Baby Birds

So, in this book I'm writing, the protagonist decides to "rescue" a couple of eggs and try to hatch them on his own. You should never do this. First off, the possession of eggs from most bird species is illegal. Secondly, the eggs may not be abandoned. Some birds have their nests on the ground. Thirdly, hatching eggs requires that they stay the right temperature, humidity and all sorts of other stuff -you even have to turn them every so often. And lastly, the eggs might not even be viable. Many times, in fact more often than not, if an egg has fallen out of a nest, the interior membrane will break. This means the chick inside isn't protected and can't get the nutrients it needs.

If, by some miracle, you manage to hatch an egg and get a chick, they need to be fed often. Really often. And you have to have the right mixture of food. They like mashed up meal worms, cereal (not fruit loops), crackers without salt.... stuff like that. The food can't be too cold or it will kill them. The food can't be too hot or you'll burn the baby birds.

We all love birds and would hate to see them die, so leave them alone and let their parents take care of them. They've been doing it forever.