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Posted by laReine-Astrid (U10636638) on Thursday, 4th June 2009
I have a young blackbird that has been injured atthe base of the spine by one of the cats. He's very lively, doesn't seem seriously hurt but II can't work out if he can't fly because he's too young or if it's because he's injured.
I'm in France, there are no wildlife centres around here that I can contact and I have to go out in 1 hour and 15 minutes.
I've put him in a box with a cover over him safe from the cats. What can I do? I can put iodine on his injury but what else can I do for him?
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by greensparklybejewelledone (U2283175) on Thursday, 4th June 2009
Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:46 GMT, in reply to laReine-Astrid in message 1
Collect worms for him. Seriously. (I did that as a child.)
gj
x
Oh dear, laRa, poor bird and what a dilemma. it might be useful to re-post this in TB, where more people will see it.
I know you are not in the UK, but: Wildlife Aid have a hot line and email address, and this is their bird advice page:
Would your vet be prepared to examine it and give it antibiotics etc., if s/he thinks it has a chance and, if not, euthanise. Vets in this country will see small wildlife free of charge, and euthanise if necessary, though I think they probably charge for any treatment.
Rusty
Oh dear, this would happen now, wouldn't it? No time to take it to the vet's, even if they would accept it (no idea). Am out tonight and leaving tomorrow for the weekend, and OH will not look after it.
I've got it in a box in a quiet place with lots of shredded paper.
It's always the way, isn't it?
Perhaps follow the advice in my link re seeing if it can fly tomorrow morning early. If not, then, sadly, better to euthanise than to let it die. Do you know anybody who would be willing to do this cleanly?
Rusty
Just been back out, and he's burid himself in the shredded paper. Breathing very heavily, but at least he's calm and quiet.
I'll wait until tomorrow morning, you never know, but not a lot of hope. The only person who's going to euthanise him is me. Any advice on how to do it? Or I suppose I could take him round to OH's cousin, he would know how to do it properly.
Only in theory : pull on the neck and twist hard. It does the bird no favours to do it hesitantly. With such a small, fragile creature you can bash its head in as hard as possible with a large stone or similar.
Sorry, it is all very brutal, but often the least worst option.
Rusty
I meant to say, pull the neck *up*, I think, to dislocate it before wringing.
, in reply to message 8.
Posted by greensparklybejewelledone (U2283175) on Thursday, 4th June 2009
Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:15 GMT, in reply to Rusters in message 8
Oh gosh. If you're going to leave it overnight it will certainly need food though. Birds eat a huge amount all the time - don't they? I"m with Rusty on the quick-as-possible method of euthanising. Poor thing.
gj
x
I've got bird feed left over from the winter, will put that in its box with water. The adult blackbirds eat it during the winter.
I've just remembered that when Flakey found a little owl, her vet took it and, in that case, passed it on to a wild life centre.
If you aren't going to be around this evening to feed it up, and it has breathing difficulties, it might be better to end things sooner rather than later.
I am so sorry.
Rusty
, in reply to message 11.
Posted by Flightless Anachronistic Bird (U6437464) on Thursday, 4th June 2009
Look away if you don't want to read this kind of stuff:
Quickest, easiest way to kill a bird that size or smaller is to hold it round the back half of the body, with it's tummy facing upwards, thumb in front of legs so that it doesn't slip out of your grip. Take it outside and swing it down hard (a bit like hammering something) so that the back of its head comes into contact with something hard (stone wall, car bumper etc). Don't hesitate. It will convulse, but it will be dead.
Sorry, it's horrible, but my personal preference is to do that rather than letting them suffer.
, in reply to message 12.
Posted by laReine-Astrid (U10636638) on Thursday, 4th June 2009
OH took care of it for me.
Thanks for all your help.
I'm sorry, laRA. At least the blackbird isn't suffering but it is bound to be very upsetting nonetheless.
Rusty
That is so sad but you did your very best.
Oh I'm so sorry, laReine-Astrid. Recently lost 2 baby blackbirds myself. One to a cat!!!!!!
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