Providing Heat to an Orphaned Bird

Providing Heat to Orphaned Pigeons and Doves

* It is essential that orphaned birds be kept warm on a towel lined heating pad, set on low or placed under a low wattage lamp.

* Since baby birds have difficulty regulating their body temperature, wrapping them in a towel or keeping them in a warm room is not enough. They need a heat source.
(If no heating pad is available, a hot water bottle may be used or fill an old sock about 2/3 full of rice, microwave for a few seconds, making sure it isn't too hot & place it around the bird.

* Do not turn the heating pad temperature too high thinking this will warm the baby bird faster. Low setting is recommended.
Birds need to be warmed gradually until their body temperature has been maintained.

* Do not put a baby bird in the sun to warm him. He will quickly become dehydrated.

* Never attempt to feed a baby bird that is cold or in any type of respiratory distress.
Baby birds must be warmed before they can digest any food.

* Keeping a baby bird warm is the most important step in saving his life.
* Many birds that appear near death have been revived after 20-30 minutes on a heating pad.

Cindy as provided critical information that should not be taken lightly.

If you are in a situation where a heating pad is not available and you must use a hot water bottle or rice filled heated sock until you are able to get a heating pad, you must monitor the alternate source of heat very closely and warm it before it cools down because the heat must be continual and consistent.


When you buy a heating pad, please buy one that does not have an automatic turn off. If that's the only kind you can find, you will need to be aware of the shut off time to turn it back on immediately.

Good article to post. Thanks.
Also, a ceramic reptile heater works good to keep them warm, but you need to put a thermometer next to the baby, to make sure that the heater is at the right distance to keep him warm, but not over heat the baby. Once you get this distance adjusted, they usually keep it at a pretty steady temp.

NiteOwl wrote:

Good article to post. Thanks.
Also, a ceramic reptile heater works good to keep them warm, but you need to put a thermometer next to the baby, to make sure that the heater is at the right distance to keep him warm, but not over heat the baby. Once you get this distance adjusted, they usually keep it at a pretty steady temp.

We us the ceramic heaters also, but If you can find this thermometer it works really good with either a heat light or the ceramic emmitters.

http://www.nextag.com/ZooMed-Reptitemp-500R-Thermometer-646311766/prices-html

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

NiteOwl wrote:

Good article to post. Thanks.
Also, a ceramic reptile heater works good to keep them warm, but you need to put a thermometer next to the baby, to make sure that the heater is at the right distance to keep him warm, but not over heat the baby. Once you get this distance adjusted, they usually keep it at a pretty steady temp.

We us the ceramic heaters also, but If you can find this thermometer it works really good with either a heat light or the ceramic emmitters.

http://www.nextag.com/ZooMed-Reptitemp-500R-Thermometer-646311766/prices-html

I hadn't seen that before. Thanks for the link Robin. You use them?

NiteOwl wrote:

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

NiteOwl wrote:

Good article to post. Thanks.
Also, a ceramic reptile heater works good to keep them warm, but you need to put a thermometer next to the baby, to make sure that the heater is at the right distance to keep him warm, but not over heat the baby. Once you get this distance adjusted, they usually keep it at a pretty steady temp.

We us the ceramic heaters also, but If you can find this thermometer it works really good with either a heat light or the ceramic emmitters.

http://www.nextag.com/ZooMed-Reptitemp-500R-Thermometer-646311766/prices-html

I hadn't seen that before. Thanks for the link Robin. You use them?

Yes, the one we have doesn't have a visable temp. gauge, I can't read the temps. on it, so I just use a thermometer to in get the temp. to the correct warmth.

Thanks Robin.