Sick Bird - anything I can do?
Discussion
I found this little fella sitting on the bird feeder this morning. He/she had a little go at eating but since then seems to just sit there all huddled up. Mrs garyhun thinks there is a deformed beak and no other animals have come near the feeder since (it's normally a hive of bird and squirrel activity).
Is it a discarded baby from a nest and is it best to leave alone and let nature take it's course? I'm tempted to put it in a box in the garage and see what I can do but fear that's not the right thing to do.
Any advice welcome.
Cheers
Is it a discarded baby from a nest and is it best to leave alone and let nature take it's course? I'm tempted to put it in a box in the garage and see what I can do but fear that's not the right thing to do.
Any advice welcome.
Cheers
Reading the RSPB site there can be cases of salmonella so not keen to get involved until I know what's really happening with the little fella.
Just seen this 'Major salmonella outbreaks in the past have caused serious losses in wild birds and spread over wide areas of Britain. Flocking species, such as greenfinches and house sparrows, are most commonly affected. An infected bird is listless and lethargic, tends to stay close to feeders, fails to respond to danger and can be approached closely'
I'm pretty sure that's what we have here.
Just seen this 'Major salmonella outbreaks in the past have caused serious losses in wild birds and spread over wide areas of Britain. Flocking species, such as greenfinches and house sparrows, are most commonly affected. An infected bird is listless and lethargic, tends to stay close to feeders, fails to respond to danger and can be approached closely'
I'm pretty sure that's what we have here.
The best you can do is a shoebox stuffed with tissue with means to get out, a lot of young birds have been blown out of nests or downed by bad rain, they either make it or dont, thats nature im afraid
or take it to a vet
i picked up a swift the other day flapping about on the ground after rain, popped it on our porch roof out the way, not seen it since, maybe it made it
or take it to a vet
i picked up a swift the other day flapping about on the ground after rain, popped it on our porch roof out the way, not seen it since, maybe it made it
Went to get a box so I could take him to the vet but he'd already died. Went very quickly. Little green finch it was 
Looks like he had trichomonosis as the fluffed-up plumage and lethargy are exactly what this little fella had.
From he RSPB site:
a disease caused by a microscopic parasite has been reported in finches in gardens. Since then, outbreaks have been seen every year during the late summer and autumn.
They have been studied by the Garden Bird Health Initiative, of which the RSPB is part (see below). Greenfinch populations have been recorded dropping by a third, and chaffinch populations by a fifth in those parts of the country that suffer the most serious outbreaks.
What happens?
The trichomonad parasite lives in the upper digestive tract of the bird, and its actions progressively block the bird’s throat, making it unable to swallow food. The bird dies from starvation.
Birds with the disease show signs of general illness, for example lethargy and fluffed-up plumage, but affected birds may also drool saliva, regurgitate food, have difficulty in swallowing or show laboured breathing.
Finches are frequently seen to have matted, wet plumage around the face and beak, and uneaten food in and around the beak. In some cases, swelling of the neck may be seen from a distance.
Looks like he had trichomonosis as the fluffed-up plumage and lethargy are exactly what this little fella had.
From he RSPB site:
a disease caused by a microscopic parasite has been reported in finches in gardens. Since then, outbreaks have been seen every year during the late summer and autumn.
They have been studied by the Garden Bird Health Initiative, of which the RSPB is part (see below). Greenfinch populations have been recorded dropping by a third, and chaffinch populations by a fifth in those parts of the country that suffer the most serious outbreaks.
What happens?
The trichomonad parasite lives in the upper digestive tract of the bird, and its actions progressively block the bird’s throat, making it unable to swallow food. The bird dies from starvation.
Birds with the disease show signs of general illness, for example lethargy and fluffed-up plumage, but affected birds may also drool saliva, regurgitate food, have difficulty in swallowing or show laboured breathing.
Finches are frequently seen to have matted, wet plumage around the face and beak, and uneaten food in and around the beak. In some cases, swelling of the neck may be seen from a distance.
Sad to hear it died
We found a young Wood Pigeon (still had quite a few yellow feathers) last year that must have fallen from a nest, it survived for a few days with us but eventually died. We did contact the RSPB but apparently it is considered a pest and so they were not interested
We found a young Wood Pigeon (still had quite a few yellow feathers) last year that must have fallen from a nest, it survived for a few days with us but eventually died. We did contact the RSPB but apparently it is considered a pest and so they were not interested
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