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Abandoned babies
#1
We've had a few nests pop up around our house a Robin nest by the front door and 2 finch nests in the back one in a bird house and one under our deck cover. We've been watching them grow every day. And have kept up with pictures. We had a casually yesterday with the ones on the deck which just so happens to be the biggest group with originally 5 eggs. A baby snake got one of the babies. We removed the snake and took it far away from the house. Since he's freshly eaten he won't be back for a couple weeks. But that leaves the babies that are left. Knowing since the snake got to the nest mom probably would be back. We've checked on them several times but mom hasn't been back. One of the babies we think has already died but there are at least 2 or 3 otherd. Being the nurturing people that my mother and I are we cant let them just died. So we have decided to take them in.
That's where you guys come in. I've fed abandoned baby birds before so that's nothing new. I need to know is specifics about baby finches if anybody knows them or knows a reliable website. I have been doing research on how to care for them and we already have food. I don't remember exactly how old they are at the moment but under 2 weeks. We've been watching them since the eggs were there so I'm getting days confused as to how old they are exactly.

I have a heating pad and cage already. I know after they feed to stimulate with a damp cotton swab to get them to poo.
How often should they feed?

Any information or tips would be helpful.
Our goal would to eventually release them.

I'm typing this on my phone at work so if there are weird typos it's auto correct.
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#2
Here are pictures. If by chance someone could confirm that they are finches or if they are something else. I'm not an expert on identifying birds but based on what we saw of the mom were are pretty sure.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEq2apjEeAF/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEq2gmRkeAW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEq2wsKkeBD/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEq2z9fEeBM/
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#3
We are feeding them every hour and a half with some baby bird stuff. 1 part bird mix 2 parts water. They are very dehydrated so we are giving them pedilite too
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#4
We are estimating that the birds are about 7 days old since they started hatching 8 days ago it happened over the course of two to three days. Reading their development they are closest to 7 Day development as well. Much better after 5 feedings today just had their last one at 11 they might get one more in the middle of the night. If we can get through this week we will be golden. After this week the feelings will be far enough apart and then they'll start weaning. About then they get to go to their cage. Have them set up in a shoebox that I customized to their needs. Heating pad the lid has slits in it to vent. They're also sitting inside of a plastic dog food container my mom had kept. It's the perfect size for a finch nest.

After all this and just one day of it I've got to say I really feel for all the mother birds out there.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEsMSL5keGP/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEsMdDVEeGc/
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#5
You are doing an amazing job. When I have fed baby birds I just fed them as often as they would eat.
You must be using the right food if they are responding to it and are growing.

Is it possible the snake got the mom as well?

Mother birds really are amazing when you think of al the work they do. I think you and your mom should get an honorary mother bird award.
I really hope you are able to raise the babies. It would be amazing to see them return to the wild.
[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]
Catherine

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#6
That's great Libby that you are taking care of the mamma

birds' babies. I wonder what happened to her. You can

never tell what may have happened to her out there in the

wild. It's a wild world in fact there is a song that goes "ooh, baby

baby it's a wild world"
  
                    
[Image: SIKJY9t.jpg] [Image: yRhDAiH.jpg]                                                                                            
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#7
We are feeding them Kaytee brand Exact feeding formula. Its for all baby birds and it tells you how to mix it for their age. We are also following a print out my mom found on how to hand raise finches. They are much better today. We read that if they are a dark red they are dehydrated so we gave a few drops of pedilite yesterday and this morning and they are turning a nice pink which is great news. They are even stronger this morning and even louder. It's amazing to see them turn around so quick.

As for the snake it was so small the most it could have gotten is 1 or 2 babies. The bulge was only about 1 baby size so one of the eggs may have just not hatched. Its sad we couldn't get to that one baby before it was too late but the 2 left are doing good. From what I've always heard is don't mess with birds nests because you could cause the mom to abandon the babies. Different smells to where mom doesn't recognise the babies. We kept a watchful eye but it got to the point where we knew we had to step in if these birds were going to survive. So I don't know what happened to their mom but we haven't seen her around at all since before the snake.

More baby pictures:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEtJ_mhEeH6/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEtKHplEeIJ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEtKjiAEeJI/
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#8
They are so tiny and fragile, but they do look good.

It sounds like you have it all figured out. You can even tell when they are dehydrated. I have used Kaytee brand products. They are very good. It is good that you have their baby bird food available. It looks like they are growing. I really hope you can do it.

It is sad, but sometimes mother birds get hurt or killed and the babies are left alone. They can't possibly survive without help.
If you hadn't stepped in they would not have survived the night. I am sure the cold or another predator or lack of food would have been too much for them.

I wish you every bit of good luck raising them. It looks good so far.
[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]
Catherine

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#9
They are getting stronger every day. My step dad has even stepped in to help when me and my mom can't be there. They went with my mom to work today cause no one was going to be home. Plus they are so compact right now it's easy for her to take them along. They are getting more bits a feathers slowly but surely.
This is a really good close up of them from this morning.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEvgxU4EeDR/
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#10
I can see the progress in the picture. Your mom must have had fun with them at work. It is a family job to keep up with feeding them. It makes you wonder how birds do it. I think this year we should dedicate mother's day to mama birds everywhere and to those of you who are filling in for absent mama birds.
You are doing good with them.
Keep us posted.
[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]
Catherine

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