Fallen baby mockingbirds should be placed back in their nest if it can be found.
Baby mockingbirds may occasionally be found abandoned or on the ground after falling from their nests. The best thing to do if you find an abandoned nest is to wait a safe distance away and watch for the parents to return. If they do not return or you have proof they have abandoned the nest, such as dead chicks in the nest, then you can safely bring the babies inside. If you find a very young mockingbird on the ground, look for the nest and place it back inside when possible.
A licensed wildlife rehabilitation center is an orphaned baby mockingbird's best chance of survival. If you do not have one located near you or need to keep the baby mockingbird alive until you can transport it to a rehabilitation facility, you can care for it on your own for a short period of time. It is important to note that it is illegal in most states to keep a wild bird as a pet. Baby mockingbirds should always be released to the wild after they are weaned.
Instructions
1. Make a nest for the baby mockingbird. A shoe box or plastic container works best. Place a heating pad or hot water bottle inside and cover with towels. Check the temperature often to make sure the baby feels warm.
2. Prepare the baby mockingbird's food. Soak Purina Kitten Chow in water for one hour to soften it. Dice a hard-boiled egg and chop up meal worms. Mix the ingredients together at a ratio of approximately 60 percent soaked kitten food, 20 percent egg and 20 percent meal worms.
3. Place the baby on a non-slippery surface and use the round nose tweezers to place small chunks of the mixture in its beak. If the baby does not open its beak automatically, gently tap the side of its beak with your finger or the tweezers to stimulate it to open. Once the baby understands you have food, it will begin begging as soon as it sees you. Continue feeding until the baby shows no interest in more food. Never force food into the baby's mouth, as this can cause it to aspirate.
4. Weigh the baby with a postage scale each day to ensure it is growing. It should eat approximately 10 percent to 15 percent of its weight in food at each feeding.
5. Repeat feedings every 15 to 20 minutes for a very young baby with no feathers and eyes that are still closed. Once it begins to get feathers and opens its eyes, feedings can be done every 30 to 45 minutes. Over time, feed more at each feeding and allow longer periods of time to lapse between feedings. Introduce a food bowl to the baby's cage when it is fully feathered and moving around on its own. Baby mockingbirds only need to be fed from sunrise to sunset.
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