Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I work in an assisted care facility. We have a large aviary with a dozen finches of assorted variety. My question is in reference to a baby zebra finch who I found this morning on the bottom of the aviary. I dont know if he was pushed out or fell out. I thought he was dead. I picked him up as gently as I could and held him in my hand and he started moving! I know nothing about raising baby birds, but I put him in a nest where I know a there are already some babies and eggs. By the end of the day he hadnt been pushed out at least. So if he does get rejected is there anything I can do for him? I dont know how old he is but he is TINY and pink and only has a few tiny grey feathers on his body. The lower half of his body is very round, like he has very recently hatched. Any suggestions are welcome!
-Beth

Thank you for caring about this little finch!

If he's thrown out of his nest again, you might try "fostering" him to a society finch couple (if any of them have nests now). I once tried to hand feed baby finches, but was unsuccessful. I know more now than then, and the mistake I made was not putting the syringe with the baby bird formula at the back of their throat so that it wouldn't get into their air passages.

You could get the syringe and baby bird formula from a pet store or avian vet. I'm posting a link below with more information. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Of course, it's always best if the parents or fosters take care of their babies! Let's hope they will!

>>I work in an assisted care facility. We have a large aviary with a dozen finches of assorted variety. My question is in reference to a baby zebra finch who I found this morning on the bottom of the aviary. I dont know if he was pushed out or fell out. I thought he was dead. I picked him up as gently as I could and held him in my hand and he started moving! I know nothing about raising baby birds, but I put him in a nest where I know a there are already some babies and eggs. By the end of the day he hadnt been pushed out at least. So if he does get rejected is there anything I can do for him? I dont know how old he is but he is TINY and pink and only has a few tiny grey feathers on his body. The lower half of his body is very round, like he has very recently hatched. Any suggestions are welcome!
>>-Beth

Hand-feeding baby birds

-----
Canarymom

Finches: Melanie, Fritz, Casey, Sandi, Bunkie, and Sarah
Canary: Paulie
Budgies: Sammy, Curaco, and Pablo
Cockatiels: Elmo, Andy, Cleo, and Marley
And
My Rainbow Bridge Flock who are now singing in that other World

Thanks for the reply! The baby is, as far as I know, in a nest with a female Zebra who already has one baby in the nest. I have not seen the baby kicked out and Im assuming that if he has died he would be pushed out, right? Thanks again for the speedy reply!
-Beth