learn. Young birds always act helpless, even though they are capable of feeding themselves. Sounds like you're doing a good job. Keep up the good work.

 

[Carol Ann]

Hang in there

I looked after a baby robin when I was about 12 or so.

We had to feed him for what seemed like a long time. However, eventually he was living entirely outside but we'd hear him cheeping for food, and we'd call him and he'd fly over and perch on our finger, and we'd feed him.

Eventually we left to go to our cottage for 3 weeks. We weren't sure what to do and thought of bringing him, but the day we were leaving we couldn't find him.

When we got back from the cottage we didnt' see him again. We weren't sure if he flew off or if he'd died, or what happened.

However, the next year my mother was in the garden and a mother robin came right up to her, with her baby bird.

We can't be completely sure it was the same robin, but we have always though it was as it would be very unusual behaviour for a bird to come up so close, especially with her baby.

So...take heart. That robin will eat on its own eventually. I wonder if they get lazy even Maybe be less quick to feed him (cut back on how often you feed, but keep an eye out to see what he is doing so that you are aware) and maybe he will choose to become more independent.

 

[Katy Penland]

I am always frustrated when the first reponse someone seeking help gets is "it's illegal to care for that animal". The person might as well hear "you should have just left it to die".

No one here first responded to Cyndy saying it was illegal; please read the entire thread.

But it would be irresponsible of me to not point out the legal problems people can run into when trying to care for wildlife, especially when they have no idea where to even start. It is even more irresponsible of you as a licensed rehabilitator to advocate that people break the law as you've done in your post here.

My responses to queries like this on BirdForum are not so much aimed at the individual asking the questions but at our entire membership who will read these threads in perpetuity and hopefully learn from them. I'm not heartless or uncaring, but it is equally frustrating for me to read posts such as Cyndy's where instead of immediately calling a local vet for advice, she called a local pet shop. If she did call a vet after reading the "baby bird care" info page I referred her to in my first post above (assuming she read it), she hasn't said so.

And now, a week later, she has a fledgling bird that sounds as if it's doing poorly. What advice would you give her now, Kara?

 

[chippingsparrow]

Cyndy, I think you're going to have to be very patient and continue to feed him--perhaps for several more weeks. Have you noticed that young robins tend to want to be fed for quite a while? It's not uncommon to see a young one the size of the parent still begging for food. One thing I would not do, tho, is let "Twerp" in the house. Keep him outside. Even tho he seems to be imprinted on you now, I think he'll eventually "go wild" and learn to feed by himself by observing what other robins do. As time goes on, feed him less and less and see if his hunger won't spur him on to looking for food. I'm pulling for you, so far you've done a great job. Keep the progress reports coming.

 

[HH75]

When will fledgling robin begin eating himself?

You don't want it to eat itself, surely...?
Harry

 

[luke]

You don't want it to eat itself, surely...?
Harry

thaught that when i read the thread title aswell.