Hand Feeding An Orphaned Bird

by James Glover
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I am having trouble feeding an orphaned bird. Can you tell me the proper way to do this? (Cameron Clarke - New Jersey)

If you tap the side of the box, or his beak, he should raise his head and have his beak wide open. Take a small amount of food onto a flat stick and push it far back into the bird's throat.

Be careful not to get any into the glottis which is the small hole behind the tongue and on front of the throat. When you remove the feeding stick, the bird will close its mouth and swallow. Wipe the bird' beak clean. It will continue to open its mouth until it has had enough to eat.

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