Rescued a baby swallow (I think)

[Crimmy]

I'm not sure what species is this bird, but from the fact that it was below a swallow nest, the somewhat orange chest, and the small size of it's body, I assume it's a swallow.

https://twitter.com/Crimmynal/status/228939335007866880/photo/1/large

In any case, I found this little one while on my way to work, so I decided to take it in.
It's sitting next to me, making small sounds and eating bread soaked in milk. I was wondering if it's bad for it to eat such a thing, and if so, what you guys would suggest for feeding it?

For now, it's called: My Little Pollo.

[Spiryt]

It looks like a swallow indeed, and thus it probably should eat some insects, worms and stuff...

[Tiffanie Lirle]

Big post incoming!

After taking care of several birds for 8+ years I've had a good deal of experience with the creatures. Albeit mostly tropical ones, but still, it's something. Before I start, you really should have put it back into it's nest instead of taking it with you. But it's too late for that now I suppose.

(Pro tip: The whole "If you touch a baby bird the mother will ignore/kill it" is a wives tale. It's nonsense. )

Anyways, as for feeding the little guy you need to AVOID dairy products (Milk, cheeses, yoghurts etc) or excesses of bread. I can not stress that enough. You're really going to hurt the little guy by giving him too much that stuff.

Birds do not have the enzymes necessary to digest lactose. Milk and dairy is not a natural part of practically any avian's diet. It'll often pass through the bird’s digestive tract unchanged. It may draw fluids into the intestinal tract, resulting in diarrhea. Which can be really harmful for a stressed out little guy like that. Bread is okay in small doses, but you need to think of dry bread as sponges. Too much can clog up the digestive tract.

I'm not familiar with swallows, so I can't tell exactly how old that one is. But if it's eating your soaked bread, it should be old enough to eat solids on it's own and won't need formula. Go to a local fishing supplier and try to get local insects, little grasshoppers or small earthworms. In an emergency parrot food for parakeets and the like will most likely suffice. Just make sure you get seeds and not that coloured pellet stuff. Other than that, keep him warm and dry.

Finally and MOST IMPORTANTLY.

A bird born in the wild will never be able to adjust to captivity properly. The difference in behavior and general acceptance of humans between bird's bred to be pets and wild ones is massive. You absolutely 100% CAN NOT take it home with you. After you get off work you have two choices.

A- Get the little guy to an avian veterinarian. A normal vet will suffice in a pinch. They'll see to it that he's taken care of.

Or

B- Put him back in his nest! If the nest in question happens to be full at the time make sure you don't scare off it's inhabitants! Wait for it to be empty and put him back.

[Crimmy]

To the Vetmobile!

Okay, I'll try to get the little Pollo to one.

[Lycan 01]

B- Put him back in his nest! If the nest in question happens to be full at the time make sure you don't scare off it's inhabitants! Wait for it to be empty and put him back.

This is a bad idea for some species of birds. Putting a baby bird back in its nest causes the mother to no longer view it as its own offspring, because it picks up the scent of the human from contact. As a result, it will at best ignore the baby, and at worse push it out of the nest. Or at least, so my grandfather taught me when I was a kid, and he knew his nature stuff.

[Tiffanie Lirle]

Putting a baby bird back in its nest causes the mother to no longer view it as its own offspring, because it picks up the scent of the human from contact.
Sorry but, no. This is wrong. This is incredibly wrong. But instead of making a longwinded post again, I'll turn to Cracked handle this one.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19527_5-ridiculous-animal-myths-that-you-probably-believe.html

[Siosilvar]

This is a bad idea for some species of birds. Putting a baby bird back in its nest causes the mother to no longer view it as its own offspring, because it picks up the scent of the human from contact. As a result, it will at best ignore the baby, and at worse push it out of the nest. Or at least, so my grandfather taught me when I was a kid, and he knew his nature stuff.

Your grandfather was full of old wives' tales. Cornell (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/faq#q-if-i-handle-1) and Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/babybird.asp) disagree.

[Crimmy]

There are no avian vets around here, it seems. There is the Animal Protection Society, but those guys are already closed and won't be working for the rest of the day.

There is also that one suspicious vet/petshop. I'm not willing to take the little one there.

...

What to do?

[Juggling Goth]

Keep it warm, keep it hydrated. Keep it quiet and don't handle it (not because of the human smell = abandonment myth, but because it's a wild animal and birds can straight up die from stress, or from crashing into stuff when they panic).

Quick google suggests swallows are mostly insectivores. Can you get mealworms? Most of the birds I've worked with have liked those. You tend to get them from specialist pet shops (live) or anywhere that sells bird food (dried).

These are pretty much stopgap measures until you can pass it on to a wildlife expert, though. Assuming you can't return it to its nest, which would be best.

Useful link? (http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_6622115_do-feed-baby-swallow-bird_.html)

Another link (http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww36e.htm). I am not an expert by any means but the stuff on those pages looks reasonable from my experience with birds.

[Lycan 01]

Sorry but, no. This is wrong. This is incredibly wrong. But instead of making a longwinded post again, I'll turn to Cracked handle this one.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19527_5-ridiculous-animal-myths-that-you-probably-believe.html


Your grandfather was full of old wives' tales. Cornell (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/faq#q-if-i-handle-1) and Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/babybird.asp) disagree.

Alright, I was wrong. Jeez. Ya ain't gotta be rude about it... :smallconfused:

[Tiffanie Lirle]

There are no avian vets around here, it seems. There is the Animal Protection Society, but those guys are already closed and won't be working for the rest of the day.

What to do?
Juggling_Goth pretty much said everything important. You absolutely need to get in contact with someone today. If you absolutely can't contact anyone. Then bring the little guy back to the nest.

Unless you arrive and the nest in question is on fire, do not take it home with you.

If you need a safe way to carry him around, jury rig the following -

Take an elongated, short container like a shoebox or a basket. Pad it with newspaper or clean cloth of some form. Make sure it's still deep enough so he can't climb out. Then cover half'ish of the top of container with a towel or some such so it's partially dark in one area.

[Crimmy]

The nest was too high to climb. There were no stepladders either. I was on a hurry, and to be honest, most people walking around weren't giving a f about this little bird.

I realize I will have a tough night tonight, maybe even without sleep.

The weather is nice, not too cold even on nights, so I guess I just have to keep it indoors.

As for the worm/insects... there are plenty of mosquitoes, and wasps. So my guess is one huge "no" for those. I also did a little google search and found I shouldn't give it worms because of bacteriae and such (something to do with it's mom/dad's stomach acids killing those things before regurgitating).

I see no change in it's digestive habits. It poops normally (It defecated a few minutes after I found it, and in comparison, there isn't much of a change), keeps on chirping, and moves like it normally does, so I guess the food hasn't done anything wrong with the little guy. However, I can't get birdfood right now (most shops are closing, and vet/petshops are already closed.) so I'll try not to give him milk/cheese, et cetera.

As a question, before it's original plate of bread/milk runs out, what should I prepare for it, given the circumstances?

EDIT:
I kept the human contact to a minimum. I already have the box and cloth rig.
I know you said "Don't take home" but there aren't that many options in Mexico (ironic, given the fact we have one of the widest animal variety in the world).

[Janus]

An African or a European swallow?

[Tiffanie Lirle]

As a question, before it's original plate of bread/milk runs out, what should I prepare for it, given the circumstances?

The easiest go to would be some rice, make sure it's soft and fully expanded. Don't give it too much. Maybe a teaspoon's full at most. Also, make sure it's not hot!

Another simple staple would be pasta, again, make sure it's fully cooked and cooled. And remember to keep it unseasoned. Problem is it might not recognize it as food. But if you take some spaghetti and cut it into short pieces you can probably trick it into thinking you have a worm. Again, don't over feed it.

Birds need to drink too, find a way to get it a little saucer or cup of water. Nothing too deep mind you. If your local tap water is safe to drink for people then it should be fine for the bird. I shouldn't have to note the following, but do not give the bird any carbonated, mineral or flavored water.

Keep it inside it's basket and don't leave it alone outside or in a room somewhere. If you have any other pets, dogs/cats etc, make sure they under no circumstances get in the same room as the bird.

[THAC0]

Clearly you need to hook up with whomever posted the coconut thread.

[Crimmy]

The easiest go to would be some rice, make sure it's soft and fully expanded. Don't give it too much. Maybe a teaspoon's full at most. Also, make sure it's not hot!

Another simple staple would be pasta, again, make sure it's fully cooked and cooled. And remember to keep it unseasoned. Problem is it might not recognize it as food. But if you take some spaghetti and cut it into short pieces you can probably trick it into thinking you have a worm. Again, don't over feed it.

This part is easy, I find. The hard part is the water.

Birds need to drink too, find a way to get it a little saucer or cup of water. Nothing too deep mind you. If your local tap water is drinkable by people than it should be fine for the bird. I shouldn't have to note the following, but do not give the bird any carbonated or mineral water.

It has refused so far to drink from anything other than this: A clean piece of cloth, which I sponge with my fingers. The water is clean, drinkable, and definitely not carbonated nor mineral.

I shall take your advice, and cook a bit of spaghetti.

[teratorn]

I strongly advise taking it to a wild life refuge if there's one nearby.



As a question, before it's original plate of bread/milk runs out, what should I prepare for it, given the circumstances?


If you have dry dogfood you can soften it with water and give it to the bird (moist but not wet). Store reared insects should be ok, but mealworms should be more like a treat (too much fat). It should eat every ~30 minutes during the day time.

Don't force the bird to drink. Wet the corners of its beak, and it'll drink on its own if it feels like it.

[Asta Kask]

Call protective child services to come and see if the mother can really take care of her chicks.

[Juggling Goth]

If you suspect dehydration is likely to become an issue, you can add children's rehydration powder to its water. (Dioralyte in the UK, Pedialyte in the US... don't know about Mexico. You get it from pharmacies, anyway, in the aisle with the diarrhoea remedies.) I've had good luck rehydrating a very sick chicken with that stuff. Follow the dosage/storage instructions on the packet. You do need to mix up a new batch every time you give it a drink, though, because it's sugary and it will go manky if you let it stand for any length of time.