Baby looks weak...need help

[Guest]

I noticed yesterday that 3 babies from one family were out flying and the 4th baby was not flying yet and was left at the house. It was 2-3 hours before the family came back and the 4th baby was not fed during this time. When the parents came back they looked at the 4th baby and pretended to place food in its mouth but didn't feed it. This morning the baby is out on the porch perched up on the rail however the parents are not feeding it yet. I just looked at the baby with the binoculars and from 7 am to now 9:30 AM the baby looks weaken ..kinda leaning to the side. The parents are right there and not feeding it ..don't know what to do.
Don't know what to do!!

[Matt F.]

Is it your last baby in the house? If so, you could always drop the house and hand check the baby. If it's breastbone is very prominent and protruding, then it's going to need some food ASAP.

Hopefully forum member Laverne is going to chime in shortly.

[Matt F.]

Brenda,
Here's a good thread to read regarding emergency baby feeding:

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=275

[CUL Lou~Mich]

Brenda. Are you close to a town, where there might be a Wal-Mart, or Pet Smart, or other pet shop?? If so, try to get a couple dozen Crickets, or 50 Meal Worms. Then when you lower the house, you could try to feed the little one. I think I'd try freezing the crickets for ten minutes, then thaw them back out. (No sense in frezing the little ones gullet feeding cold food.) Otherwise put some crickets or mealworms where it would see them. I believe I'd try feeding with a fairly long pair of tweezers (Might not accept food from you hand, but might from tweezers.) Otherwise you might have to get it in hand, and whistle as you are approaching its mouth with the crickets. (Whistling has been found to cause them to open their mouths on occasion. Sort of like mom and dad chirping as they approach.) It is also possible that it will have flown by the time you get this, in which case you won't need to buy anything. Best of luck to your and your little one. CUL Lou

[Matt F.]

Brenda,
Any updates?

[Guest]

I've seen this behavior on fledging days-both parents will do this and just stare at the nestlings until I believe they tire of the tease and take off with them on one of their loops. They are then finally fed high in the sky. Sounds like this little fella has something wrong or is a little dense. Either way he'll be a little dead pretty quick without supplemental feeding.

But I agree don't lower your housing if you risk premature fledging and make a small problem bigger. Good luck

[Guest]

The parents still come by but the baby is now in the compartment still not flying. I got crickets and placed them on the porch and inside the compartment. I could tell the babe was scared. Once I put the house back the mother came and fed a few crickets to the baby and took off. Its so hot I do think I need to lower the house again and get the babe in hand and attempt to feed it otherwise it could perish.
I just don't know if he'll take it from me but I guess it's worth a try.

[Guest]

Try a whissle to get him to gape. I've heard it works. Good luck

[Matt F.]

The parents still come by but the baby is now in the compartment still not flying. I got crickets and placed them on the porch and inside the compartment. I could tell the babe was scared. Once I put the house back the mother came and fed a few crickets to the baby and took off. Its so hot I do think I need to lower the house again and get the babe in hand and attempt to feed it otherwise it could perish.
I just don't know if he'll take it from me but I guess it's worth a try.

Good call. Like Gragg said, whistling at the babies once you have them often "tricks" them into opening up for food.

[Guest]

Good news the baby finally got it wings today and is flying just fine.
Thanks to everyone for responding.