Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

I was wondering if the the neccessity ever arose, is it possible to hand raise smaller birds like robins and tits?

I've only ever seen larger birds of prey hand raised to eat out of hand etc, and I assume they are more "intelligent" than the smaller birds. It would be a very strange sight to see a robin sitting on someone's shoulder, and I just wondered whether it had been done before, or itf it is done regularly and I haven't seen it.

Don't worry, I'm not going to go off looking for an egg! I know that ever if you find one on the floor you should leave it. Just curious.

I wouldnt advise it. They take round the clock feeding and warmth, only the adult bird can give.

I actually had an encounter with a small bird.

I was on a bike ride at the River Crouch, and it was quite windy. A little bird, I don't know what it was but it was tiny, probably a juvenile, flew over a lake.
The little baby bird cought some wind, and went flying into the water. It was stuggling and splashing around in the water, and becasue the wind was blowing in my face, the tiny weightless bird just drifted over to me.
I got it out of the water, wiped its feathers a bit with a tissue, (being careful not to damage them) and put it in the long grass. I hope it's still ok!

Yes they do need constant care, abd when they are grown I don't think you would be able to release them into the wild so you would have to keep it in a cage, which I feel strongly you shouldn't do for birds, especially wild ones.

Jamie I think you did the right thing there! Usually you would say a human touching it may not help it, but in that situation that was the only thing you can do!

I once reared 2 wren fledglings who had been abandoned becuase the ivy had come off the wall. I left them of coiurse which caused the other 2 fledglings to die so felt I had no option . It was only the dead ones keeping the other 2 underneath warm that they were alive when I decided finally to intervene. It was quite successful but not having an aviary as soon as they started hopping about I took them to a local bird sanctuary. I fed them with tweezers , mostly becuase their food were live meal worms. I suppose it would be quite possible to raise a robin.

It must of been quite an experience raising them, and you definitely did the right thing to intervene as they obviously were't going to be rescued by the parents. I thinkit is probably quite possible to raise a robin if it is kept in an aviary, although it would be a shame to keep it locked up. I don't know whether it would be possible to ever train a small bird, do they have the brain power?

I dont think its a question of whether or not it is possible to raise young wild birds, its more a question of whether or not its legal?

I know it's not generally legal in the United States, as almost all songbirds and birds of prey are covered under various laws, and wild birds require various state and federal permits to be kept in captivity.

Kingfisher

That's good to hear, I would hate to think that just anyone who fancied raising a bird could do it without the proper knowledge and know-how, and only in cases where it is neccessary. It is preferable to allowing the bird to die (although I'm sure some would argue with that) but even in that scenario it shouldbe left to the experts.

Thanks for all the responses. I should probably make it clear that I am in no way thinking ok tring to raising a small bird, illegal or not! I think it would be very difficult and should only ever be attempted by someone with a high level of knowledge. I admire tibbar for being able to raise two wrens succesfully, it must have been very rewarding if not a bit sad when you handd them over to the sanctuary!

Your absolutely right, even if you leave out the ethical problems I'm sure there is a law against raising wild birds. Don't worry Bill we know your not going to go bird hunting, it is an interesting question though.

I hope those 2 wrens went on to have a good life after they went to a long time established sanctuary. It was a good experience. The parents would not go back in because the ivy was flapping about in the wind. It was up the house next door facing my kitchen window & I used to watch her going in to her nest then disaster the gales brought the ivy off the wall. Like I said I did investigate & watched her keep coming but she refused to go in all day . When I went back the 2 birds were dead but underneath were these 2 bald things only just alive & the 2 dead ones had kept them alive longer. I decided to take them as I believed they deserved a chance of life & when I took the nest also it was full of mites so put them in a wicker basket like you would get (, chicken in a basket in the 70's (giving my age away)This was before my son was born & he is 18 this year. I put the 2 half dead things on kitchen roll covered them up with some & then put the whole thing on top of a hot water bottle. Next I decided I might need food so not being well off I had to raid my penny jar of all things & took 50p in copper down to the local marina to find a fisherman. I didn't know what wrens ate but I thought feeder maggots would be a good bet. Anyway I felt utterly humble & stupid explaining to a fisherman that 50p was all I had & could I buy some maggots off him. After explaining why I needed them God Bless him he gave me them with such graciousness. Off I went with a few maggots & went back to feed them when I took a peek they were upright, amazing! I could not get them to eat no matter how I tried.Then I had a brainwave I remembered a girl at work (there is always someone who knows something about what info you need at work) her partner raised his own hawks & flew them so I rang him for advice. He only live up the road & came down a few minutes later with some meal worms. He showed me how to feed them so I was on my way. Next thing I took some fluffy clippings from my standard poodle & put them on top of the kitchen roll covering the babies & thought it would give them impression (porobably a poor one) of a mother sat on them . Installed by my bedside I fed them every couple of hours & every time I opened up the cover I saw 2 wide open beaks. It was good to see I was on the right track. The next day I rang the bird sanctuary to ask for further advice & the lady told me to dip the mealworms in cod liver oil & dust from grated cuttlefish & alternately water. She asked me what I was feeding them was very pleased when I said mealworms , she stressed never give them chopped earth worms as they carry tapeworms. So I was surprised to see that on Autumn watch this year where they did feed earth worms. I took them to the bird sanctuary as I had no aviary & they needed to practice flying by that time they had gone from 2 red bald blobs to little wrens with all their feathers on. It did cost me in the end cod liver oil, cuttle fish & mealworms & a £5 donation. (by then I had been paid)It was a worthwhile experience but not really one I would wish to repeat but I could do it if the need arose.I wish I had taken photos though as it is a chance of a lifetime for people like me.
I think that it is obviously a skill best left to their mum & dad....don't you?

I had a robin in my garden for nearly 4 years up until last summer, he was a juvenile when he appeared and became very friendly, too friendly sometimes, often appearing in the kitchen to let me know he has arrived, he became hand tame and took food easily by me, gaining confidence all the time, i could even call him when i didnt see him in the garden, he would appear when i whistled, he was a great little bird, and i had the pleasure of having those years watching and photographing him, and his partner and 6 clutches of chicks. He is dearly missed as he got pushed away by a pair that nested in my workshop last July,"Chippys" day were over in our garden. He is sorley missed.
The second of my hand tame birds is "Beaky" the starling he was a fledgling that crashed into my kitchen window, we cared for him and shortly he joined other starlings, but he became very friendly and to date he/she comes daily for treats,mainly uncooked pastry as they love the fat.
I state that i noway raised these birds from chicks, and dont recommend it, but it shows that small birds can become dependant on us humans and anything is possible!

Tibbar thats a wonderful story, thanks for sharing it.
[attachment=368]
[attachment=369]
[attachment=370]
[attachment=371]

Thanks Tawny , I love the pics, sorry the story was a bit long winded but then again I think all the facts are in there. That's great about feeding the birds by hand I think that I would shake if that ever happened to me. It juist shows you though that there are kind people in the world & not like the news likes to portray. Makes me feel better with the world this morning

Thanks for posting that story tibbar, I hope they went on to have a good and healthy life too. It's sounds like you did a really good job with them. It definitely is a once in a life time opportunity, and while I would never wish a bird without it's mother I am a little jealous of you because it sounds wonderful! ;D

Tawny, it is amazing how animals can very quickly become dependant on humans or at least tame. "Beaky" and "Chippy" sound like real characters!