Broad Breasted White Turkey

Understanding Turkeys

Types of Turkeys

When it comes to raising turkeys, it’s essential to understand the different types available to choose the right fit for you. Broadly, there are several types of turkeys, including the Broad Breasted White, Broad Breasted Bronze, and Heritage breeds. The Broad Breasted varieties are commonly raised for meat due to their large size and fast growth rate. On the other hand, Heritage breeds, such as Bourbon Red and Narragansett, are known for their ability to forage, making them a popular choice for sustainable farming practices.

Behaviour and Characteristics

Turkeys are fascinating creatures known for their unique behaviours and distinct characteristics. They are highly social animals, often forming strong bonds within their flock. These birds are curious by nature and can be quite friendly, especially when raised in a nurturing environment. Additionally, turkeys are intelligent and demonstrate a wide range of vocalizations, using different sounds to communicate various emotions and intentions. When it comes to physical characteristics, turkeys are recognized for their fleshy wattle, snood, and impressive tail feathers, which play a role in their elaborate courtship displays.

Preparing for Your Turkeys

Housing and Shelter

When preparing to raise turkeys, ensuring they have appropriate housing and shelter is essential for their well-being. The coop or housing structure should provide ample space for the turkeys to move freely and protection from predators and harsh weather conditions. Consider using materials like wood and wire mesh to build a secure and well-ventilated shelter. Additionally, provide nesting boxes for the turkeys to lay their eggs comfortably.

Feeding and Nutrition

Feeding your turkeys a well-balanced diet is crucial for their growth and overall health. A combination of commercial turkey feed and access to fresh pasture or grass is ideal. Make sure the feed contains essential nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, providing clean water at all times is necessary to keep the turkeys hydrated. Turkeys are very similar to chickens as they both are foraging creatures, consuming insects, bugs and worms from the ground.

Health and Care

Maintaining the health of your turkeys requires regular monitoring and care. Keep an eye out for signs of illness and promptly address any health issues that may arise. Additionally, practising good hygiene in the turkey coop and keeping their living environment clean can help prevent diseases. Regularly trimming their beaks and spurs, as well as providing access to dust baths, can contribute to their overall well-being.

Narragansett Turkey

Breeding and Hatching

Selecting Breeding Stock

When starting a turkey breeding program, it’s crucial to select healthy, high-quality breeding stock. Look for birds with strong legs, bright eyes, glossy feathers, and well-developed musculature. Ensure there’s no sign of disease or deformities. Additionally, consider the breed’s specific traits, such as size and temperament, to match your breeding goals.

Incubation Process

Once you have fertile eggs from your breeding stock, the incubation process begins. Place the eggs in a clean and warm incubator set at around 99.5°F with 60% humidity. Turn the eggs several times a day for optimal development. After 25-28 days, you’ll witness the miracle of hatching. Be attentive during this period to ensure a successful hatch.

Caring for Poults

Upon hatching, the poults require careful attention. Keep them in a warm, draft-free brooder with a temperature of around 95°F for the first week, gradually reducing the heat thereafter. Provide a balanced starter feed and clean water at all times. Supervise their growth and health, as this is crucial for developing into healthy, productive turkeys.

Turkeys in Your Homestead

Raising turkeys on your homestead can be a rewarding and beneficial endeavour. From their meat and eggs to their pest control abilities, turkeys offer a range of products and services. By understanding how to utilize turkey products and integrate turkeys with other livestock, you can maximize the benefits of introducing turkeys to your homestead.

Utilizing Turkey Products

Turkeys provide a variety of products that can be valuable to a homestead. Their meat is a lean and nutritious protein source, and their eggs are a flavorful alternative to chicken eggs. Additionally, turkey feathers can be used for craft projects, and their manure makes excellent fertilizer for gardens and crops.
To make the most of these products, consider creating a business plan for selling excess meat, eggs, and feathers. You may also explore the potential for creating value-added products such as turkey jerky or feather art to generate additional income from your turkeys.

Integrating Turkeys with Other Livestock

Turkeys can be integrated with other livestock on your homestead to create a harmonious and efficient environment. When raised alongside chickens, turkeys can help control pests such as ticks and mosquitoes, benefiting both the turkeys and the chickens. However, it’s important to monitor the interactions between turkeys and chickens to prevent any aggression. Some turkeys may require isolation if they prove to be a danger to other members of the flock or other poultry animals. The last thing we want is for traumatic experiences to happen to our poultry, which significantly affects egg laying production.

Moreover, turkeys and goats can coexist well, as they have different dietary preferences and grazing habits. The turkeys can help keep the goat area free from pests while the goats can utilize the brush and roughage that turkeys don’t consume.

By strategically integrating turkeys with other livestock, you can create a balanced ecosystem on your homestead and make the most of the benefits that each animal has to offer.

Conclusion

Congratulations on taking the first step towards owning turkeys! With the information provided in this beginner’s guide, you are well-equipped to embark on this rewarding journey. From understanding the housing and feeding needs to mastering the basics of turkey health and behaviour, you are now ready to raise your own flock with confidence. As you continue to learn and gain experience, your feathered companions will surely bring joy and fulfillment to your life as a lovely reward. Happy turkey farming!

Photo Credits

Broad Breasted White Turkey – Wikimedia Creative Commons

Narragansett Turkey – Wikimedia Creative Commons

Guest Author Bio
Poultry Corner

Passionate about poultry animals, our mission is to provide you with valuable advice to support your journey with your feathered friends. We aim to foster a sense of community among poultry owners by offering expert guidance and building a platform for shared experiences. Our dedication to poultry care is reflected in our commitment to delivering the best possible assistance to fellow enthusiasts. Our goal is to create a supportive environment where poultry owners can access reliable information and connect with like-minded individuals. By sharing our knowledge and experiences, we strive to cultivate a strong community centered around the well-being of poultry animals.

Blog / Website: Poultry Corner

But what if there was a way to fill your life with bird-watching opportunities by incorporating this into your day-to-day routine? This article explores the top countries that, if you’re determined, you can permanently resettle in to get your regular fix of birding.

Amazona versicolor – St Lucia Parrot

1. St Lucia

St Lucia boasts six endemic species, the highest tally in the whole Caribbean. This includes the island’s national bird, the St Lucia Parrot — recognizable for its rainbow plumage and blue face — as well as the St Lucia Oriole and Pewee. In total, the island supports some 180 different types of avian life. Hotspots for observing it include the Millet Bird Sanctuary, the Des Cartier Rain-forest Trail, and the Vieux Fort Wetlands.

Long stays in St Lucia are relatively straightforward, allowing the option of single and multiple-entry visas. The former allows you to live and work in the country for up to three months, so long as you also get a work permit. The latter gives you a year’s stay, similarly requiring a work permit for you to seek employment there. To move to this Caribbean island nation with permanent residency, you will need to have extended your temporary stay for a minimum of two years before applying to the Ministry of Labour.

However, this is not the only option available. St Lucia is one of a handful of countries offering a citizenship by investment (CBI) scheme, allowing you not just to reside there, but also to work, vote, and gain all the other rights as those born in the country. As CS Global Partners assures, this can be a suitable option for people in various situations, including: “individuals or business people looking to establish overseas businesses; families seeking better global mobility, and professionals who want to broaden their horizons”, among others.

Kiwi

2. New Zealand

New Zealand deserves a special place on our list, as seemingly every inch of its islands is steeped in wonderful winged creatures. Before human civilization reached the country, it was dominated by our feathered friends — no wonder the national icon is the Kiwi. Recently, paleontologists discovered evidence that the largest parrot in history was an inhabitant of New Zealand.

Today, 245 species are said to have originated from the islands — an amazing challenge for any bird watcher worth their salt. Beautiful spots that ought to yield incredible sights are the North Island — specifically Kapiti — and the South, where you will find the Oamaru and Yellow-eyed Penguins, the latter sadly being endangered. On the Chatham Islands, the keen eyed among you can spot the rare Shore Plover, not to mention the Chatham Albatross.

If this sounds like the long-term future you dream of, making it a reality is relatively easy. According to the government’s immigration website: “you can live and work in New Zealand indefinitely as a permanent resident — but you don’t need to become a New Zealand citizen”. Obtaining a residency often starts with getting a temporary work or study visa first, although others, such as the Skilled Migrant visa, give applicants residency from the get-go. To get citizenship, you need to have lived in the country for at least five years, and only have traveled outside for short periods of time.

Quetzal

3. Costa Rica

Costa Rica plays host to scores of exotic bird life, with numerous nature reserves boasting hundreds of species in the verdant country. We’re talking sublime, colourful breeds like toucans, hummingbirds, quetzals among many others. In the South, the Wilson Botanical Gardens are home to Crested Oropendolas, and they are also a reliable place to catch a glimpse of the Turquoise Cotinga. If you visit the Curi-Cancha Reserve, you could spot the moustache-sporting Three-wattled Bellbird, the Blue-crowned (Amazonian) Motmot, and the Orange-bellied Trogon.

To permanently set up camp in Costa Rica, you need to apply for a work or residence visa with the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. If you are retiring, however, Costa Rica’s Pensionado Program may be just the ticket to bird paradise. Those in receipt of at least $1,000 or equivalent in income or pension payments are eligible to live in the country and will receive an identification or residency card once their application is accepted. Similar to New Zealand, naturalization takes around five years before you can qualify as a citizen.

Arctic Tern

4. Iceland

While Iceland’s national bird may be the Lundi Puffin, this is far from the only thing that makes the frosted nation a haven for birdwatchers. There are around 85 different species regularly spotted across the country, though roughly 330 have been recorded there in total. Iceland even has its own designated bird-watching cliffs in the Westfjords at Látrabjarg, with Iceland Travel noting that it boasts “Lake Mývatn’s stunning scenery and a multitude of species, or the Seltjarnarnes peninsula just outside of Reykjavík where birds nest among the golf course in spring”. These include beauties like the Great Skua, the European Golden Plover, and the Arctic Tern.

Moving to Iceland is easy if you are a citizen of the EU/EEA, but harder if you are a United States national. Should you receive a job offer, you can acquire a work visa. In this scenario, your employer has to demonstrate that no existing residents could have filled your post, so work permits from abroad are competitive. To gain permanent residency, you must have lived in Iceland for four years, specifically if you had an expert worker’s permit, or entered the country to reunite with your family.

Photo Credits

Amazona versicolor by Josh Moore on Flickr – Some Rights Reserved

Kiwi – Wikimedia Creative Commons

Quetzal – Wikimedia Creative Commons

Arctic Tern – pixabay

Guest Author Bio
Joe Steen

Joe Steen is a freelance writer living in East London who writes about cinema, music, travel, literature and culture. If you’d like to get in touch, his email is jmtsteen@gmail.com.

Chickens have slowly but surely become a popular backyard pet, and it’s important to know how to properly take care of them. They are the type of animals that one doesn’t need to constantly keep an eye on, especially since they are free fed, but because of this there may be some interesting activity going on with your chickens that you don’t know about. Here are 8 surprising facts that you may not have known about keeping chickens.

Fact #1: Baby Chicks Have A Tooth

Granted, it does fall off after a day or so after they have hatched, but it’s pretty cool. As baby chicks develop, they grow a tooth on the upper jaw beak. This, as you’ve probably guessed, is to help the chick break out of its shell when it’s finally ready. This means that you do not have to help them get out of their shell as they are fully equipped to get the job done. Remember, chicks are precocial which means they are relatively mature from the moment they hatch, so they know basic living instincts.

Fact #2: Chicks Don’t Eat the First Few Days

Now, this isn’t exactly true. What happens, is that when the chick is still inside the egg developing, it absorbs the yolk and it can live off of just that the first couple days after it hatches. It’s meant as a safeguard in case the chick can’t find food at first and it doesn’t die. This means that you don’t have to provide it with food or water for a few days which makes it possible for chicks to be shipped out to other locations safely.

Some people think it’s cruel to do this to chicks, but it is completely safe to do so. Although, when chicks first hatch, they can’t regulate their own temperature yet, so make sure they have a heat source. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t feed your chicks; if you have food, you should be feeding them, they just may not eat, so don’t be alarmed.

Fact #3: Chickens Eat Rocks

Since chickens don’t have any teeth, they can’t chew their food, so they swallow it whole. What chickens do in order to grind up their feed, is eat rocks. Chickens have an organ called the gizzard and this is where the rocks sit. It is entirely normal to see your chickens eat rocks.

Now you might think, wouldn’t the rocks also tear through its organs? The gizzard actually secretes a lining that protects it from getting torn up. It’s similar to fingernails. You can also choose to feed your chickens oyster shells or limestone to provide calcium.

Fact #4: Eggs can Get Stuck Inside a Chicken

This is called egg binding or hypocalcemia. Eggs get stuck along their reproductive tract because they don’t have enough calcium. This is why you might opt out of feeding them rocks and instead oyster shells/limestone. This is an essential part of their diet, especially if you choose to get the type of chickens that lay lots of eggs because calcium helps them make the eggshells.

This can potentially lead to death if unattended, so make sure they are getting all the necessary nutrients they need as it can easily be prevented. If this does happen, it can easily be treated with some supplement calcium and a warm bath. If all fails, go to a veterinarian immediately.

Fact #5: Chickens can Become Paralyzed

Marek’s Disease is very common in chickens. This affects the chicken’s neck, wings, and legs. It’s a viral disease which means that antibiotics unfortunately won’t help. Marek’s is also highly contagious, so if one of your chickens gets it, they all will.

Thankfully, there is a vaccine that you can, and should, get for your chickens because it can be fatal. Chicks can be vaccinated a day or so after they hatch. The sooner you vaccinate, the better because it is such a common disease.

Fact #6: Chickens Hide Their Illness

This is true for all birds. In the wild, birds are constantly faced with predators, and predators target the weak. It’s a matter of self-preservation, but because of this it’s hard to tell when your chickens are sick until it gets really bad. If you notice or think your chicken is sick, never wait for it to get worse and get them to a veterinarian immediately. A disease to look out for is avian influenza.

Some signs that your chickens are sick:

• Weight loss
• Change in droppings
• Fluffed feathers
• Breathing (listen at night)

Fact #7: Chickens Eat Their Droppings

First rocks, now their droppings? Chickens eat a lot of weird things, but there is always a reason behind it. Chickens have an organ called the ceca. What this organ does is break down fiber into nutrients the chicken can use. The fiber that is not broken-down passes through the chicken and into the droppings. The chickens then peck at their droppings trying to eat that unprocessed fiber.

Although it can be beneficial, you should not let your chickens do this. The nutrients in their droppings can help with making eggshells but there are more negatives. Chickens can get sick from eating their or other animal droppings. One common parasite is coccidiosis that gets passed through feces. Make sure to keep your chicken’s coop clean so that they don’t do this.

Fact #8: Chickens only Breed during the Summer

This means that you’ll only get eggs from April to around July. There is a way around this! Chickens are what is called ‘long day’ breeders. This means they only produce eggs when the days are longer. You can trick the chickens into thinking the days are longer by providing them artificial light in their coops. This will ensure that your chickens lay eggs for you year-round.

Another interesting detail about chicken laying eggs is that they don’t incubate until they’ve laid all their eggs. She does this so that all the eggs hatch at the same time. Make sure to collect all your eggs every morning.

Chickens are actually very interesting animals with a lot of unknown facts about them. If you have children, it may also be fun to have colored chicks! Just punch a little whole in the eggshell right before they’re about to hatch and put some food coloring inside. This is safe to do and won’t harm the chicks. Once the chicks start growing feathers, they’ll lose the color. Keep in mind it is illegal to sell colored chicks.

Hopefully you learned something new about keeping chickens so you can better take care of yours, in order for them to live long happy lives and lay plenty of eggs for you. With the proper care, chickens can be a relatively easy animal to keep.

Photo Credits

Chicken running Image by Erik Karits from Pixabay
Chicken Image by Pexels from Pixabay Chicks
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Guest Author Bio
Chris Lesley

Chris has been raising backyard chickens for over 20 years and is the poultry expert at Chickens And More. She has a flock of 11 chickens (including 3 Silkies) and is currently teaching people all around the world how to care for healthy chickens.

In my paintings I like to ponder “parts” and see where they might intersect. Human, plant and animal anatomy hold a special interest for me. I especially love organs.The forms are so seductive. The delicate nature of bird anatomy mimics the fragility of life. I see birds as inherently occupying a kind of magical space, so that is how I often depict them in my paintings.

“Crevice” – Ink and watercolor on paper – 9″ x 10″

The poet, R.M. Rilke once pondered whether all art was not simply an act of profound remembrance. As humans, we yearn to elevate our ordinary experiences into something less ordinary, something that has more weight, something we can set to music. As an artist, I am a hunter and a thief, chasing shadows, stealing light. The images I encounter on a daily basis, both in my mind and my “reality” are flashes of color and form, unusual juxtapositions that seem to want to be connected.

I attempt to layer images visually as we hear sound in our daily lives. Incongruous sounds enter and exit our space without our consent resulting in a tapestry of song that needs no composer. We encounter the world visually in the same way, but mostly in a blur, unconscious and un-awake. I hope to harness the stillness of this moving picture in an effort to arrest and move the viewer in some way.

“Passing Song” – Watercolor, and colored pencil on rice paper, felted wool and substrate – 12″ x14″

Art and poetry for me are ways to preserve these flashes, these images, these insights, so that once captured, perhaps my ‘remembrance’ may become profound for someone else.

To see more of my paintings and read my full essay on birds, please surf here: There’s Something about Birds

Image Credits

All Images Are © Linda Laino

Guest Artist Bio
Linda Laino

Linda Laino is an artist, writer and teacher who has been making art in one form or another for over 35 years. Holding an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, she enjoys playing with words as much as form and color. Since 2012, she has resided in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where the surreal atmosphere and sensuous colors have wormed their way into her paintings. She is available for mandala mural commissions. Finding beautiful things on the ground is a favorite pastime.

Blog / Website: Linda Laino Paintings

Follow Linda Laino on: Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter

First off, you must know what the bird in question looks like, or else how are you going to know when you spot it. My ‘go to’ publication Birding book is Lone Pine Publishing’s ‘Birds of Canada’, not only because of the scientific description but due to the colour photographs of all the bird species they list. You can find the book at any of your local book stores. (I am a proud contributing photographer for this book)

Understanding the environment and feeding habits of your bird of interest is the next step in achieving success. If you know what ‘your’ bird eats and where it likes to live, your next step is to find what locations in your city would suit the habits of the birds in question.

Once I determined Cardinals can pretty well be found in any backyard, or park, my options were open and I chose ‘High Park’, one of Toronto’s best parks for birding, to continue my adventure. A simple check of camera gear will prepare you for any unique shooting situations that can arise once you encounter the Northern Cardinal. I use my trusted Olympus E3 and my dependable 70-300mm telephoto. You want to be able to have options regarding physical closeness to your bird, so closer is better. However, you want the option of a telephoto lens, as a scared bird is a gone bird.

If you are as serious as I am about bird photography, you may even want to investigate what time of year the birds you chose to photograph look their best. It definitely makes a difference. In the winter time the Reds of the Cardinal stand out against the white of the snow. As well, no leaves on the trees in winter mean a well-spotted Cardinal will look beautiful in its natural habitat. Avoid the bird feeder shots – they are too easy. It is much more sporting and satisfactory to trace the bird to its natural environment and capture it in its glory – but that’s just me.

Ok, so we have our gear – the Olympus E3 with 70-300mm telephoto. We have our location – Toronto’s High Park – and we have our time of year. Lets call it Winter time. We are dressed for the weather, of course, as we begin our walk scouting out locations for our bird. You can, by chance, see a Cardinal fly by but that is not what we are looking for. The ideal is to locate where the Cardinals feed, then observe. There are usually multiple Cardinals at the scene feeding and, yes, humans tend to leave bird seed for our little Red friends.

So we look, and listen, for that high pitched chirping sound. We observe, and then we spot the Cardinal. We can easily recognize the bird because we have verified its colour and shape in our birding id book. We also know what the female looks like. It is always amazing to capture photographs of males and females of the species as you will see in the 3 photos that accompany this article.

The last thing on our checklist is the most important because, if you forget this point, there will be no glorious images of your beautiful Northern Cardinal. Once we see the Cardinal sitting on a tree branch let’s check our lighting. In Nature Photography I never use a flash and would strongly recommend you do not either since it ruins the natural colour and feel of an image.

Instead, we want to know where the sun is at all times. Position yourself with the sun’s light behind your back with your subject sitting in front of you. Once you do that there is the matter of composition – branches flowing, the bird sitting or turning. If you do it right you will have the sun highlight your subject and illuminate that beautiful red plumage perfectly. Do not be afraid to move yourself around your subject once you spot it. If it is on a branch and your movement is stealthy enough you can shoot from many angles, always keeping the sun behind your back.

Well enough talk! You have followed me this far on my little quest. I hope you enjoy the accompanying photographs. Keep in mind the process discussed above works for any bird or animal you want to photograph.

To recap, start by identifying what you want to photograph, research it, confirm what it looks like, its eating habits, habitat and then do a search in your city for a matching habitat. Prepare for the time of year weather wise and load camera gear specific to the types of photographs you wish to capture.

Photo Credits

All Images Are © Colin Marcano

Colin Marcano Photographer Bio

Colin Marcano has been a Photographer for the past 7 years, primarily Nature and B&W Street Photography. For the last 4 years there has been more of a focus on the B&W Street Photography.

Colin’s work has been published in one Birds of Canada book. His street photography is featured in Black and White Street Group, 2013 edition.

You can also find Colin’s Nature work in permanent sign form in High Park, Toronto, as he is an ongoing Nature Photography Contributor to HighParkNature.org.

Blog / Website: ColinMarcano.com

Follow Colin Marcano on: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Flickr | Photo Vogue

I noticed a bird in the mouth of one of my cats one morning. I leave the patio door slightly open so my cats can come and go – it must’ve flown in at some point, not able to find its way out. This was a first for Rocky, as he (along with my other 2 cats) has lived his entire life indoors until just last year. They now have a fenced area they can explore and enjoy, although birds are still frustratingly out of reach. So the obvious pride he displayed as he strutted past me that morning came as no surprise.

My brain was slow to engage, as this was not a familiar scene. I wasn’t sure what to do. How long had it been in his mouth? Was it alive or dead? I suddenly recalled something I had read somewhere…”cup a wounded bird in your hands and softly blow your warm breath on it, there’s a chance it could recover”. So after some stern words and a bit of a struggle, Rocky reluctantly dropped the bird. I gently scooped it into my hands, closing them around it. I began warming it with my breath, silently praying that I wasn’t too late. I desperately wanted this bird to live.

After some time, I felt something – a wing moved, a beak brushed against my fingers. I could feel its tiny heart beating. Wondering if it wanted to be freed, I opened my hands, but it didn’t move. I continued to hold it and breathe on it as I walked to a stone wall, deeming this to be a good release spot, tall and out of harm’s way. As I opened my hands this time, it flew away, strong and sure in its flight. I cried tears of joy as I stood and watched, filled with an incredible sense that I had just saved a life. But as I turned to walk away, those tears of joy turned into tears of pain. The little bird was unlocking emotions inside me that I didn’t even know existed.

Memories of my husband’s suicide 2 years ago suddenly flooded in, and although my instinct was to quickly interrupt the thoughts and keep the tears at bay, I allowed myself to feel the emotions. I never felt responsible for his decision, nor do I to this day – but I was now feeling an overwhelming sadness at not being able to save his life. We were estranged at the time – too many demons, a life unraveling – too much to endure. It had always been his belief that it was his right to choose when he wanted to leave this earth. And choose he did. 

As I thought about things, I realized the bird that Rocky caught that day freed me from guilt that I had been unknowingly carrying. I was reminded that just as with that little bird, I held my husband in my hands and breathed my warm breath on him. In both cases, I did all that I could – hoping for life, yet knowing I was not in control of the outcome. For the next few hours I was able to think about the events, feel the emotion and ultimately put it all into perspective. 

As the saying goes…’we win some and we lose some’. It felt damned good to win one that day.

Photo Credit

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

Basic First-Aid Tips

• The right way of handling it. Just as mentioned earlier, wild birds are not used to humans. But if you can’t capture it, you won’t be able to help it at all. For small birds or baby birds you can hold them with one hand, making sure that your grip is not too tight, allowing its head to poke out from your grasp. For larger birds, hold them with two hands, placing your hands around their wings to prevent them from flapping and getting away from you. If the injured bird is still very mobile, you can place a towel over the wings to achieve the same effect.

• Where to house it. After capturing it, you will need to place the bird somewhere comfortable. A cardboard box, lined with paper towel or soft cotton to keep it warm, should suffice. Closing the top of the box will prevent the bird from trying to escape, and the darkness will keep it from moving about. Keep the box in a quiet place and after an hour or two, see if the bird can fly on its own by placing the open box near the window. If not, you may need to care for it a little longer.

• Feeding needs. Since you can’t place your bird patient under IV therapy, it will need to get its nourishment from food. Baby birds are just like human babies, they will need to be fed multiple times per day, preferably every hour. For this, a toothpick or chopstick will be needed, depending on the size of the bird. Three to four mouthfuls for baby birds should be enough. Adult small birds are usually classified as seed or insect feeders and may need substitutions, depending on breed type. Take note that baby birds are not mammals and should not be fed milk.

Acceptable foods for baby birds:

1. Moist dog food
2. Raw liver
3. Hard boiled eggs
4. Dog biscuits
5. Dog or cat kibble

What NOT to feed baby birds:

1. Water
2. Bread
3. Whole birdseed
4. Milk
5. Pet bird food
6. Worms

Here is an informative article about feeding baby birds: What to Feed a Baby Bird – Or Should You Feed Them At All?

• Flying lessons are not needed. If you’re caring for orphaned birds, it’s natural to worry about their ability to fly, but do not attempt to forcefully teach them to do so. You don’t have wings and will not be an effective teacher in this area. Let the birds follow their own instincts…they will eventually discover that their wings are supposed to take them to greater heights.

• When to let it go. You found it in the wild, so let it grace the skies as it should. If it is now able to feed on its own and is able to flap its wings, then it’s time to release it to its natural habitat. Upon doing so, be sure that there are no grave threats to it such as cats or dogs. If it has not regained the full use of its wings, a very large aviary (or “flight cage”) would be beneficial if possible, keeping it protected while enabling it to practice its flying skills. Throughout this process, let the bird gain back its independence by not talking to it. This is to break any attachment it may have formed with you and to allow it to continue living without your support.

Common Bird Injuries and Treatment

Aside from simple scrapes, there are other types of bird injuries and each will require its own corresponding treatment. Here are some examples:

• Broken Blood Feather. A blood feather is a new feather growing out from the skin of the bird. The dark-bluish part of the feather is actually blood, hence it was named as such. When a bird has a broken feather, this can cause blood loss and can eventually lead to death. To stop the bleeding, simply pack it with flour. Then take the bird to a veterinarian so that it can be pulled out, stunting further bleeding.

• Animal Bite. Birds are desirable prey to cats and dogs. This is why pet owners are advised to use a leash when taking their four-legged pals on a walk…to prevent them from harming birds. When a bird is bitten, look for signs of injury such as a broken wing or bones. Wrap a towel lightly around both wings to prevent flapping which could aggravate the injury. Always take a bird to a veterinarian if it was hurt by another animal.

• Chills. Chilling can be caused by certain illnesses or can also be brought on by weather conditions. If it’s a warm day and the bird is showing signs of chills, take it to a vet for proper care. If it’s due to cold weather conditions, keep the bird somewhere warm, preferably 85-90ºF.

• Intoxication. A bird accidentally sniffed poisonous gas? The best cure is to move the bird to an open area where there is fresh air.  If the contact with the gas was external, it will require bathing. Ingested poison, on the other hand, will need consultation with a vet.

• Minor wounds. Birds with minor wounds can be treated at home. First, clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide or betadine. To prevent infection, apply an antibiotic cream. The wound should be okay in a few days’ time.

Additional Notes

Take note that when helping birds, you should also gauge if there is a need for you to exercise extra precautionary measures. Some birds have long sharp beaks and these could inflict harm on you. Yes, human instinct will tell you to pick it up right away but remember to use logical reasoning. Wear extra protective gear such as gloves or goggles if needed.

I hope that you have found this article useful. If you have any tips or resources you would like to point the reader too, please leave me a comment.

Photo Credits

House Sparrow – Wikimedia Public Domain

Baltimore Oriole – Wikimedia Public Domain

Northern flicker bird – Public Domain Images

Guest Author Bio
Jordan Walker

Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops And Cages as well as a couple of other pet related blogs. His passion for animals is only matched by his love for ‘attempting’ to play the guitar. If you would like to catch him, you can via Google+ or Twitter. 

Hello Life as a Human readers. My name is Rob Campbell and I’m a high technology birdwatcher from Toronto Canada. I just love using state-of-the-art gadgets to get up close and personal with all aspects of our natural world, especially birds. Earlier this summer, I built a motion detector bird camera rig and started the Toronto Bird Photo Booth Business Challenge 2014 to celebrate the art of high tech birding and to showcase Toronto’s outstanding ornithology.

Bird Photo Booth © Rob Campbell

The way it works is simple: businesses host the booth and get photos to enter a bird photo contest that will yield prizes later in the fall. On the Birds of Toronto website blog, l write out every chapter of the story of the 2014 Toronto Bird Photo Booth Business Challenge, and there I detail each new contestant and their chosen location. And of course I report on their success (or failure) as each new host attempts to use the rig to photograph and display their most charismatic birds.

The actual Toronto Bird Photo Booth itself is a bird feeder attached to a digital camera that’s triggered by a motion detector. I’ve included photos of the iPhone 5C inside the Bird Photo Booth proper which was developed by Bryson Lovette in connection with a very successful 2011 Kickstarter program.  We also have a Wingscapes BirdPro Trailcam that I purchased from Lee Valley Tools. These two completely different motion detector photography systems work together to get shots of the city’s wild birds like you’ve never seen before.

Grackle © Toronto Bird Photo Booth

The challenge was launched back in May 2014 in connection with the Birds of Toronto website. This domain was purchased by me to showcase loyalty programs software from Vigorate Digital, who was also the host of Week Two in Yorkville, Ontario. Birds of Toronto is a storytelling portal; Week Three was in the Leaside neighbourhood of Toronto in the back parking lot behind 33 Laird Drive.  John Conn, the CEO of an office phone networking business Standard Telecom, took special care in setting up the cameras. He had a plan which turned out to be a very good strategy. In this author’s opinion his best shot is of a curious grackle that came up close and peered into the lens; perhaps it sensed that something inside had captured its soul?

Week Four was all the way up in the north east corner of the city, near Rouge Park, where David Shephard, the CEO of a Toronto advertising agency. set up the Bird Photo Booth on a century old farm. The stables under the old barn are absolutely filled with barn swallows (a threatened species) but David only managed to photograph a mourning dove. Well actually he got two mourning doves together in at least one frame, and this is important because these birds mate for life, and so technically they are not in mourning yet ! ha ha but they still issue their sad call regardless of their partner’s health.

Dr. Archer with Bird Camera 28 May 2014 © Rob Campbell

At this point in the summer, the story erupted on Twitter and attracted the attention of some serious birdwatchers and that’s when the Toronto Bird Photo Booth Challenge was featured on Bird Canada which nicely complimented the updates published in Toronto is Awesome magazine that month.

Week Five gave Toronto dentist Dr Natalie Archer her turn to use the rig, and she selected a friend’s lush backyard that’s real close to her dental clinic at 600 Sherbourne St., Toronto.  Feeding sunflower seeds and corn kernels she got great shots of a sleek blue jay which must have bullied away the other birds to hog the silver dish for a day. The big bird left behind a fantastic profile portrait with a nice crest showing, and another head-on shot shows the animal folding up its wings – terrific stuff.

Long Body Sand Gull © Toronto Bird Photo Booth

Week Six was executed by flat roof contractor Dan Sheridan of ToughRoof on the pea gravel surface of a recent job site on Queen St. just west of Bathurst St., Toronto. The amazing photographs in his competition gallery include a tiny sparrow acting like a great hawk as it attempts to intimidate another tiny sparrow sharing the bits of grain and corn in the silver bowl. Fantastic stuff, and definitely a contender for the Best Bird Portrait prize.

Scary Sparrow © Toronto Bird Photo Booth

Week Seven was wrought by DryShield basement waterproofing foreman Gary Dorner who hosted the motion detector equipped cameras on the concrete next to his boat down at the Toronto waterfront. His strategy was to remove the tripods, and even the silver dish which attaches on the bottom of the bird feeder, so as to be able to set the rigs right down on the muddy cement and get eye level with birds eating bread. That’s right, Gary’s shoot was very different from other installations; instead of feeding seeds or corn as so many other would-be birders chose, he selected brown Wonder bread, swinging the loaf in the bag to discourage seagulls in favour of his beloved ducks. The irony is of course that the shots of the seagulls avoiding the swinging bag obstacle are fantastic, action-filled and interesting while the recorded images of the ducks are decidedly more sedate.

At the end of the summer, Judges will review the best photos and reward the best birders among the business people who positioned the cameras . And there will be prizes. Toronto Bird Photo Booth Business Challenge 2014 has four categories to WIN,

Best Bird Portrait

Best Group Shot

Best Gallery of Images

Rarest Species / Best Art Shot

Scary Sparrow 2 © Toronto Bird Photo Booth

Image Credits

All Images Are © Rob Campbell & Toronto Bird Photo Booth

Guest Author Bio

Rob Campbell
Rob Campbell is a freelance nature writer and author living in Toronto, Canada. Son of a beekeeper, Rob is keenly interested in using technology to improve conservation and the preservation of our natural world; he funds projects that use gadgets to study and improve the lives of insects (honeybees) and animals around us, especially those unfortunate creatures that are, like so many of us humans, stuck living in the city.

Blog / Website: http://smojoe.com/blog/

Follow Rob Campbell on:  Google+

Do you have a bird friendly business in Toronto*? Do you want to enter this curious competition? Please contact me through the Birds of Toronto website.

* Bird lovers everywhere – You are invited to participate in organizing a Bird Photo Booth Business Challenge 2015 in your area to aid in bringing awareness to the fragile state of our feathered friends.

Male Purple Martin on Perch © Laura Meyers

This Purple Martin remained on the perch for about twenty minutes while I photographed him in a myriad of poses. As you can probably see from this photograph, he appears to be engaged.

Female Hooded Merganser First Winter on Pond © Laura Meyers

This very pretty female Hooded Merganser was perched on a log in the middle of a pond when I approached her. She remained there for approximately a half hour while I snapped away. I felt honored and was sure to thank her as I left the pond.

Black Vulture Closeup © Laura Meyers

I took this photograph of an ancient looking Black Vulture on a foggy morning in a Florida swamp. This wonderful bird greeted me as the fog began to lift after sunrise. He posed himself in this all-knowing posture that continues to haunt me each time I view it.

Photo Credits

All Photographs Are © Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers Photographer Bio

I am currently passionate about photographing birds, butterflies and other wonders of nature. My background is in fine art as a painter and sculptor. Over the years, I gradually gravitated towards the computer as a fine art tool availing myself of the latest technologies within my reach. I have been using digital photography for quite a few years and have always been comfortable learning and utilizing the latest hardware and software to complete my vision. Photographing birds and other wildlife is particularly satisfying when working on a large high definition monitor where I can continue to explore the intricacies of nature. And with the growth of the internet, sharing my art with others is simpler than ever. I currently live and work in the East Village in Manhattan.

Blog / Website: Laura Meyers Photography

Then I heard a call. Shifting my eyes, suddenly all I saw was crow – a very large one, perched atop a tree across the street.

I forgot my class for a little while.

The sun had fallen behind the houses, and there was a slight, cool wind: just enough to make the skin shiver.

I found myself standing still. The crow was also still and, occasionally, very loud. Almost too loud to be viewed as just another bird in a tree making noise.

It sat on the edge of a thin reed of wood, now silent, now squawking. In its silence, I heard my students’ discussion vocabulary, struggling to string together sentences in a second language, as the crow and I took in the world together.

One last time, the sound of that crow cawing rattled its way through my body, reminding me to pay attention to my life just as it is. And as crow talk went silent again, I noticed the student talking had quieted down, and the writing had almost stopped.

I turned and saw one of the women in my class. She asked me a question, and I responded.

During that time, the crow disappeared. But its words – and silence – are here with me now.

Photo Credit:

The Crow by Baban Shyam via Flickr Creative Commons. Some rights reserved.