Before Adopting a Baby Junco, Please Know It's No Easy Task
The photos and videos above might make it seem like raising a Junco is a delightful experience, and in many ways it is, but what they don't show you are the hours, days, months, and years of the struggles in learning to raise a "child" that is not of your own making.
Initially, Meekull required around-the-clock feedings every 2 hours, night and day, for weeks. After he was weaned from baby formula, he had to be introduced to his adult diet, which, again, was a learning experience that was often rough with mistakes. At one point, Meekull became sick after following friendly advice from someone well-meaning but uneducated about Juncos.
Even now, at one year old, Meekull requires a lot of care. He needs fresh food and water daily, full of grains, seeds, dried worms, and fresh produce. His cage needs to be cleaned daily. He has to be allowed to fly freely for an hour or so to reduce anxiety. He may be tame, but he's still wild and has the instinct to soar. We have an enclosed front porch, which we use in the summer. The rest of the time, he flies in the bathroom, which is where he sleeps in his cage at night because we also have cats.
Juncos are very social creatures and need a healthy dose of company and stimulation. For this reason, I communicate with Meekull frequently and relocate his cage to various windows and parts of the house to prevent boredom throughout the day.
In the evening, when the sun goes down, I cover Meekull's cage to help him sleep and prevent any scares that might be caused by night blindness. Juncos don't see well at night. Suddenly, walking up on a cage at night can't traumatize him.
You'll need to be present with your Junco 24/7 or find a sitter to watch your Junco while you're at work or on holiday.
Juncos are also songbirds, and Meekull sings about half of the day (very loudly) during Spring (mating season). While I can sometimes put him behind closed doors to sing, I can't leave him for too long, or he becomes anxious due to a lack of outside stimulation. I can take longer breaks if I turn on soft music for him, but it only buys a half hour or so. The rest of the year, he pleasantly sings off and on. He also molts twice each year (loses his feathers and regorws them).
You'll need to be present with your Junco 24/7 or find a sitter to watch your Junco while you're at work or on holiday. If you're not prepared for this lifestyle change, you and your Junco hatchling are better off allowing nature to take its course. Hopefully, there's a nest nearby where you can return it. Then leave it be.
If you've decided to raise a Junco, please see Pacific Northwest Juncos.
