View Full Version : Baby Sparrow(s) Barely Alive.
TwinSquirrels
06-20-2013, 11:21 AM
Hey guys,
I got a nest of baby sparrows on my porch. When they first hatched I thought for sure there was about 4-5 of them. They've been doing good as far as I can tell until yesterday when my son and his friends said there was one on the hot porch twitching. He picked it up and had it in a towel and I instantly took it from him and eased it back into the nest. I can reach it by chair, not well enough to see inside but well enough to touch it.
A few hours later I saw another perching itself on the edge so I took a stick and nudged it back. However I don't know if that was it or not. I've tried not to touch it much but this morning well that got throwing out the window but this morning I checked and could only see one with its head bobbing around the nest. Now, I've been worried that the one that fell out was hurt or may have died and or fell out again. I just happened to look in the thick grass around my porch and there was another one (or the same one).
It's still alive and I cleaned of the ants. It's not moving but it's cold. I just put him on the heating pad in a blanket to warm him up. Not sure what to do.
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cnmnnaturalist
06-20-2013, 11:30 AM
It may have attempted to fledge or exercise and fell onto the hot porch and suffered heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Only time will tell if it starts coming around.
Dabbing water droplets along the side of it's beak is the way to give it water, but only if it attempts to take it. If it perks up and wants food, soaked kitten/cat food is best.
Unfortunately, some are just unwell to begin with.
TwinSquirrels
06-20-2013, 11:32 AM
Ok I checked the nest and took a picture and could tell there was 3 up in the nest. On looked dead so I reached up there and pulled it out. Yes it was rottening already. Just my actively near the nest got mommy and daddy squeaking at me. So this guy that I found is a new one.
It's still warming up but not moving so I think it's hurt. Any suggestions on what to do. Honestly I can't do a rehab of a bird, squirrels were my limit.
TwinSquirrels
06-20-2013, 11:33 AM
It may have attempted to fledge or exercise and fell onto the hot porch and suffered heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Only time will tell if it starts coming around.
Dabbing water droplets along the side of it's beak is the way to give it water, but only if it attempts to take it. If it perks up and wants food, soaked kitten/cat food is best.
Unfortunately, some are just unwell to begin with.
I'll try water. It's not old enough for to start flying it still has it baby fluff and half feather. I think the nest was small for 4 of them and got pushed.
CritterMom
06-20-2013, 11:59 AM
I believe, since these guys are seed eaters, that you could probably do a decent job finishing raising him with the parrot handfeeding formula sold at pet stores - a bunch of companies make it - Kaytee, Rowdybush, Lafaber, etc. It is a similar idea to the FV - a powder that is mixed with water to feed.
The plus is you will only have him a couple weeks and you don't have to feed them at night...
Be careful with the water. They don't drink water while in the nest - water comes from their food.
TwinSquirrels
06-20-2013, 12:07 PM
Ok.. well the water thing was a bust. I tried but its mouth is shut tight he won't open it and his eyes too. Looks deep in sleep. He is breathing not abnormal or heavy and when I stroke the head he does seem to slightly respond but relaxing its head back some, and I did get a peep once.
I think I'll keep him warm for a few hours and see if anything changes. I don't want to force its mouth open considering it might be hurt internally.
The nest now has two in there and I pulled out the dead one. Don't know if thats the guy from yesterday but it wasn't really old so I'm 90% sure it most likely is. So this guy must of been the other I pushed back into the nest a few times. The parents are still coming around for the other guys so there might be luck if this guy responds I can add him back.
CrazySquirrelLady
06-20-2013, 01:00 PM
stick him back in there he will do better in the nest than anywhere else, he is in shock, will get better in nest
TwinSquirrels
06-20-2013, 01:42 PM
stick him back in there he will do better in the nest than anywhere else, he is in shock, will get better in nest
Well I don't know if thats the best idea at this point I did that to his sibling yesterday and he died. I think this one is going to die too. I just checked on him and he used the restroom and is moving some but I think he is going to die.
The moving is not normal he is turning his head to one side and it's ticking or moving in a ticking motion as if he was bobbing his head to music, and his balance is off too. I think it took a nasty fall, although I found him in the grass it might of hit my porch on the way down.
CrazySquirrelLady
06-20-2013, 01:58 PM
well heck i would be trying to get away from that dead rotten bird in the nest tooo.
cnmnnaturalist
06-20-2013, 03:45 PM
The head bobbing/jerking movement is often sign of head trauma, showing dizziness and vertigo.
TwinSquirrels
06-20-2013, 04:00 PM
The head bobbing/jerking movement is often sign of head trauma, showing dizziness and vertigo.
Do you think it can recover than?
cnmnnaturalist
06-20-2013, 04:27 PM
I'm not an expert at all on bird medicine, but head trauma is often difficult to recover from, even in young animals. If it suffered head trauma, it may have also experienced other injuries to it's body such as broken bones, bruising and internal damage. Even a small bruise can eventually kill. Birds are generally very fragile due to their respiratory system.
TwinSquirrels
06-20-2013, 04:40 PM
I'm not an expert at all on bird medicine, but head trauma is often difficult to recover from, even in young animals. If it suffered head trauma, it may have also experienced other injuries to it's body such as broken bones, bruising and internal damage. Even a small bruise can eventually kill. Birds are generally very fragile due to their respiratory system.
Yeah I figured. :( I'll let you all know when it passes.
Starfish
06-20-2013, 04:48 PM
Not sure if any of these groups are useful for advice:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/BurgeBirdServices/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FLpetrescue/
https://m.facebook.com/#!/sandiego.birdrescue?ref=bookmark&__user=808720537
Grrr... Searching from my phone is painfiul and auto save just deleted some of results :-(
Starfish
06-20-2013, 04:54 PM
http://www.wildbirdcarecentre.org/english/rescuer.html
http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/help/sick/bird_rescue
http://www.crowsystems.com/rehab/babybird.html
http://theroamingnaturalist.com/2010/11/13/baby-birds-101/
http://nature.gardenweb.com/forums/bird/bird911.html
TwinSquirrels
06-21-2013, 08:12 PM
http://www.wildbirdcarecentre.org/english/rescuer.html
http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/help/sick/bird_rescue
http://www.crowsystems.com/rehab/babybird.html
http://theroamingnaturalist.com/2010/11/13/baby-birds-101/
http://nature.gardenweb.com/forums/bird/bird911.html
Thank you for all you help, all the stuff I read said if I can put him in the nest to do that and until keep it warm. I checked the nest today and he is dead. :( Two still kicking and well alive so lets hope they don't turn evil kinevil on me.
squirrelsrule&bunniestoo
06-21-2013, 08:38 PM
That little guy looked about ready to die, I don't think there was anything anyone could have done for him. Have you seen the parents feeding the other 2 in the nest? It seems like this may be an abandoned nest or something and the remaining babies may need help. For 2 to starve to death and look like that guy is not normal, something is wrong.
quagmire
06-21-2013, 08:41 PM
AAWWW! :-( So sorry to hear.
I've read in books that baby birds have almost a 90% mortality rate, which seemed amazing to me. We have found a few in our yard before and try to help. Most do not make it. Great that your are trying though. Some chance is better than no chance.
TwinSquirrels
06-23-2013, 08:12 PM
That little guy looked about ready to die, I don't think there was anything anyone could have done for him. Have you seen the parents feeding the other 2 in the nest? It seems like this may be an abandoned nest or something and the remaining babies may need help. For 2 to starve to death and look like that guy is not normal, something is wrong.
They weren't starving to death. The nest isn't big and as they grew I believe the nest was just crowded. As they moved about one got pushed out. Like the nursery rhyme, about falling out the bed and bumping your head". I'm sure one fell out and it did damage and when I put the first back the others trampled on it; since it didn't move around well. The second fell out, while the other 2 health and one dead/sick one was in so two got hurt, so it must of been still crowded I think.
Now the nest has lots of room. Mom and dad feed them daily and are with the nest each night. Just the luck of having a nest where falling from it isn't cushioned from grass but concrete. :(
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