Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
When you find an injured bird or one that appears ill, determine what kind of bird it is and examine it for apparent injuries. Never bring an injured bird into a house with other animals. Keep the bird isolated until the sickness can be identified.
Step2
Broken wing or leg:
Depending on the type of bird, a broken wing or leg can mean the end of their life in the wild. Broken bones may be indicated by a leg or foot twisted out of proper position or a drooping wing held at an odd angle. Never try to set or manipulate a bone yourself because you may do more harm than good. Birds can suffer from shock as a result of an injury or being handled by a human. The treatment for shock is quiet, isolation and warmth.
Step3
Leave the injured bird alone for 30 minutes to three hours to get used to its surroundings if it is not seriously injured. It is not necessary to feed a bird the moment you get it unless it is obviously dehydrated or starving.
Step4
Toenails or talons!
A bird can bleed to death as a result of a broken toenail. If bleeding is profuse apply Monsel's salts (available at a vet supply). This generally stops the bleeding. When bleeding is less, just place a gauze pad over the wound and apply pressure for up to 10 minutes. If the bleeding is from a large vein get the bird to a vet as soon as possible, while applying pressure to the wound.
Step5
The basic needs of a sick or hurt bird is warmth and isolation. Normal temperature of a bird is between 102 to 103 degrees. When a bird is sick their temperature drops. Keep birds out of drafts and place a heating pad on low setting under one end of the cage. Or you can clamp a 25 watt bulb directly over one end of the cage. Remove all perches from the cage so the bird doesn't injure itself on them.
Step6
Examining a bird!
Handle the carefully, but don't be afraid. Don’t' ever squeeze a bird. Always move slowly and speak softly to reassure it. Use gloves when handling any bird with a long sharp bill or talons.
Step7
Silly Birds!
A number of birds knock themselves unconscious by flying into picture windows. They need to be placed in a cage with a little food and water. Keep them quiet! They may come around in 2 to 48 hours!
Step8
Poisons:
Sometimes a bird will not have any visible injuries, but other symptoms such as paralyzed legs, thin emaciated body, tremors, and greenish droppings! This bird may have been poisoned. Keep them warm and quiet, and give them a Gatorade solution to drink. They do not always survive!
Step9
Capture:
A long-handled (6-10 feet long) net and gloves are essential in capturing large hurt birds. Smaller birds can be captured with a fine-meshed net with a 3 to 4 feet long handle. Long-billed birds like herons will go for the eyes! Be prepared! You can use a cardboard box to transport large and small birds, but make sure you place small air holes in the box. Grasp the bill of large or long-necked birds to avoid injury to yourself.
Birds in the wild!
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Comments
wildliferehab said
on 7/8/2008 All native birds in the United States are illegal to possess even if they are injured. Try searching for a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area and get the bird to them as soon as possible.
"It is not necessary to feed a bird the moment you get it unless it is obviously dehydrated or starving." NEVER give food or water to an injured bird. This will cause additional harm. Feeding a "starving" bird is giving them a death sentence. Some birds can not tolerate being fed and their body shuts down trying to process the food. The fluids when given incorrectly are poured directly into their lungs and shouldn't be done by someone who isn't trained.
You can kill a bird like a heron by chasing it because most wildlife are prone to capture myopathy. Never attempt to capture a bird unless you have spoken to a wildlife professional about how to safely handle birds. Many people