You can provide bird food from the pet store. Dog foods full of protein, raw meat, and hard-boiled eggs are preferable for birds like songbirds.
Many professionals suggest feeding different seed mixtures containing flaked maize, sunflower seeds, and peanut granules. Some birds may eat vegetables, pellets, fruit, and fiber as their meal.
Baby birds need a diet of high-protein food. You can feed them mashed bananas, applesauce, or strained or soft vegetables. You can also give them infant rice cereal or baby food.
Adult birds eat a variety of foods, including seeds, insects, and fruit. If you are not sure what type of food to give an adult bird, you can consult with a wildlife rehabilitator.
By the end of this article, you’ll not only be equipped with the knowledge to identify suitable foods for an injured bird but also feel confident in your ability to contribute to its rehabilitation.
Identify the Injured Bird
If you find an injured bird whether it’s a pet bird or wild try to identify its species and check if it has internal injuries or broken wings, feather damage, or any other injuries.
If it’s hard for you seek a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for proper care.
When you learn about its species, you can determine the best course of action. After all, different bird species live on versatile dietary styles.
After identifying, put on a pair of hand gloves and slowly reach the birdie.
Then, you can arrange a small cage or cardboard box, some paper towels, a heating pad set on low, and respective bird seeds.
What to Feed an Injured Bird?
- Seeds: A variety of seeds, such as millet, canary seed, and safflower seed, can be fed to injured birds. These seeds are a good source of carbohydrates and fat, which can provide the bird with energy. You can offer the seeds in a small dish or cup.
- Insects: Insects are a good source of protein for injured birds. You can collect insects from your yard or buy them from a pet store. Some common insects that you can feed birds include mealworms, crickets, and waxworms.
- Fruit: Some fruits, such as bananas, apples, and berries, can be fed to injured birds. These fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals. You can mash the fruit or cut it into small pieces.
- Pellets: Pellets are a good source of nutrients for injured birds. You can buy pellets specifically designed for wild birds from a pet store. Pellets are a convenient way to feed birds, as they do not need to be cooked or mashed.
Avoid giving these food to injured birds
- Bread: Bread is not a nutritious food for birds. It is low in protein and fat, and it does not contain the vitamins and minerals that birds need. Bread can also swell in the bird’s stomach, causing discomfort and even death.
- Milk: Milk is not digestible for birds. Birds do not have the enzymes necessary to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk. Feeding milk to a bird can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even death.
- Cheese: Cheese is also not digestible for birds. It is high in fat and sodium, which can be harmful to birds. Cheese can also cause the same problems as milk, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and death.
Why and How to Give an Injured Bird Water
Importance of hydration: Hydration is essential for all living things, but it is especially important for injured birds. Dehydration can lead to a number of health problems, including shock, organ failure, and even death.
Offering water: There are a few different ways to offer water to an injured bird. You can use a shallow dish, a specialized bird waterer, or even an eyedropper.
If the bird is unable to drink on its own, you may need to help it by gently tipping its head back and allowing a few drops of water to run down its throat.
- Tips:
- Make sure the water is fresh and clean.
- Keep the dish of water or water bottle in a cool, shady spot.
- Change the water regularly, especially if it becomes dirty or contaminated.
How to Feed an Injured Baby Bird
If the bird is aged or older, there are fewer redundancies to feed it.
But if it is a baby, you may face some consequences when you try to feed it. However, I suggest you do not try to open the baby birdie’s mouth forcefully.
Gaping is a natural behavior of baby birds. It means a hungry baby will keep its mouth open wide.
If you see it is not opening the mouth, you can tap the cage gently. If nothing happens, consider that the bird is not hungry or facing extreme illness.
Avoid using a tweezer to feed any baby or adult bird, as it can injure them more.
Instead, you can use something tender like a small paintbrush or a cotton swab stick without cotton. After using it to open the mouth, you can feed the bird gently.
I suggest you cut the food into tiny pieces. You may also make a paste of the food.
Then, drop the prepared feed into the open mouth. When the bird has its stomach full, it will stop eating or show less interest in having more food.
You may also check its stomach manually with your hand, but be gentle!
Read More: What To Feed Baby Birds
Commercially Prepared Bird Diets
There are a number of commercially prepared bird diets available that can be used to feed injured birds. These diets are typically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of birds of a particular species or age group. They are available in a variety of forms, including pellets, mashes, and powders.
Some of the most common commercially prepared bird diets for injured birds include:
- Harrison’s Bird Diet: This diet is formulated for a variety of bird species, including finches, canaries, and parrots. It is available in a variety of forms, including pellets, mashes, and powders.
- Kaytee Exact Formulas for Baby Birds: This diet is formulated for baby birds of a variety of species. It is available in a powder form that can be mixed with water.
- Zupreem Natural™ Insectivore Diet: This diet is formulated for insectivorous birds, such as finches, warblers, and sparrows. It is available in a pellet form.
When choosing a commercially prepared bird diet for an injured bird, it is important to select a diet that is specifically designed for injured birds. These diets are typically higher in protein and fat than regular diets, which can help the bird to recover from its injuries.
Feeding Techniques and Tips for Injured Birds
- Proper feeding techniques: There are a few different ways to feed an injured bird. You can use forceps, a syringe, or even your own fingers. If the bird is unable to eat on its own, you may need to help it by gently opening its beak and placing the food inside.
- Tips for creating a calm and stress-free feeding environment: It is important to create a calm and stress-free feeding environment for an injured bird. This will help the bird to feel more comfortable and make it more likely to eat.
- Here are some tips for creating a calm and stress-free feeding environment:
- Choose a quiet place to feed the bird.
- Avoid making any sudden movements.
- Speak in a soft voice.
- If the bird is agitated, try to calm it down before feeding it.
Suitable foods for injured birds
- Birdseed mixtures: It is true that birdseed mixtures can contain too much fat for injured birds. If you choose to feed birdseed, it is important to offer a variety of seeds and nuts and to limit the amount of fat in the diet.
- Tiny seeds: Tiny seeds, such as black sunflower, millet, and finch mix, are a good source of energy for injured birds. You can also offer flaked maize, which is a good source of carbohydrates.
- Peanuts: Peanuts are a good source of protein and fat for injured birds. However, you should only offer peanuts that have been shelled and crushed. Whole peanuts can be a choking hazard.
- Live foods: Live foods, such as mealworms and waxworms, are a good source of protein and fat for injured birds. They are also a good way to keep the bird’s digestive system active.
- Uncooked rice: Uncooked rice is a good source of carbohydrates for injured birds. It is also a good way to keep the bird’s digestive system active.
- Cereals: Cereals, such as cornflakes and oatmeal, are a good source of carbohydrates for injured birds. They are also a good way to keep the bird’s digestive system active.
- Grated cheese: Mild grated cheese is a good source of protein and calcium for injured birds. It is also a good way to keep the bird’s digestive system active.
- Fresh vegetables: Fresh vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals for injured birds. You can offer a variety of vegetables, such as zucchini, broccoli, squash, lettuce, and cucumbers.
Fruits: Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals for injured birds. You can offer a variety of fruits, such as bananas, melons, mangoes, and apples.
Conclusion
It is not unusual to think about what to feed an injured bird. After all, our human instinct is always to be careful with birds and other animals naturally.
Likewise, you should be cautious while feeding an injured bird.
Seeds or seed mixtures are best for them. But you may try different food items like vegetables, peanuts, etc. Lastly, you should always be aware of the local wildlife rehabilitation center to avoid further injuries.
FAQ
How often should I feed an injured bird?
You should feed an injured bird small meals throughout the day. The exact frequency will depend on the species of bird and its age. However, as a general rule, you should offer the bird food every 2-3 hours.
What should I do if an injured bird does not eat?
If an injured bird does not eat after a few hours, you should contact a wildlife rehabilitator. A wildlife rehabilitator will be able to assess the bird’s condition and provide it with the care it needs.
How do I know if an injured bird is eating enough?
If an injured bird is eating enough, it will maintain its weight and energy levels. If the bird is losing weight or seems lethargic, it may not be eating enough. You can also check the bird’s droppings to see if they are normal. If the bird droppings are weird, watery, or foul-smelling, the bird may not be digesting its food properly.
Where can I find a wildlife rehabilitator?
You can find a wildlife rehabilitator by searching online or by contacting your local animal control agency. You can also ask your veterinarian for a referral.
I am a writer and blogger who is passionate about birds. I write to inspire and educate others about the beauty and importance of avian species in our ecosystem. I love to watch birds flying and taking their photographs to capture those memories.
