Baby birds need to be fed very frequently, especially in their early days, with the frequency decreasing as they grow older. Here is a general guideline on how often to feed a baby bird based on its age:
- Newly hatched chicks (0-7 days old) : Feed every 2 to 3 hours, which can amount to 6–10 feedings per day, or even every 15–20 minutes during daylight hours for some species. Some sources recommend feeding every 1–2 hours around the clock for the first week, including night feedings in some cases
- Chicks with closed eyes but older than a few days : Typically fed 5–6 times per day, about every 3–4 hours
- Once eyes open (around 1 week old) : Feed 3–5 times per day, roughly every 4–5 hours during daylight hours. Night feedings can often be eliminated if the bird is kept warm and comfortable
- Feathered nestlings (2–3 weeks old) : Feed every 3–4 hours during the day, with a longer break at night
- Older chicks (3–4 weeks old) : Feed every 4–5 hours, about 2–3 times per day
- 5–6 weeks old : Feed twice daily, as the bird begins to eat more solid foods and wean off formula
- By 7 weeks and older : Feeding can be reduced to twice daily or less, focusing on encouraging the bird to eat solids and wean completely by 8 weeks
Feeding should generally stop during the night (e.g., from about 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) to allow the bird to rest, mimicking natural parental feeding patterns
. The amount fed per feeding is typically about 6-10% of the baby bird’s body weight, and careful monitoring of weight and crop fullness is important to ensure healthy growth
. In summary, baby birds require very frequent feedings initially—up to every 15–20 minutes during daylight for the youngest chicks—and this frequency gradually decreases to twice daily as they mature and begin to eat on their own
