Injured Birds
What can be done for an injured bird – whether domestic or wild?
Should your pet bird be injured it is vital to get it to a Veterinarian as soon as possible. In the interim it may be necessary to practice first-aid on your bird. The following are suggestions for dealing with various injuries, but remember even if first-aid is administered the bird must be taken to a Veterinarian.
In the case of bleeding, the source of the bleeding must be determined. Styptic powder, corn flour or baking soda can be used to stop the bleeding. A mixture of alum and cold water can also be applied. Place a gauze pad over the wound and apply firm pressure. If the bird has injured its leg or foot use antibiotic ointment and loosely bandage.
For broken wing bones, cut the toe out of a sock and place the injured bird inside with its head through the hole. Ensure the bird can breathe comfortably and there are holes for its feet.
When a bird is injured by a cat the greatest concern is that of infection. Clean the wounds with hydrogen peroxide. The injured bird will require an ampicillin shot.
If the injured bird is in shock (not moving, breathing is shallow and quick, eyes slightly closed) place it in a warm environment with low light.
If you find an injured wild bird it is better not to treat it as this is illegal in some countries. The best thing to do is to contact your nearest rehabilitation centre. If a bird has collided with a window it is likely just stunned. Cover it with a box with holes for a while and then remove, it will more than likely recover and fly off.
Do not handle a wild bird too much as this will add to the trauma of the situation. It is best not to handle an injured bird of prey as they are likely to hurt you, rather promptly contact the authorities trained to handle them correctly. The best way to capture a wild bird is to throw a towel or light blanket over it. Carefully pick it up making sure its wings are lying against its body (remember, this method cannot be used on an injured bird of prey). Other methods of capture, such as grabbing the beak and holding the injured bird under the arm, are not recommended unless you have been trained to do so.
It is advisable to keep the number of your Veterinarian and a local rehabilitation centre on hand in case a situation with an injured bird arises.
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i have a bird on the side of my house that broke it’s neck what should i do?
found two baby doves on the ground mother not around any more any ideas?
i found a bird with its beak crissed crossed and possibly hurt wing and brought it in to my garage to give it some fresh water what should i do?
Hi i saved a bird from a cat and it’s in shock and cant’t fly what do i do
HELP MY BIRD IS ACTING WEIRD IT KEEPS FLAPING ITS WINGS AND THE NECK BENDS DIFFRENT WAYS AND ITS EYES ARE ALMOST CLOSED AND FAST BREATHING IT COULD BE IN SHOCK
I went out to feed my horses and there is a bird (not a baby bird) and it’s hopping away from me but one of it’s feet(leg) on the left side is swollen and bloody. What can I do to help the bird so it can get better. I at least want to give it a chance to get better and give it a chance to survive. I am a animal lover and I can’t stand for something to get injured without trying to help it. Please let me know asap. I really get upset about all animals as I feed all the animals around here and even own a cockatoo bird as well. Some one please he help me!
Teresa Croft
Rock Hill, SC
There was a red-tailed hawk that ran into my window. I think it’s in shock. What should I do?
Dear Sir/miss
i have some cheiks of budgai parrot but cheiks have no wings why plz tell me
Hey everyone, here are a few tips that I’ve learned… baby birds usually need a heating pad or heat lamp (heating pad is preferred) to keep warm with…. I rescued a young female dove who slammed into my window and busted her head open by holding tissues to her head until the blood was dry, and she wasn’t eating her birdseed on her own, so I mixed some bird vitamins, fruit flavored baby food (try to get the most natural one you can.. the mixed fruit works really well) with water, and fed it to her through a straw (only use a few drops at a time, too much can choke the bird). Her beak was long and pointed, so when I put the straw over her beak and gently lifted her head and she swallowed it like when a baby bird is feeding from it’s mother’s beak. Feed the bird until it seems like it’s full about 3-4 times a day… also you can give it some clear fresh water by itself with the straw to wash it down… remember.. not too much or the bird will choke! I continued doing this until she started eating birdseed on her own… you can leave a bit of seed scattered on the bottom of the bird’s box/cage to see if the bird will eat it, but don’t force it. But this is what I learned with my own experience… and now I’ve had her for over a year now, and she is doing well
. Hope this can help all of you take care of your birds! God bless you all for rescuing them.
wow.thanks 4 the tips kavita!!!!
One time i was outside and on the sidewalk in front of a bush was a dead bird. But I looked it over (no, i did not touch it, i used a stick) and i did not see anything wrong with it at all. What could have happened to it?
i found a bird ouside my huse by me garden and it is just sitting there. i don’t kow if its hurt. i think it might be. but i don’t kow if maby its having babys. its a morning dove. anyone know
some body help!!! my friend and i found a baby robin i think its wing ad leg are both injurd or (broken) i don’t know what to do!!
If you find an injured bird, the best thing to do is to get it to the vet as soon as possible.
Hello, I’ve been looking around my pool box under a bird house because I heard chirping coming from under it. Today, my dog went with me. As soon as I got there, he dashed to it, grabbed something, and the chirping stopped abruptly. He ran deeper into the yard and surprise surprise! A house sparrow!
I pried it out from his jaws, and it was physically unhurt. It was, however, missing a wing. No blood, no extra bone, no cuts in the skin. It just simply wasn’t there (it also is rather young, but fully feathered).
So, I’m now faced with a problem; Let it go, leaving it to die slowly and painfully, or keep it, and have it die slowly and painfully… Or I could kill it, but how do you do that easily?
Hi Quinn,
I would suggest taking it to a vet or a bird rescue centre/sanctuary. They will know how best to help the bird.
Hi ive noticed a med size bird following and harassing this very small bird whose color looks like that of a striped chipmunk.
This baby bird has downy grey feathers with some white tips and grey beak. Legs long It will sit still when others fly away. It will call out when the small bird disappears. The small bird tries to feed it but it leaves when grey bird is “too” demanding.
i do have 2 feeders. Once the grey bird perched on one ate seed and when small bird came back it stood in the seed crying with its mouth open.
I was worried when i sat outside the birds bame back and they got spooked the baby stay lowered to the ground. Crows, chipmunk and other flyers by came round but it stayed until the small bird returned.
i saved a baby bird from my dog .My dog broke its leg.And my dog pulled out alot of it’s wing what should i do
Hi Leslie, please get the bird to a vet as soon as possible.
last night i hear my og barking at something so i went outside to check on her and she was staring intently at a bush near my drive way. i walked over an foun a small bird. it is mostly a charcoal brown with black ots an tannish tips on its wings. its beak is about 1 1/2 cm. i took it inside and checked it for injuries and son decided it was a young bird old enough to be leaving the nest and may have tried to fly and injured itself while doing so. it has a sall scrap on its underside and a more serious injury on the right wing. there is a small puncture like wound and its bone is sticking out. it is at the base of the wing. i dont want to stress the bird. i tried wrapping it but it is so litle that it just slides right out of the sling. it is eating berries. and i am going to the bait shop today to get it some worms to see if it prefers that. i havent bee nable to identif it yet. i live in louisiana in a small town and all the vets here are mainly aquante with dogs and farm animals. this isnt the first wild animal ive rescued. ive raised a baby raccon and released it back to the wild. 2 abandoned oppossums with broken tails and one with a puncture wond. ive raised baby birds that have fallen from nests but no injuries. all have been succesful. i was wondering if itd be better off left outside or if at least cleaning the wound and leaving it alone would be better.
For everyone that asks “What should I do,” I would recommend taking the wild bird to your local Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. I currently work at one where we get in songbirds and raptors all year long with problems that you describe. Especially in the peak of baby season, it is important to keep an eye out for injured or orphaned wildlife. If you must keep the bird overnight, it is best not to feed it, but only give it a little bit of warm water. Keep the bird in a warm dark place like a shoebox over a heating pad on low.
Here is the website to locate your nearest rehabilitator, good luck! http://www.wildlifeinternational.org/EN/public/emergency/emergencyrehab.html
Found what appears to be a starling on a driveway, although its plumage includes iridescent green feathers. It was on its side, was alert and panting, and moved its head/beak alittle. We put it in a box with dry grass (substituted small towels later), and offered water through a dropper, which it accepted. We thought it had a broken leg, and got it through the rest of the day feeding it a little KayTee baby bird formula mixed with water every few hours– it accepted water and the bird food (used a small paint brush to feed it). After a few hours, we noticed it tries to stand up, but it falls over (forward) and it’s head droops straight down. I let it rest undisturbed once the sun went down. It is still alive, but still has the droopy head thing- it can move its head sideways, and has strength in both legs – doesn’t try to spread its wings. The rescue places I’ve called yesterday didn’t answer and didn’t return my calls. Is this a broken neck? What else can be done?
help my dog was playing with a baby bird abd broke the top of it’s beak off what can we do
Hi Cheryl, We suggest you get the bird to a vet as soon as possible. Hope its not too late!
At what temperature can a bird freeze? We keep our birds on a patio but it’s been very cold at night.
How long will it take for a bird’s broken wing to heal? What should I do to help it along? (An answer other than a shelter or the vet?)
i found a one injured bird ..its came ed to my room… he can’t able to fly..its always flattered ..fast breathing.., what can i do..for that… i saw some injured in that head … he didn’t drink water also///// please reply me…. i’m not feeling good…
My colleague and I saw a red robin outside our office door. The bird would run a few steps, stop, sit and then spread its wings to the fullest and then repeat the actions. What is it doing? It has been outside our office for a few days now.
Found a sparrow on the ground with a missing eye and a cut where the eye should be what should i do
Hello,
I saved a little bird from my cat earlier. He/she doesn’t appear to be injured, is hopping about, chirping and I have seen it eating but it won’t fly away. This happened about 3 hours ago and it’s still in my garden, on the ground. I didn’t want to pick it up and cause it more stress by getting it to a vet, so I was just wondering if this is normal, that he/she needs a little longer to get over the shock?
Hi Julie – it may be a fledgling and too young to fly. Have you noticed any parent birds watching over it from nearby trees? Maybe give it a bit more time.
I rescued a rooster that has rolled under a car I assume, he was in the middle of the road. He has both feet broken at the joints of the toes where they all hinge together. It is swollen and has bad purple bruises. He will not even attempt to stand. Which it’s good for now. He finally started eating, so I guess the shock is over. I have antibiotic to add to his h2o, si have two ornamental roosters of my own that are beloved pets. This rooster is young and strong otherwise so I was hoping someone could give me advice on splinting the feet to at least give him a chance. I cannot afford the vet and our animal rescuers around here are a joke. Please help. Thank you.
A female northern flicker hit my sunroom window hard (I heard it all the way upstairs) – I put a towel over it, picked it up, and moved to a shaded area. It was breathing hard and the beak may be slightly cracked. There was a little bit of blood toward the back of it’s throat, so I held it so it didn’t sound like it couldn’t breathe. Two hours later it was still alive but a little out of it. I brought it outside and opened up the towel and it just hopped onto my hand and stayed there. I brought it back inside and have kept it sort of wrapped up in the dark – it is alive but I’m sure it’s right wing/shoulder is injured. I’ve got the numbers of two rehabbers, but can it go overnight without food/water? Will it freak out when the sun comes up? (This bird hit the glass so hard it lost at least a dozen feathers) – I’m actually surprised it’s alive.
I bought two parakeets yesterday and ones a girl and ones a boy butI think my boy parakeet has a disease called chlamydiosis which the store told me when I bought him was a comon disease and I didn’t know he had it untill I got home, put him in his cage and wached them for awhile I don’t know what to do he has green stool I searched it on the web no use please help me I know I haven’t had them vary long but there butiful and they were the most unique parakeets I’ve ever seen
I forgot to mention the other symtom he has is fluffed fethers but he is near a window and I do plan on moving them but it is not ver cold near the window at least to me I don’t know!
We play golf in St George, UT and we have lots of water fowl in our ponds. Primarily migrating Geese, Ducks, Coots, but also have a flock of permanent white Swans.
The fowl are always in danger of being struck by golf balls. Very sad and scary, but they stubbornly will not move. We currently have a Swan with a broken leg. He is eating fine and can limp on the broken leg, but I was wondering why someone does not capture the Swan and take it to a Vet. I have been told the injury wil heal on its own.
Is this true? I think the injury is at least one month old or more.
Hi! I was wondering, yesterday my daughter was playing with our new budgie and now he won’t use his right leg, it just hangs there. He sits on a perch but struggles with balance. Is he in pain? will it get better? What should we do?
I found a wild bird on the road, it’s wings, and feet were not broken. BUT it could not fly or walk. What is wrong with the bird? I really want to help it.