Any vets in the house - herons?

[Boosted LS1]

I found a heron tonight, looks young, a bit skinny and was just lying by the side of a lake. he may have hit power cables and glided down. One foot will grip, the other leg is limp but isn't broken. Maybe there's a hip problem? The bird stays lying down and makes no effort to get up or struggle. On the encouraging side it did eat some fresh trout but I had to open it's beak and put the food in there. It seems alert and I'm keeping safe from it's bill!

Tomorrow I need help so shall call some local places. Are veterinary practices obliged to look at wildlife foc? My local vet used to check things over but since they changed hands they can't get rid of you quick enough if you have injured wildlife. Thanks.

[spikeyhead]

Have you had the fault codes read yet? its very difficult to diagnose faults on these things without the right code reader.

[I.T.B]

spikeyhead said:

Have you had the fault codes read yet? its very difficult to diagnose faults on these things without the right code reader.

He might not have the appropriate leads though

[Boosted LS1]

LOL, do I connect a battery lead to each leg? That should get it on it's feet sharpish.

[skeggysteve]

RSPCA

24 hour Cruelty and Advice line 0300 1234 999

BTW I have no idea how much calling a 0300 number costs!

[Boosted LS1]

Thank you Steve, I'll check that number tomorrow but to be honest I gave up on the rspca years ago. They became automated and political. Still, it's worth a try.

[Shaolin]

Just in case it's a sad outcome:

http://www.godecookery.com/nboke/nboke23.htm

[skeggysteve]

Boosted LS1 said:

Thank you Steve, I'll check that number tomorrow but to be honest I gave up on the rspca years ago. They became automated and political. Still, it's worth a try.

Know what you mean but most of the people that do the 'real' work are still very dedicated - have had recent experience and only with a baby song thrush - they were willing to come out at this sort of time if we really needed them.

[Boosted LS1]

^ I'll get some more rainbow trout into him first, he's a bit on the scrawny side.

[edwardsje]

Boosted LS1 said:

^ I'll get some more rainbow trout into him first, he's a bit on the scrawny side.

You do realise that the b*gger will never leave if you keep stuffing trout down its gullet?

[5 wh]

Your local police station should have the names and numbers of local organisations who can help FOC.I live next to a lake with ducks,geese,swans etc and whenever we have seen a bird in distress(feathered kind of course!)they have always given us a number to call(It seems local authorities have different vets on call for these kind of events)

[Boosted LS1]

^ I've got dogs, he'll leave assuming he makes a recovery.

[otolith]

Google for bird sanctuaries in your area and give them a ring.

[Boosted LS1]

Well the really good news is that my vet will take a look at it at 10.10 today.

The birds bright eyed and feeding willingly this morning so certainly better then yesterday. I hope his leg is ok otherwise it's probably going to be euthanasia for him. Still, rather a quick death with a belly full of trout instead of dying from cold and starvation.

[edwardsje]

...so I tune in for the latest edition of Heronwatch.

Has young heron gone to the heronry in the sky?

[Boosted LS1]

^ Afraid so. He had two broken legs so got the big needle which was a real pity seeing as he had a full meal this morning.

I'd like to have helped him but a heron with damaged legs will never return to the wild. I found out that he can't have been where I found him for more then 10 minutes. How he got there, I'll never know. I can only guess he did a long glide after some sort of an airborne collision