emergency baby zebra finch

Question
Parents and other babies are dead. Only surviving one left and is very small. How do I help it? Its on heating pads and gave one drop of gatorade to stimulate it. Now what?

Answer
Hi, Leila.  Thanks for posting your question.  The only way that this baby zebra finch will survive is if you take over as it's parents.  You must keep it warm (about 78-80 degrees...keep a thermometer in it's environment so you can monitor the temperature) in some type of container, you must handfeed it with baby parrot handfeeding formula you can buy at the local pet store that sells birds (how often and how much depends on it's age, but if it's very young about 4 times per day...follow directions on package)(feed with an eyedropper, one drop at a time down back of throat without injuring it's throat)(you can also just let a drop run off the tip of your finger into its mouth as a last resort).  

You can also use Ensure Plus or Slim Fast for several days (warmed to 100 deg F...NO HIGHER) and feed with an eyedropper (or use honey mixed with water or Pedialyte [find with human baby food at the grocery] for strength/energy) until you can get proper feed.  If you have any other pairs of finches, they wil most likely accept/feed it (society finches are also good surrogate parents).  You must keep it from dehydrating by giving it water one drop at a time, and you must do this several times per day.  

Baby finches are hard to handfeed and keep alive.  Since the others died also, makes me wonder if you don't have some type of illness going around or something similar.  

Come back if you need more information.

Chrys