What to do with an injured bird

Tom Dunne

A chick appears to have fallen out of it's nest into my garden.

While it is alert, it does appeared injured. It's not young, I reckon it has to be a couple of months old.

Any suggestions what I can do in the short term? Is it worth bringing it to a vet?
It's wings seem injured, so I am not so sure it will fly.

hullaballoo

I remember one of my most heart-wrenching memories as a child was when me and a neighbour found a young (not baby) jackdaw in the bush outside my house. It had a similar injury to what you're describing and we took him to the vet after feeding/watering him for most of the day until my mum came home and could give us a lift.

I was too young to remember the ins and outs but the bird was put down. Perhaps that was because the procedure to try and save it would have been too expensive and may not have resulted in the bird every being able to fly again. I think, though, that it's because with young birds, injuries, especially those followed by human contact, tend to lead to a rejection by the bird's mother. Perhaps a combination?

Tom Dunne

hullaballoo wrote: »

because with young birds, injuries, especially those followed by human contact, tend to lead to a rejection by the bird's mother. Perhaps a combination?

Yeah, I was afraid of that.

Actually, I am sitting out the back garden and have the chick in a box. Any time I go near it, what is presumably the mother, starts squaking from up in the gutter - a kind of warning, no doubt.

Ah, I'm a big softie, I hate seeing animals in distress.

We tried feeding it (digging up worms brings me back ) and trying to get it to drink, no luck.

mcerc

MCERC - Banned for 3 months.

Stevoman.

Tom Dunne

mcerc wrote: »

Put bird on ground

Big shovel

Head

Regards
Mcerc

If you have nothing constructive to contribute, please don't.

hullaballoo

If it's that young, it would be still fed by its mother so it wouldn't really know what to do with a live worm. Maybe some seeds or something if you have any handy. It'll drink/eat when hungry/thirsty enough. The danger of leaving it out overnight is that it'll just be eaten. That may/not be the solution you're looking for. It's no harm to ring the vet in the morning if you're pushed.

It's always tough to look at this sort of thing.

star-pants

hullaballoo wrote: »

I think, though, that it's because with young birds, injuries, especially those followed by human contact, tend to lead to a rejection by the bird's mother. Perhaps a combination?

AFAIK that's usually the reason of rejection by the mother.
We had a baby bird fall out of a nest out our front door and we had him in a tissue box for a while, the vet had told us to try and either put it back in the nest or near the tree it fell out of and watch if the mother came back for it. If she didn't or did and didnt' help, then to take the bird in and get it to a SPCA type place.

Make sure to keep it warm if you're keeping it (although in this weather not too hard) Maybe some ripped up tissue or old grass if you have it for the 'nest. Depending on the age of the bird it may or may not know what to do with a live worm as Hulla said. I wonder would mashing it up a bit help?
you could try ringing your local SPCA or vet and asking?

Tom Dunne

So, I had it in my hand, and got some water into it with a dropper-thingy.

While in my hand, I think it fell asleep (it was still breathing, seemed relaxed). Then it started responding to what I think is it's mother by chirping while sitting in my hand.

By the look of the mother, I think it's a raven.

I think I'll take it in for the night, there's too many cats around here.

star-pants

Awh bless.... the poor thing. Aye maybe keeping it is best, although the mother may not take it back.

Tom Dunne

star-pants wrote: »

Awh bless.... the poor thing. Aye maybe keeping it is best, although the mother may not take it back.

It gets better.

It fell asleep in my hand, I think it was the warmth of my hand. Put it back in the box, and it woke up. Took it out, fell asleep again.

Just shows what a little warmth will do.

star-pants

Awh goodness, that'd melt your heart!
It'd be used to being all snug in the nest with siblings/mother I assume. Also any little heartbeat (pulse) in your hand will help it settle too. Perhaps a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel when you decide to go to bed yourselves?

sorella

Used to do this with baby chicks; I used a lamp; just a small reading lamp will do, in a box with grass and tissue. Better than a hot water bottle as the heat is constant; find the right distance with your hand; just gentle heat. Keep it hydrated, then crumble some bread or cake; we used to get special chick crumb.

You will, please God, end up with a "very silly bird" who will be utterly devoted to you.

Tom Dunne

Bah. Went in to check on it this morning and it was dead.

Ah well, such a pity.

sorella

So sorry; but you tried and it had some small comfort...

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Bah. Went in to check on it this morning and it was dead.

Ah well, such a pity.

star-pants

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Bah. Went in to check on it this morning and it was dead.

Ah well, such a pity.

:(
least it got some cuddles before it passed on