Tending for Injured blackbird advice
Discussion
Hi, the cat brought in an injured blackbird (I think).
It's right legs is immobile and is extended backwards.
There is a puncture mark on it's back between the wings and there is a lot of feathers missing there.
Seeing as the cat has a bell on the collar I would like to think that the leg injury was already there and that's how my cat got hold of it.
Either way, the blackbird has survived the night and both wings seem ok. I put some anti bacterial ointment on it's back where the puncture is and I would like to help it recover than put it down.
Any advice with helping the little fella recover?
I understand blackbirds are insect and berry eaters. I left him some berries in the enclosure and some water. I think he had some water but not food at night.
P.S. Please don't make it into an argument of why cats are evil or cats vs dogs etc etc.
Mods, please keep it in lounge so that I get enough exposure to the question. Thanks
It's right legs is immobile and is extended backwards.
There is a puncture mark on it's back between the wings and there is a lot of feathers missing there.
Seeing as the cat has a bell on the collar I would like to think that the leg injury was already there and that's how my cat got hold of it.
Either way, the blackbird has survived the night and both wings seem ok. I put some anti bacterial ointment on it's back where the puncture is and I would like to help it recover than put it down.
Any advice with helping the little fella recover?
I understand blackbirds are insect and berry eaters. I left him some berries in the enclosure and some water. I think he had some water but not food at night.
P.S. Please don't make it into an argument of why cats are evil or cats vs dogs etc etc.
Mods, please keep it in lounge so that I get enough exposure to the question. Thanks
Papa Hotel said:
Not the answer you're looking for but I'd hold it under water for five minutes.
That's a bit cruel isn't it? I'd rather decapitate it if it came to putting it down.I know birds won't show a weakness until actually dead, but I get the feeling this is a feisty little fella and would like to give him a chance to recover.
ker's head off!Papa Hotel said:
In before the edit!
Also putting a living animal down humanely is not the same as putting it down with the least mess. I should imagine the only less humane way to put it down than the one you suggested is starving it to death...
Unless that leg can heal properly it would be kinder to have it put down. It will not survive in the wild with a damaged leg. You said yourself that you think your cat caught it because of its leg and obviously it cannot be kept captive.
We pass on wildlife that we feel has a chance to a local wildlife sanctuary.
The bird needs to eat this am, it may take cat food preferably meal worms, if it doesn't eat soon it will die. Sometimes they need stomach tubing to get food into them.
We pass on wildlife that we feel has a chance to a local wildlife sanctuary.
The bird needs to eat this am, it may take cat food preferably meal worms, if it doesn't eat soon it will die. Sometimes they need stomach tubing to get food into them.
Try and find a local wildlife rescue centre to you, they'll be able to advise the best.
I volunteer for a local wildlife rescue centre here in the South West and have had numerous call outs over the last 6 weeks to collect injured and abandoned babies.
Keep it warm, plenty of water and in a nice quiet environment
If the bird is still quite young you might be able to get to him to eat some mashed up kitten food or mealworms but you'll have to feed it using something like long handled tweezers as it will be one of the closest resemblances to the mothers beak.
If you think its an older bird, try putting some live mealworms in with it.
As Bex has already said a lot of vets will pass the bird in to a local wildlife centre so it would be less stressful for the bird if you can get it there first. 1 less car journey and less human interaction.
I volunteer for a local wildlife rescue centre here in the South West and have had numerous call outs over the last 6 weeks to collect injured and abandoned babies.
Keep it warm, plenty of water and in a nice quiet environment
If the bird is still quite young you might be able to get to him to eat some mashed up kitten food or mealworms but you'll have to feed it using something like long handled tweezers as it will be one of the closest resemblances to the mothers beak.
If you think its an older bird, try putting some live mealworms in with it.
As Bex has already said a lot of vets will pass the bird in to a local wildlife centre so it would be less stressful for the bird if you can get it there first. 1 less car journey and less human interaction.
Glenred said:
Papa Hotel said:
Not the answer you're looking for but I'd hold it under water for five minutes.
drown it! Very humane.Hit it with a hammer would be quicker, poor thing.
If you take it to a vet will you be lumped with a big bill?
isee said:
I should have just killed it to begin with...
It was nice and chirpy (literally) last morning but was dead by the time I returned from work.
Very sad. The wife cried and now hates the cat. The cat she insisted we get over a dog...
sigh...
You should get a fish. Mine hardly ever bring in birds. It was nice and chirpy (literally) last morning but was dead by the time I returned from work.
Very sad. The wife cried and now hates the cat. The cat she insisted we get over a dog...
sigh...
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