Urgent - Injured bird of prey chick

s7ryf3925pivug

An interesting chick hurt himself by flying into our window. He's sitting on the ground outside it now for the last while. If he stays there he will be food for foxes or feral cats.

How do I help this guy? Pick him up and put him in a box in the garage with some bird seed? Would he even eat bird seed?

s7ryf3925pivug

Another pic

Francis Wet Spa

Francis Wet Spa wrote: »

An interesting chick hurt himself by flying into our window. He's sitting on the ground outside it now for the last while. If he stays there he will be food for foxes or feral cats.

How do I help this guy? Pick him up and put him in a box in the garage with some bird seed? Would he even eat bird seed?

Best thing is to keep it dark and quiet until it recovers. But if it hit your window it will probably die soon anyway

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Best thing is to keep it dark and quiet until it recovers. But if it hit your window it will probably die soon anyway

Looks like a blackbird

Asus1

Francis Wet Spa wrote: »

An interesting chick hurt himself by flying into our window. He's sitting on the ground outside it now for the last while. If he stays there he will be food for foxes or feral cats.

How do I help this guy? Pick him up and put him in a box in the garage with some bird seed? Would he even eat bird seed?

I think its a young blackbird maybe a month old.As said put it in a covered box away from people.Sadly it will more than likely die.

Often when that happens they go into shock and may appear worse off than they are. Your best bet is to leave it alone to get over the shock and move on. Could take some time so if you think its at risk where it fell, is there somewhere else nearby that you could place it. Like hidden under a hedge where a predator wouldn't necessarily notice?

I've had this happen a couple times and the bird has recovered from the shock and flown away.

krissovo

Deleted User wrote: »

Often when that happens they go into shock and may appear worse off than they are. Your best bet is to leave it alone to get over the shock and move on. Could take some time so if you think its at risk where it fell, is there somewhere else nearby that you could place it. Like hidden under a hedge where a predator wouldn't necessarily notice?

I've had this happen a couple times and the bird has recovered from the shock and flown away.

Happens to us all the time, we have floor to ceiling windows and even after stickers on the windows they still crash probably due to wind.

Never had one pass away, they all recover after a while.

Jurgen Klopp

I was wondering myself what exactly he's gonna die comments were about too, any I've had that hit the window are stunned but recover

The only thing is you'd want to move it somewhere safe maybe a drop of water too as a cat or other predator will have easy pickings

Be right back

krissovo wrote: »

Happens to us all the time, we have floor to ceiling windows and even after stickers on the windows they still crash probably due to wind.

Never had one pass away, they all recover after a while.

I had a pigeon do it once. Poor thing. He didn't know much about it.

GottaGetGatt

That’s a Thrush

s7ryf3925pivug

Yeah he's a blackbird I think, looking up pics of young ones. Odd, it really looked like he had a hooked beak earlier. My imagination running away with me.

His nest is in the roof above the window. But he'll be eaten for sure if he stays on the ground.

I have a cardboard box with paper towels. I can get a towel and gloves and they eat the birdseed we put out for them.

Get gloves and a towel and put him in the box in the garage for the night..?

s7ryf3925pivug

GottaGetGatt wrote: »

That’s a Thrush

I'm certain he's a blackbird after looking at pics online and considering the fact he is directly below where they nest.

frillyleaf

Contact Kildare animal foundation and they will be able to assess the situation and advise you what to do. They may respond now if you don’t leave it too late

GottaGetGatt

Francis Wet Spa wrote: »

I'm certain he's a blackbird after looking at pics online and considering the fact he is directly below where they nest.

Yeah had a look myself, Blackbird alright.

NcdJd

Get a cup of water, dip your finger in it and drop one droplet of water on it's beak. Do this a few times until it starts shaking it's head. Bird is just stunned.

s7ryf3925pivug

No, he's injured. I approached him to pick him up and he scurried away and failed to take off a few times.

I then placed a canvas garden container on its side and he went into it. So he's in that in my garage where he won't be eaten but will hear the antisocial neighbours' dogs barking during the night.

Discovered we seem to be out of birdseed. Lots of berries around the garden. On ivy for example. I'll look up what they eat I suppose. If anyone has any suggestions in the meantime that would be helpful.

I suppose I'll get him a little container of water too.

s7ryf3925pivug

Another pic

s7ryf3925pivug

They do eat ivy berries. Not sure if they're ripe though. The fact there are still so many on the plant probably not a good sign...

s7ryf3925pivug

Oats. Cool.

Fleetwoodmac

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.animalmagic.ie/&ved=2ahUKEwj7u5euu4npAhXUK80KHWmcBKIQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw1m67fQBaanTJbCsM9w46t1

Animal magic, they rescue and specialise in birds of prey. If you messaged them, they are very good in responding and giving guidance.

NcdJd

Francis Wet Spa wrote: »

They do eat ivy berries. Not sure if they're ripe though. The fact there are still so many on the plant probably not a good sign...

Bird needs water Blergh. Water will revive it. My suggestion about dropping water on it's beak I've done with numerous birds that have flew into my kitchen window. Bird is too scared to settle and drink from a saucer or eat ivy berries. Catch the bird with one hand and hold firmly and drop some water on it's beak. It will swallow a bit of it. Repeat about 6 or 7 times until the bird reacts quickly to the dropping onto the beak. It looks stunned as I can see one eye closed..

s7ryf3925pivug

NcdJd wrote: »

Bird needs water Blergh. Water will revive it. My suggestion about dropping water on it's beak I've done with numerous birds that have flew into my kitchen window. Bird is too scared to settle and drink from a saucer or eat ivy berries. Catch the bird with one hand and hold firmly and drop some water on it's beak. It will swallow a bit of it. Repeat about 6 or 7 times until the bird reacts quickly to the dropping onto the beak. It looks stunned as I can see one eye closed..

His eyes are open a good while since I took that pic. I thought he was stunned too but not after he scurried away when I tried to pick him up. From looking at his attempts to fly I am sure he is physically injured. It happened while I was out and my wife said he really whacked it and was on his back for a good while afterwards.

He has a bit of water and some oats and a coldwatcher heater beside the container as well as a dessicant dehumidifier that generates warmth.

Will leave him there for the night. Safe from predators. Hopefully won't be too cold? The nest would probably be a lot warmer so if I should be moving him into the house or something give me a heads up. Would prefer not to unless he's going to be too cold.

Sheepdish1

Francis Wet Spa wrote: »

His eyes are open a good while since I took that pic. I thought he was stunned too but not after he scurried away when I tried to pick him up. From looking at his attempts to fly I am sure he is physically injured. It happened while I was out and my wife said he really whacked it and was on his back for a good while afterwards.

He has a bit of water and some oats and a coldwatcher heater beside the container as well as a dessicant dehumidifier that generates warmth.

Will leave him there for the night. Safe from predators. Hopefully won't be too cold? The nest would probably be a lot warmer so if I should be moving him into the house or something give me a heads up. Would prefer not to unless he's going to be too cold.

Hi OP well done for helping this little guy. I would recommend taking the oats out as if this get mixed with water they can cause problems for beak and feathers.

It would be good to place a hot water bottle securely wrapped in a towel to keep him warm assuming he’s well enough to move away from it if he needs to. You’d need to make sure he has space away from it and that it’s not too hot to burn him.

Alternatively the could be placed in a well ventilated box and be taken inside into your house into a quite room where it is a little warmer and not use hot water bottle.

I wouldn’t handle him unnecessarily as this may stress him out more. Wildlife find human interaction, even our voices very stressful. So avoid handling him and talking to him. Loud tv etc can stress them too.

Please contact Kildare animal foundation as they have rehabbers that are experienced with wildlife. If it’s injured it will need to be be assessed and someone may be able to pick it up or maybe you drop it somewhere.

If they don’t think it’s injured you may be able to place it outside and see if parents are feeding it. I can’t see picture on my phone so I’m not sure what bird you have. I would recommend you contact them in the morning and give this little guy the best chance you can . Well done 😊

Sheepdish1

Francis Wet Spa wrote: »

Oats. Cool.

I wouldn’t give it oats. When these mix with water they stick to beak, nostrils and feathers and cause problems. Birds can be quite messy in boxes so I would focus on warmth and leaving some water on a shallow dish for now if it flew into a window this evening but try get advice from KAF tonight if possible

NcdJd

Ok must have had some whack against the window so. Container looks ok might be worth putting a towel over the container as there could be frost tonight, plus magpies / cats might find it. First thing in the morning morning take the towel / cloth off it and see if it looks a bit more lively. Might hopefully just need a couple hours to recover and rest.

Sheepdish1

I just saw container, a cardboard box that has air holes would be warmer. Metal will be too cold in my opinion for it . It should be fine without food or water overnight if it only hit window this evening. A card box box would be better

s7ryf3925pivug

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

I just saw container, a cardboard box that has air holes would be warmer. Metal will be too cold in my opinion for it . It should be fine without food or water overnight if it only hit window this evening. A card box box would be better

It was a plastic mesh container on a thick rubber mat beside a heater in a garage which is pretty well-sealed.

s7ryf3925pivug

He looked brighter this morning. Still had food and water so I just left him. No rehabilitators near me so I was pondering what to do next.

Went back out this afternoon and he was out of the container, which is about 60cm high, so he must have managed to fly. Left the door open. He appeared to have gone when I looked back an hour or so later.

Thanks for the advice and info.

NickNickleby

Great photos Blergh, and well done taking care of him. Hopefully he's made a full recovery.

Had a Goldfinch crash into my conservatory, but the neighbours cat was over the 6ft wall when he heard the bang and beat me to it. :mad:

I hope for the best, but generally they die inside 48hrs. Consider smashing your face at 25kph, and be a bird. But it's great to save one!

s7ryf3925pivug

Deleted User wrote: »

I hope for the best, but generally they die inside 48hrs. Consider smashing your face at 25kph, and be a bird. But it's great to save one!

Being a bird sounda good but I'll pass on smashing my face