How To Nurse Baby Blue Jays???? (2 Viewers)

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Hello....My name is Cathy and I have no idea how to make the fonts, etc. work here!! I am new here, and I have 2 baby blue jays I am not sure how to feed. I also just finished nursing and raising and releasing 2 red breasted robins..my first success in my entire life at actually saving one. I live in the blue Ridge Mountains in Va. and near the Shenandoah River. Each day I go outside and call the babies I raised, and today 2 white birds on the bottom landed in the tree over me and began squaking at me...and I have no clue why. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw in the yard a little thing with white...and as I walked down the hill this bird flew over me and landed in the tree near where I was. She gave me no problem picking up the baby, but seemed to get aggravated again once I got back to the porch and bird cage I still had out there. I looked back, and almost did not see there was another. After I picked this one up as well, she was fine. I do not know if they had seen me with the robins outside for a few days before I finally opened their door to free them or what, but I do know had I left them there cats would have killed them. I live in the woods, but in a small private development, and there are cats around. I raised the robins by soaking hard kitten food in the beginning in water, and then graduated to pouch food in juices and gravy and fed them with tweezers, until I finally stopped because I knew they could do it for themselves. These little ones seem to want to do nothing but sleep....I did get each of them to eat maybe a piece or 2. The robins were much more active at eating and demanding it, and I just am not sure what to feed these 2 babies. They have feathers, but no tail feathers. they cannot fly up onto a perch yet in the cage so I have them snuggled in a box tonight. I would really appreciate any advice from anyone who has raised baby blue jays, because I know they will be killed if I put them back outside. I have a cockatiel whom I let fly free in my home..tho he mostly stays on a curtain rod over the cage, where his food, ladders, etc. are built onto a wooden platform as he just did not like to get in his cage ever. So they will at least hear another bird...it seemed comforting to the robins. Thank you for the welcome to the group and any advice anyone can offer....Cathy C.

Welcome to BirdForum, Cathy, from all of us on staff here.

The below is from the Virginia Wildlife Center's website. I don't know what city in VA you're in so can't help you with the phone number of the nearest bird rehabber.

If You Find A Baby Bird

Is the bird injured (bleeding, broken bones, puncture wounds, been in a cat’s mouth, open wounds, etc.)?

Is the bird fully feathered?

Can you find the nest?

Please give baby birds the best possible chance for survival and leave them in the wild where they belong! Never attempt to treat or raise a baby bird on your own. Despite your best efforts, most hand-raised birds will die.


The best baby bird rehabilitation is prevention. Educate your friends, family, neighbors and yourselves about the fledging process. It is normal for birds at fledging to be on the ground unable to fly! Birds need several days up to four weeks, depending on their species, to learn how to fly and forage for food. One or more parent will feed them during this period. Know where nesting sites are located and keep cats and dogs indoors around the time you think the birds will fledge to avoid predation. Ask neighbors to take responsibility for their pets as well.


NOTE: Raising a wild bird in captivity is illegal unless you have both state and federal permits.

I have the same exact problem, we have a fledgeling blue jay that was just denested tonight, several cats gathering around and no defense for the little thing. Thanks for the tip on the nesting box. Ours has both tail feathers and full feathering on the wings and rest of the body. I've heard to feed cooked/boiled hamburger and dog or cat food but am unsure of any of these. Was considering some ground up earthworms. Are tweezers the best method of feeding? What about water? Do we put a small dish in with him? So many questions????? Hope someone has some answers.

Renata61 said:

I have the same exact problem, we have a fledgeling blue jay that was just denested tonight, several cats gathering around and no defense for the little thing. Thanks for the tip on the nesting box. Ours has both tail feathers and full feathering on the wings and rest of the body. I've heard to feed cooked/boiled hamburger and dog or cat food but am unsure of any of these. Was considering some ground up earthworms. Are tweezers the best method of feeding? What about water? Do we put a small dish in with him? So many questions????? Hope someone has some answers.

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When I was feeding birds by hand I had to give them also water (small drops) by hand. They can not use water dishes as the indoor /cage birds are used to. Also very important always to feed very small protions, to start at dawn and do it in intervals the whole day through. I feeded a combination of local food, that the species uses and with the time started to switch to food supplies which were easear to get, but still somehow similar. For example very very small portions of liver insted of worms, berries etc. But it has to accord to the tipe of bird you are hand feeding.

Also not to forget to keep them warm at night. With the magpies (which were still without feathers) we made good experience keepeng them warm in holding our hand over them the whole night. It wasn't simple but we (our family) succeded in growing them up. Usually they have fallen out of their nests and we saved them from cats....

I just can report you about my experiences, but I don't know the tipe of bird you have. So you have to ajust it to your tipe of bird. But maybe my experiences can give you some hints how to get the solution.

In our family it has been always more or less a whole family project, because nobody has time the whole day througt, but the birds do need that.

Good luck!

Iris

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

Iris's well-meaning advice notwithstanding, in the United States, it is illegal to keep or raise a wild (e.g., federally protected) bird unless you have the proper rehab permits. Please read the above post #2 and call a local rehabber or vet tomorrow. It's your baby bird's best chance for survival in the wild. :t:

Katy

Katy Penland said:

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

Iris's well-meaning advice notwithstanding, in the United States, it is illegal to keep or raise a wild (e.g., federally protected) bird unless you have the proper rehab permits. Please read the above post #2 and call a local rehabber or vet tomorrow. It's your baby bird's best chance for survival in the wild. :t:

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I called my best friend who is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and she is so overrun with infants right now that she told me she was appointing me the foster care of the baby jay. She also gave me some good instructions on feeding and care of the little thing. Thanks for your welcome. The baby jay is eating chopped up young crickets and small drops of water and is happily nested down in an old bowl. He has such a voice!! Thanks for your advice.

That's great, Renata. :t: I'm glad you were able to get ahold of a local professional for help. Please keep us posted on how your young charge fares, will you?

Update On Baby Jay

Katy Penland said:

That's great, Renata. :t: I'm glad you were able to get ahold of a local professional for help. Please keep us posted on how your young charge fares, will you?

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Well so far so good. Do they sleep alot after being fed? I chopped up some earthworms for him and gave him some more water. He's happily snoozing in his nesting bowl right now and he's making these little chirping noises in his sleep. All throughout the day it's been the same. He definately will let me know that he is hungry by screaming and opening his mouth when I come near. It's quite endearing. I hope he continues doing so well. I just hope I'm doing the right thing, though my friend who has experience with birds says I am. She also gave me some vitamin powder for baby birds that I coated the earthworms with.

HELP - 2 Baby Blue Jays and lots of Cats

Please send me suggestions for the feeding the baby blue jays--unfortunately it is an incredibly windy day and the nest must be high in the tree. There are lots of cats around (good hunters too--they caught a small heron or bittern yesterday). Too late in weekend to get "professional" help. Per suggestions above, unless we hear of other suggestions, we will smash up earthworms or crickets and add a tad of water and droplet them into the birds mouths--they did not even run away from us--they just opened their mouths and squaked--they are hungry lil' ones. When we participated in the squirrel rescue after the hurricanes last year, we fed them every couple hours--I assume we'll do the same with these lil ones too?

Thank you anyone for your input, but please spare me the response about the professionals--we'll call them once they are available during business hours.

Hi Kathy,

We had a nest of 4 blue jays and were witnessing the whole process. The other day we saw three fledglings. One was on the ground, two up above. Parents are continuously attending to them but the large number of crows is making their survival practically impossible. Parents are continuously attacking the crows and this morning I had to run out of the house only to find one of the flrdgings on the ground, on his back. he doesn't seem to be hurt, I have it in a box inside, afraid to take it out knowing the crows are watching carefully. I know the other fledglings must be out there and today spent the whole day, trying to scare the crows away.

I thought of buying a birdcage and putting it outside with the baby in it. This way the parents might feed the little thing, but the predators won't get to it.

Kindly let me know if this is something that could work. I am not sure now how to feed the fledgling - it's quite grown up, but can't fly still. Was jumping in the box for a while and now sits quietly.

Please give me any possible advise for this situation.

Thank you,

Oksana

Hi, Oksana, and welcome to BirdForum from all of us on staff here.

The info page that I quoted above, and which is also available at the link below, is the best advice any of us can give you or anyone else finding newly fledged birds. Please read it carefully and follow its instructions.

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

As I don't know where in California you're located, I can't help you with trying to find a local vet or rehabilitation person. Best to look in your phone book or even google your area to get professional help. :t:

I nursed a blue jay once

i nursed a blue jay once, and a mocking bird. but i dindn't know what to feed him the blue jay was hurt but it was serious injured. it passed becuse it was to hurt!!! KEITH RICHTER

what a vet told me about this baby blue jay

My sister saw a snake hanging down from a tree near her 2 small children out in the country. She wasn't sure if the snake was poisonous or not but anyway, long story shorter, she chose to destroy the snake.
Well, I am an animal lover and went on to tell her this and that and some snakes help us out with problems, yada yada. :C We went inside her house to visit, then later we go outside and there is a little baby blue jay in the same area as the snake she had earlier tried to point out, that she had destroyed. He had feathers and his mouth wide open, he did not look too good. Like just in trauma. I scooped him up and headed to my house, had kids to pick up and I have raised all sorts of animals in crisis like this little bluejay.
But before I left, my sister wanted to show me the snake she had killed earlier that day before I had come over. We noticed two lumps in the snake.
I got a call from my sister, later after I got home and she had actually cut open the snake to see what he had ate and yes, it was two little blue jays just like this one here in my home. That explained everything and she had found pieces of what looked like a torn up nest strewn around. The snake had got the two other baby blue jays and was probably coming down after this one that fell out of the nest.
I talked to a vetrinarian we know and he said to feed the baby blue jay some cooked oatmeal with milk and I asked him about water and he said a little bottled water, no tap (chemicals).
Well, I have fed him some oatmeal about 4 times now, he lets me know when he is hungry,lol. And he has really perked up and doing great. Sitting on my shoulder as I type this.
Some of us out here don't worry about the FEDS busting in over a baby blue jay. They are busy with more serious issues than an animal lover like me that rescued a baby bird.
If I would have left the baby blue jay there, it would be dead by now, no doubt, it was near death when I found it this morning.
Lots of wild cats roaming around and one was waiting to pounce on this little guy, when we walked up and saw him on the ground.
This baby blue jay has quite a few feathers but not enough to fly yet, probably another week or two.
I'm not licensed but my family knows how to help nature along sometimes.
I have 44 years of experience, and it's not like we are running a meth lab here or something like that.
I doubt God or this bird care if I am licensed to do anything but give him a little food and love after a very traumatic experience.
We have lots of time and love for this baby bird, other places licensed are overcrowded sometimes and I think this little guy deserves alot of TLC.
I once found a great horned owl that had been run over on a dirt road in Kansas. I thought it was dead and picked it up and just marveled at the beauty. Luckily I picked him up with a towel. Then his eyes slowly opened and I quickly wrapped the towel tighter.
Took him home and fed and watered him and nursed him back to health for a week, then set him free. He was awesome and I swear it was that same owl that stayed right there on our property for awhile.
Sometimes we have a chance to help out and people like me and others, step in and do our part.
Last time I tried an animal rescue place for an orphaned dove we found, it was a rats race and nobody wanted to take the dove. I fed the dove and released it in a few weeks and I'm sure that dove did just fine.
So for me, cooked oatmeal with some milk, wait for the baby blue jays little squawky noise and I feed him.
Good luck to the others that asked for advise!
Sherry

TinaD-Florida said:

Please send me suggestions for the feeding the baby blue jays--unfortunately it is an incredibly windy day and the nest must be high in the tree. There are lots of cats around (good hunters too--they caught a small heron or bittern yesterday). Too late in weekend to get "professional" help. Per suggestions above, unless we hear of other suggestions, we will smash up earthworms or crickets and add a tad of water and droplet them into the birds mouths--they did not even run away from us--they just opened their mouths and squaked--they are hungry lil' ones. When we participated in the squirrel rescue after the hurricanes last year, we fed them every couple hours--I assume we'll do the same with these lil ones too?

Thank you anyone for your input, but please spare me the response about the professionals--we'll call them once they are available during business hours.

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Sherbear44 said:

But before I left, my sister wanted to show me the snake she had killed earlier that day before I had come over. We noticed two lumps in the snake.
I got a call from my sister, later after I got home and she had actually cut open the snake to see what he had ate and yes, it was two little blue jays just like this one here in my home. That explained everything and she had found pieces of what looked like a torn up nest strewn around. The snake had got the two other baby blue jays and was probably coming down after this one that fell out of the nest.

Click to expand...

Yep, that's what snakes do. They have to survive, too, and birds are part of their prey.

I talked to a vetrinarian we know and he said to feed the baby blue jay some cooked oatmeal with milk and I asked him about water and he said a little bottled water, no tap (chemicals).

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Thank you for talking to a veterinarian for advice on how to care for a wild bird chick. Did your vet also advise you to take this bird to a rehabber once you'd given it some food and put it in a warm, safe place?

Some of us out here don't worry about the FEDS busting in over a baby blue jay. They are busy with more serious issues than an animal lover like me that rescued a baby bird.

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"Some of us out here"? Since when isn't Texas part of the US? Whether you yourself choose to honor the federal protections that are in place is up to you, but your love for animals doesn't give you -- or any of us animal lovers -- special dispensation.

Most people who have eggs, chicks and fledglings are completely at sea as to what to do with them -- don't even know what species they are. This is why our first advice is to call a local professional and then to let them know that they cannot keep a federally protected species without the proper licenses. This is, after all, for the birds' protection, not ours. I wonder how many hundreds if not thousands of chicks and fledglings suffer days- or weeks-long, painful deaths each year because soft-hearted people feed them the wrong things or feed them improperly?

I have 44 years of experience, and it's not like we are running a meth lab here or something like that. I doubt God or this bird care if I am licensed to do anything but give him a little food and love after a very traumatic experience.

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I don't know what running a meth lab has to do with anything. As for God, didn't he say "Render unto Caesar..."? That would be our federal government, in modern parlance.

Good luck to the others that asked for advise!

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The best advice is to call a local vet or rehabber -- which is what we urge our members to do -- not get hand-feeding instructions off an internet site, even one as good as BirdForum.

Two baby blue jays need your help!

Late this evening I rescued two baby blue jays that fell out of a nest ... apparently they were in the treetops that were carefully checked before work started today. Three huge oaks, each over 45 feet tall, were being taken down because they were diseased and in preparation for the hurricane season . Somehow the climber missed the nest ... these two are babies and have a very fine covering of feathers ... I am giving them the oatmeal mixture every hour or so and they seem to be sleeping a lot still. They are in a small cage which I plan to hang in the trees outside of the screened porch during the daytime in case the parents are around ... but to save them from racoons and cats etc. at night, I will keep them protected. Is the oatmeal mixture better than the dog/cat food softened with water for feeding? How long and how often should I feed them .... and when can I let them out on their own?

There is no wildlife refuge close to my area so rather than let these fledglings be at risk I plan to care for them until they are strong enough to be on their own.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone. I also need help with this. I was at a clients house grooming there Labradoodles when I was about to leave saw this little bird jumping around on the ground. I jumped up and grabbed him before he got pounced by 5 Labradoodles that would of loved to have him for lunch. Tryed to find a nest but coulden't find one so put him in a box and went to the feed store where they have baby chicks etc. The lady told me at the desk to do everyone a favor and throw the "damn" thing in a field and let it die. She told me she hated Blue Jays. Anyway I told her I couldent do that and I needed some mealworms. I bought 3 dozen and brought him home. I tryed to give him a whole one but he wasn't gettig the idea of it so I cut it for him and put it in his mouth which I got him to take 2 full size meal worms. He has most feathers and sounds after reading this that he is one of those Fledge Blue Jay babies. Anyway, I could care less if the FBI comes a knockin on my door for me saving a baby blue jay. The media would have a field day if that happend where I live so I don't want to hear it. All I want to do is help this baby bird. I am wondering how many times I should feed him a day and how many mealworms can a baby this size eat. I don't want to over feed him but don't want to under feed him either. Instead of trying to lecture does anyone know the answer to this. WTG Sherry for saving that little bird. I beleive everyone should do what they can to save what they can!

Thanks,
Brandi

News..Ok he is now eating 2-4 worms every 3 hours. He is getting them down whole with some effort. Does this sound normal? Hes a great little bird and sits on my finger and calls to me now when I pass his cage.

The orphan jay I have been raising for 10 days eats blue berries, cherries, grapes and cat food. He strongly prefers the beef cat food. He will stay with me until I can find an official rehabber. Its that or kill him. I would like advice - different foods others have had success giving to Jays.

I saved a fledgling blue jay from a busy street and he lived for a week. He ate well from morning until night and slept on my chest, and it broke my heart when he went into spasms one night and died. But I just wanted to say, government or no government, I know that little bird would have been smashed by a car if I hadn't picked him up. At least he had one comfortable week. BTW, it makes me laugh to think of the OSBI arresting people for raising blue jays. Those guys would sooner run over a songbird than try to save it.

P.S. Before I get slammed: I called a veterinarian who gave me instructions which I followed to the LETTER about how to care for the fledgling. He couldn't take the bird, and he told me there were no local agencies who could take him, either. Basically, he said it was up to me.

I feed abandoned baby blue jays dog food chunks soaked in water. I use blunt ended tweezers and offer small bites of food, it's not necessary to poke the tweezers down the throat as they will go after the food. Feed every 30 minutes until bird becomes a fledgling then about every hour. Getting the tongue caught in the tweezers can be a problem so be careful.

Don't worry about over-feeding, the bird will stop eating when full. Avoid feeding worms or live insects as this will cause an internal parasite problem for the animal. As the bird grows and can get about within it's cage begin introducing small bites of fruits, nuts, and seeds. I've seen jays amuse themselves between feedings with these offerings. They do get bored when confined but try to resist handling them anymore than you must.

Remember, your job as the caretaker is to prepare the bird for a successful release. This also means keeping a bowl of water in the cage; bathing induces preening which will waterproof the feathers. You can put pebbles and rocks in the water bowl to prevent drowning when the bird is small.

Provide a good area for practice flying. The bird needs to exercise its wings to prepare for outdoor life. We take our birds outside and allow them to practice and scratch around on the ground. Don't release the bird too early. Make sure it has a good tail growth. Also treat the bird for mites before release to avoid mite molt which can end in the birds death from overexposure in some areas.

One other thing, keep the bird's area clean. That means change the lining of the cage at least twice daily and provide things for the bird to play with, as I said, they do get very bored.

If I can be of further help please email me.