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There's a construction site accross the street and down the road a bit. Today when the bricklayers came, they knocked down a nest, and two chicks fell out. One was crushed unfortunatly, the other is out of harm's way. I went and got it and put it in a cardboard box with paper towels in my garage. I don't have a low watt bulb (the lowest I have a 60), but I do have a heating pad I could use. I typically use it for my lizards, would it be okay to put a towel over it and use it for the chick? What should I feed it? I've already given some worm bits; I gently opened up his beak, put the food in, and he swallowed.

It's a pretty big chick, it's got primary flight feathers and smallish tail feathers. I'm not sure how far away it is from flying, but it's flapping around like he wants to. I can post a pic later, but I'm 99% sure it's a starling since I saw its parents flying around where the nest was. They were definatly smaller than crows or ravens. I would have left the chick there but there wasn't any place really safe.

What are the chances of it flying and living a susscessful wild life if I raise it? I really don't want the poor thing as a pet when it could live more happiliy outside.

I know, I know, I should take it to a rehab... but the problem is I live way out in the country, and the local animal hospital doesn't take wild animals to rehab, though they did give me a number to call. No one answered, so I'll try again tomorrow. What about the local ASPCA when they open tomorrow, could they help maybe?

Anything else I should to know, like what temp I should keep it at etc etc?

Thanks

I forgot to mention, the baby bird has tiny tiny pinhead sized bugs that crawl onto me... what are they (I think they are mites?) and how do I get rid of them safely?

Also? how can I tell what sex the bird is?

>>I forgot to mention, the baby bird has tiny tiny pinhead sized bugs that crawl onto me... what are they (I think they are mites?) and how do I get rid of them safely?
>>
>>Also? how can I tell what sex the bird is?

The little black things crawling around are MITES. Keep that animal as far away from your reptiles as you possibly can...keep the bird outside preferably. Bird mites can and will infest reptiles and pass on diseases to them. If you have been handling or working with teh bird, do not go near or even into the same room as your reptiles until after you have removed your clothing, showered and put on clean clothes. It's much to easy for these nasty little parasites to transfer from spot to spot as small as they are and you may not see them on your clothing. I would suggest getting some bird mite spray and start treating.

Assuming it is indeed a european starling, in the US, they are considered a non-native invasive species so there is a high possibility it may not be accepted by rehabbers or animal shelters, but it doesn't hurt to try.

Some people have been known to keep this type of bird as a pet as they do have character and intelligence typical of most blackbirds, though I find them to be quite loud and obnoxious and messy having raised a dozen at one time once. In addition to earthworms, they can be fed any good quality canned dog food (the mushy type, not the chunky type). Adults are scavengers of a sort, eating everything from dry dog/cat food, trash/table food scraps, bugs, to fruits & seeds.
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Wyvern

>>There's a construction site accross the street and down the road a bit. Today when the bricklayers came, they knocked down a nest, and two chicks fell out. One was crushed unfortunatly, the other is out of harm's way. I went and got it and put it in a cardboard box with paper towels in my garage. I don't have a low watt bulb (the lowest I have a 60), but I do have a heating pad I could use. I typically use it for my lizards, would it be okay to put a towel over it and use it for the chick? What should I feed it? I've already given some worm bits; I gently opened up his beak, put the food in, and he swallowed.
>>
>>It's a pretty big chick, it's got primary flight feathers and smallish tail feathers. I'm not sure how far away it is from flying, but it's flapping around like he wants to. I can post a pic later, but I'm 99% sure it's a starling since I saw its parents flying around where the nest was. They were definatly smaller than crows or ravens. I would have left the chick there but there wasn't any place really safe.
>>
>>What are the chances of it flying and living a susscessful wild life if I raise it? I really don't want the poor thing as a pet when it could live more happiliy outside.
>>
>>I know, I know, I should take it to a rehab... but the problem is I live way out in the country, and the local animal hospital doesn't take wild animals to rehab, though they did give me a number to call. No one answered, so I'll try again tomorrow. What about the local ASPCA when they open tomorrow, could they help maybe?
>>
>>Anything else I should to know, like what temp I should keep it at etc etc?
>>
>>Thanks

Contact your local Wildlife rehabilitator. If none are nearby, contact your local Agricultural office for referrals on where to place this baby as well as dietary needs.
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Budgie

PHBudgie
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