Baby Scrub Jay

[Charis]

Try this and put in your state or zip code.

http://wildliferehabber.org/

[TAWhatley]

Hi Gimpie,

Try getting in touch with Veronica on the wildlife desk at Pasadena Humane Society: http://www.pasadenahumane.org/site/PageServer or Valley Wildlife: http://www.valleywildlifecare.org/ .. I think these two are probably the closest to you. If neither of those works out, I will PM you my rehabber friend's name and phone # in Orange in a second.

Terry

[GimpieLover]

As always....Thank you Terry
Savior for all feathered buddies

[Maggie-NC]

Gimpie, he is adorable. Just few suggestions.....

Pick a jar or two of Gerber #2 chicken or beef baby food. Using a 1 cc syringe, feed him about 3-4 syringes full at each feeding. Make sure you keep the baby food refrigerated and take out just the amount you will need for each feeding. You can use something like a shot glass. That way you don't contaminate the larger jar each time you dip the syringe in.

Songbirds need calcium. Usually fruit, like grapes or blueberries are sufficient but I sometimes crush a human sized calcium table or Tums tablet and dip the food in it then feed. Once a day should be enough. Songbirds are very prone to getting metabolic bone disease and this will prevent that happening.

Use a good quality cat/dog food pellet that has been soaked but is not mushy. We use Science Diet.

You mentioned "ground" meal worms. Don't know if you mean worms from the ground or not but whatever you do, don't feed them any worms from your yard or ground. You can usually pick up live mealworms at pet stores. For his size, I like to cut the heads off before feeding them.

His crop is located on the side of his neck. It needs to have a nice sized bulge after you feed him but not too large. They will continue to beg like crazy but you don't want to fill it too full.

Baby jays make the cutest sound when you are feeding them, don't they?

[george simon]

SCRUB JAYS eat nuts and they are fond of peanuts for this little gut you should feed unsalted nuts and peanuts. They also feed on insects.I had them at my feeders and would feed them peanut in the shell which they would bury them for later.They are a strong bird and fearless. I miss the pair that came to my feeding stations, I feel that they were victims of the WEST OF NILE VIRUS, as I have not seen them for two yearsGEORGE

[cats6birds4]

Hi, I hope you found some help by now. Have you tried calling
Valley Wildlife (818)346-8247 she is in West Hills which I don't think is too far from you. Also Camarillo Wildlife (805) 482-7617 is in Camarillo. I'm a rehabber in Ventura, which is a little far, but I'd be happy to take the bird if needed!

Beth
805-320-2438

[GimpieLover]

I was originally going to get the bird to a rehabber, but I lost computer contacts unfortunatly. So regretably I still have the bird.

He is doing wonderful though. He is in a large crate able to flap his wings as he pleases. He has been on the #2 gerber, cat food, hardboliled egg, and grapes combo, and I am off to get some bugs for him.
My questions are:
-Would he like crickets? (small live ones to get used to eating them on his own, or is he still too young for that?)
-(I have been feeding him off a long end of a spoon so he does not get used to peoples hands as a food source) so should I still use a utensil to feed the head-less meal worms to him or let him eat them on his own?
-My main concern is that he will be ok to be released and do good fending for himself. I was worried about how long to feed him for before he can eat on his own.
The jays I have seen in the wild still seem to feed there young after they can fly.
This young-in is close but not quite there.
His little tail is finally starting to come in =)
(And yea they do make some of the most precious noises when they eat) =)
Also, Is a rehaber still recommended, or does it seem like I am doing things well enough? Because the closest rehabber is a bit far, and I would prefer to not make that drive (sadly due to raising gas prices and a kicker of an economy!) but I will if you guys recommend still.

[GimpieLover]

I really feel stupid for all this, I apologize for my lack of knowledge here over the years, but I really have learned alot. I promise I really do have the best of intentions.
But I did forget to add that the bird DOES NOT have canker nor pox! ...It was a piece of food or something that came off.......(How embarassing)
There is no sore, wound, nothing on him. He is a healthy spunky little fella getting bigger every day.

[Charis]

I think you are doing a great job. The advantage of a rehabber is that they may have others of the same kind, that all all be released together. It would increase his odds to survive.

[TAWhatley]

Hi Gimpie,

Valley Wildlife in West Hills is probably less than 10 miles from you. I'd really suggest getting the bird there. You've done a fine job of raising it, but the final touches need to be done now in order to get it successfully released. While this all might seem pretty simple, it really isn't, and if you were to keep this little bird and make a mistake, you could cost the bird its life. I know you wouldn't want this.

I just recently came across Valley Wildlife and never knew they existed. They've helped with a couple of birds since I "discovered" them. Since Beth suggested them also, I would really feel OK in giving them a call.

Terry

[Margarret]

Hi Gimpie,

Just thought I'd add a bit. You have done a terrific job with this little jay. But now he needs to be with other Jays. Most of the rehabbers keep a couple of non flying adults as surrogate parents. They teach the young how to be jays, or crows or whatever breed it is. Also this time of year, the rehabber will most likely have a couple more jays about the same size as yours. They put them all together with the adults, wait until they have several ready to release, and then release them together.

I took in a lovely band tail pigeon a couple of months ago. It was a squeaker, cat caught and pretty torn up. I got it healed up and growing like a weed. Then took it and a rescued crow to the rehabber. She had two more band tails, and my little guy rushed right over and tried to duck under the larger of the two. They just need to be with their own kind if it is in anyway possible.

So I would very much encourage you to get your scrub jay to one of the rehab places for his * how to be a jay* lessons. He will have a much better chance once released.

Margaret

[GimpieLover]

I have called Valley Wildlife and left a message to see if they have other blue jays. I have decided to make sure I find a center that has other of the same species no matter the drive

[GimpieLover]

I had no idea how difficult it would be to get the bird to a wildlife center. It is all done by returning messages, and you can't bring the bird in, you have to make an appointment, and It's proving quite difficult to even get a hold of these people.

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by GimpieLover

I had no idea how difficult it would be to get the bird to a wildlife center. It is all done by returning messages, and you can't bring the bird in, you have to make an appointment, and It's proving quite difficult to even get a hold of these people.

If no none is calling you back, I would just take the bird in then. is'nt that irritatating....

[GimpieLover]

There web site says to not take the birds to the address they give on the site. its just there mailing office.