Basic Supplies Needed to Successfully Raise Baby Birds
- A brooder which you can control the temperature.
- Heat Source: If you don't have a brooder, a heating pad to go underneath the cage, or heat lamp would work. The baby birds may need the extra heat at night. Click here to see some options.
- Bedding. I personally like to have one towel at the bottom of the brooder and paper towels on top to absorb any messes. Other breeders use shredded newspaper. I wouldn't recommend anything that could potentially impact the baby's crop -- such as cedar chips or ground corn cobs.
- Commercial Formula & Handfeeding Syringes of various sizes. 1cc - 60cc's depending on the type of birds you are raising. I like Kaytee Exact Handfeeding Formula -- I found it easier to mix than other formulas. However, other breeders prefer other brands.
- Thermometer to measure the heat of the formula.
- Cotton Swabs to clean out the beak after feeding and Paper Towel for cleaning up and lining the brooder
- Disinfectants. I use GSE (Grapefruit Seed Exact) and Veriuni products.
- Weight Scale. Weighing your bird will allow you to monitor your bird's weight and warn you of any weight loss that might be an indication of a health problem. (Note: Birds always lose weight in the days before fletching -- this is normal.) If you don't already have a scale, please check out these.
- Cage for weaning babies once they have taken flight and are out of the brooder. The perches must be low so they can learn to perch. I like these cages, as they are inexpensive, stackable and easy to clean.
- Cage cover (I always leave a corner open for ventilation)
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