No. These are not suitable foods for young birds most of which will be fed on soft insects, worms and grubs in their early days. Scrambled egg, with a little moist cereal, is fine to begin with but more suitable food, for both seed and insect eating birds, is available from pet shops.

Cow's milk (e.g., whole, 2%, 1%, 1/2% or skim) is not appropriate for children under the age of one year, according to the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cow's milk is a poor source of iron, and iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional problem in infants. Cow's milk that has not been specially heat processed (such as the heat processing used in infant formula) can cause intestinal blood loss in some babies. Iron is lost with the blood.

Honey should not be fed to infants under one year of age, as their bodies’ immune systems have not yet fully developed. There is a very small chance that honey, and other raw agricultural products, may contain some spores called clostridium botulinum. The spores do not thrive in the intestines of adults and older children. However, in the young stomachs of infants, the spores can possibly cause a form of food poisoning known as infant botulism.

If you have no experience hand-feeding baby birds, we recommend you contact a professional breeder or pet store that has an experienced hand-feeder to assist you. In the meantime please check out the Kaytee website for more information on hand-feeding.

Once you warm milk for your baby and she starts drinking from it, you must discard the milk after one hour. All unfinished feeds must be discarded as they are a breeding ground for bacteria. Address book | Baby names | Birth announcement | Gift wish list | Invitations | Plan Ahead? | Pregnancy Mate? | Roaming Bookmark? | Discussion forum | Baby record book | Baby album | Baby calendar |

Health care professionals should inform mothers that infant milks based on goats' milk protein are not suitable as a source of nutrition for infants (under 1 year of age). Parents use these milks for various reasons but goats' milk is not suitable for those with an allergy to cows' milk protein nor for those with lactose intolerance. Alternative formulas can be prescribed for infants with a confirmed diagnosis of milk protein allergy.

For hookbills, a pelleted diet is a good choice, with seeds as a treat. Finches and canaries are naturally seedeaters, but should have green food as well. Finches also do well to have some live food occasionally. Some canaries (red-factors) need color food which is high in beta-carotene or uses an artificial coloring to maintain their red. Lories and other brushtongued parrots eat a special nectar. Toucans and Toucanettes need a diet low in iron and will eat live food.

Milk is a food and not a substitute for water. As a food, milk is incomplete and does not provide a balanced diet. It can be useful as a treat for some cats, however large quantities of milk may not be well tolerated. Milk contains lactose, which requires the enzyme lactase for breakdown in the intestinal tract. If the intestinal tract does not contain sufficient lactase, consumption of a high level of lactose can cause diarrhea in some pets.

Generally if you find a baby animal it is best to leave it alone. Often the animal is not orphaned, and the parent may be out bringing food for the animal, or watching the baby. Never pick up baby animals and remove them from their natural environment! Handling of wildlife causes great stress.

Most baby birds found on the ground are not orphaned and may not need human assistance. Look for the parents or a nest. If you see either one, leave the baby alone or put it back in the nest. Touching the baby will not cause the parents to abandon it. Watch from a distance and keep children and pets away from the area. If the baby is injured or the parents have not returned after several hours, it will need help.

Throughout weaning, continue to breastfeed your baby or give 500-600ml (1 pint) per day of infant milk (or follow-on milk from six months if you prefer). Give your baby a milk feed first thing in the morning and at bedtime, and other milk feedsduring the day. The timing of these feeds will depend on what stage of weaning you have reached, but you should try to give milk feeds after meals and you should limit the amount of milk taken between meals.

The diets of birds differ, depending on the type of bird it is. Some eat seeds and some eat bugs and insects. Never feed a bird bread or milk. It is not part of their natural diet. A bird needs to go to a licensed rehabilitator, who knows, and has, the proper diet for all types of birds. In a pinch, some of the following can be used: canned dog or cat food, or dry kibble, soaked in water. Little pieces can be fed using tweezers. Baby birds will automatically open their mouths and gape.

There are a number of Quaker Oatmeal varieties that are appropriate for children 12 months and older. However, as always, you should check with your doctor before introducing your child to new foods.

You can introduce a bottle at three to four weeks--preferably not sooner. Even then, it should be a bottle of breastmilk, not formula. It is actually best if someone other than the mother gives bottles. In the meantime, there are many loving ways your partner and family can help with the baby, besides feeding.

soon as you are ready. If you have had a Caesarean section, you may not be quite prepared to breastfeed your baby on the first day even though you are keen. It is best not to push yourself. Let someone else bottle-feed the baby first. You do not need to have big breasts to feed your baby. Breast milk is produced by special glands around the nipple and these glands are very small and not related to the size of your breasts. So size does not matter.

The most common indication of hunger is crying -- and you'll be able to distinguish it. Take cues from your baby in setting feeding patterns.

Probably nothing. A young bird alone on the ground has not necessarily been abandoned. The young of many birds will fledge after they grow feathers, but before they are able to fly. They spend a day or two on the ground before their feather development is complete. It is really best not to interfere. The parents will be close by and come to feed the bird as soon as it is safe.

the start of weaning, you should continue to give your baby's usual milk feeds at mealtimes. The quantities of food eaten at this stage are small and your baby still relies on milk to meet his/her nutritional needs. Once your baby has got used to eating solid foods, the drinks you give at mealtimes can be milk, water or diluted fruit juice or baby drink. Make sure that any diluted fruit juice or baby drink is given in a feeding cup or beaker (not a bottle).

The Surgeon General, in the newly released Surgeon General's Blueprint for Breastfeeding, recommend that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first four to six months of life, preferably six months, and ideally through the first year of life. Protection against infection is strongest during the first several months of life for infants who are breastfed exclusively.

Absolutely! Breastfeeding is completely safe and normal after ICP. Some doctors may suggest for their patients to continue their prescription of Actigall/Urso to help rid the body of "leftover" bile acids. The medication may pass into the breast milk, but may help the baby's immature liver to rid their own body of residual bile acids as well as help with jaundice.

Live food--crickets, grubs, worms, pinkie mice (hairless babies) are good sources of protein for breeding and brooding birds and pets. You can get them from pet stores or mail-order. Your bird may refuse to eat them.

Please, never feed the wildlife. People food is not good for wildlife because their digestive systems are different. Feeding them could weaken them to the point that they can get sick or die. They may become dependant on handouts and then when the handouts stop, they may starve. Besides, even though they are cute, these are WILD animals. They may not like you getting in their space.

No, birds have little or no sense of smell, but do keep contact to a minimum. It is often easier to pick a bird up by gently covering it with a cloth first.