Found an injured fledgling - robin?

[lennysmom]

We came home for lunch to find a fledging little birdie literally at our doorstep. The poor little one was just sitting there barely moving and upon closer inspection, we discovered that it wasn't opening one of its eyes and that there was a little bit of blood around the beak area visible. We have the fledgling in a little closed box with air holes and a piece of fleece in the bottom for now. I know of a bird rehabber that I have taken a couple of other birds to, but I won't be able to get the bird to her until after work today in three or four hours. There anything else that I need to do for this poor little one in the meantime? I do believe it's a robin.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Sample-Gallery/i-d4SmCLp/0/X2/image-X2.jpg

[TubeDriver]

Keep her in a quiet, warm cardboard box with plenty of ventilation. I probably would not do anything else (but I don't know much about birds) and just get them to the bird rehabber as quick as possible.:great

We found a little Robin even smaller than yours and a local bird rehabber raised her and released her, she even sent us a picture before she was released.

I hope it will be alright!







We came home for lunch to find a fledging little birdie literally at our doorstep. The poor little one was just sitting there barely moving and upon closer inspection, we discovered that it wasn't opening one of its eyes and that there was a little bit of blood around the beak area visible. We have the fledgling in a little closed box with air holes and a piece of fleece in the bottom for now. I know of a bird rehabber that I have taken a couple of other birds to, but I won't be able to get the bird to her until after work today in three or four hours. There anything else that I need to do for this poor little one in the meantime? I do believe it's a robin.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Sample-Gallery/i-d4SmCLp/0/X2/image-X2.jpg

[Nancy in New York]

Yes thats a robin.
Put a heating pad on low under the container.
Get some DRY cat food and soak it with hot water.
Let it get really moist.
Take a tweezer and from about a foot away, try to show
the baby that you have food and then hopefully he will open
his mouth. Shove it down gently....meaning don't just put it in,
he needs you to go back about 1/2 inch into their mouth.
Typically they open up fairly wide, but it may take some coaxing.
It seems like once you get the tweezers there with the food, the
mouth shuts.:tap
You can dip the moistened food quickly in water, (just so it has a couple
of drops on,) and try again. It seems if they feel something on their closed
beak like a drop of water, they are encouraged to open their mouth again.
Once they get the hang of eating, they are easy.
But it must be done every 20-30 minutes until dusk. :eek

EDIT: When you picked him up, did you hear any rukus?
If the parents were around, they would be swooping down and
causing a racquet. IF you heard or saw this, perhaps you can
try putting him back. :dono

IF you hae live mealworms that will work as well! :)

[lennysmom]

Yes thats a robin.
Put a heating pad on low under the container.
Get some DRY cat food and soak it with hot water.
Let it get really moist.
Take a tweezer and from about a foot away, try to show
the baby that you have food and then hopefully he will open
his mouth. Shove it down gently....meaning don't just put it in,
he needs you to go back about 1/2 inch into their mouth.
Typically they open up fairly wide, but it may take some coaxing.
It seems like once you get the tweezers there with the food, the
mouth shuts.:tap
You can dip the moistened food quickly in water, (just so it has a couple
of drops on,) and try again. It seems if they feel something on their closed
beak like a drop of water, they are encouraged to open their mouth again.
Once they get the hang of eating, they are easy.
But it must be done every 20-30 minutes until dusk. :eek

EDIT: When you picked him up, did you hear any rukus?
If the parents were around, they would be swooping down and
causing a racquet. IF you heard or saw this, perhaps you can
try putting him back. :dono

IF you hae live mealworms that will work as well! :)

Thank you Nancy. No ruckus - only thing I heard where the cardinals coming up to us because they wanted food. I think the little one is injured and may need vet attention. Blood around beak and one eye won't open.:(

[Nancy in New York]

Thank you Nancy. No ruckus - only thing I heard where the cardinals coming up to us because they wanted food. I think the little one is injured and may need vet attention. Blood around beak and one eye won't open.:(

Can you see a hairline crack in the beak?
Does the eye look moist or bloody.
I suspect no blood since you didn't mention it.
Try taking a warm moist cotton ball and dapping the eye.
Don't rub, just do light "compresses" on it, to see if it may open.

[lennysmom]

Can you see a hairline crack in the beak?
Does the eye look moist or bloody.
I suspect no blood since you didn't mention it.
Try taking a warm moist cotton ball and dapping the eye.
Don't rub, just do light "compresses" on it, to see if it may open.

I didn't see any obvious cracks in the beak. Does the beak of a robin normally look a little red inside? Around the edges of her beak, I saw some red looking like blood.
Dustin thinks there might be a scratch on her head too.

Unfortunately, I had to leave the little one to go back to work.. late. Little robin is scared, but seems to be hopping around ok.
Robin is warm and safe in our mud room in a ventilated box where the dog can't get to it. As soon as I get home I will try the warm moist cotton ball on the eye and try to examine a bit better. I don't want to take robin to a bird rehabber if she can be reunited back with her family.

Edit: forgot to answer about the eye - did not look moist that I could tell or bloody.

[Nancy in New York]

I didn't see any obvious cracks in the beak. Does the beak of a robin normally look a little red inside? Around the edges of her beak, I saw some red looking like blood.
Dustin thinks there might be a scratch on her head too.

Unfortunately, I had to leave the little one to go back to work.. late. Little robin is scared, but seems to be hopping around ok.
Robin is warm and safe in our mud room in a ventilated box where the dog can't get to it. As soon as I get home I will try the warm moist cotton ball on the eye and try to examine a bit better. I don't want to take robin to a bird rehabber if she can be reunited back with her family.

Edit: forgot to answer about the eye - did not look moist that I could tell or bloody.

To be honest I forget what the beak looks like, but I do believe there is red around. :thinking
I DO know that when they are younger their little mouth/beak is curled at the ends almost like
their smiling.:grin2
This one also has no 'Hair dos" The little baby feathers that stick out when they are younger.

Almost forgot, do NOT give any water or fluid by mouth. The dried cat food SOAKED in hot water
is enough. It is easy to aspirate a bird.

Here's a video that looks to be about the same size as yours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyBJgVeL0FQ

Here's one where she's feeding with a tweezers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCdzhkzRu_4

[lennysmom]

To be honest I forget what the beak looks like, but I do believe there is red around. :thinking
I DO know that when they are younger their little mouth/beak is curled at the ends almost like
their smiling.:grin2
This one also has no 'Hair dos" The little baby feathers that stick out when they are younger.

Almost forgot, do NOT give any water or fluid by mouth. The dried cat food SOAKED in hot water
is enough. It is easy to aspirate a bird.

Here's a video that looks to be about the same size as yours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyBJgVeL0FQ

Here's one where she's feeding with a tweezers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCdzhkzRu_4


Thanks for the videos Nancy - she's defiantly injured though - saw some blood and an injury just below her neck and a scratch on the side of her head.
Not sure if you can see it in this pic or not.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Sample-Gallery/i-KrXPKmW/0/X2/image-X2.jpg

I'm attempting to feed her now and then I guess she does indeed need to go to the bird rehabber. :(

[Nancy in New York]

Thanks for the videos Nancy - she's defiantly injured though - saw some blood and an injury just below her neck and a scratch on the side of her head.
Not sure if you can see it in this pic or not.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Sample-Gallery/i-KrXPKmW/0/X2/image-X2.jpg

I'm attempting to feed her now and then I guess she does indeed need to go to the bird rehabber. :(

Geez lennysmom, now I worry about a cat scratch or something.
Check her really good for puncture wounds. You may have to
blow into her feathers to seperate them. Also look for any type
of shine in her feathers, that may indicate a weeping wound.
Also, sniff around her neck and head area.
Wounds can really hide well in feathers.
Drop a little water from your finger, on the side of her beak to see if she will open.
Typically when they see the food they open their mouths, and
when they do so, act fast. :)

[lennysmom]

How soft does the cat food need to be? Like mush? I know she's hungry as she's finally chirping.

[Nancy in New York]

How soft does the cat food need to be? Like mush? I know she's hungry as she's finally chirping.

Not mush, but we don't want it hard and getting stuck in her throat.
Try a small piece of one first.
This is where I will typically dip it quickly in a cup of
water to barely get it wet again. I think it slides down
better, and they are getting hydration at the same time.
Remember to try to get it back far enough in her mouth. :)

[lennysmom]

Well, little Robin is in the hands of a bird rehabber now - she did confirm that the little one was injured and probably couldn't make it with its mama right now. I am glad we were able to intervene save her. But she did tell me little robin looked strong and would probably be fine in time.:) And I'm so glad we went too because she remembered us from last year when we brought her a badly injured chimney swift - I was so afraid that bird didn't make it, but she confirmed that it did live and was eventually released!!:dance I nearly cried with joy! Can't think of a better anniversary present for us.:Love_Icon

Thank you SO much Nancy for all the help and info:hug - next time I find a fledgling, I will already know how to feed it and what to look for.:thumbsup

[Nancy in New York]

Well, little Robin is in the hands of a bird rehabber now - she did confirm that the little one was injured and probably couldn't make it with its mama right now. I am glad we were able to intervene save her. But she did tell me little robin looked strong and would probably be fine in time.:) And I'm so glad we went too because she remembered us from last year when we brought her a badly injured chimney swift - I was so afraid that bird didn't make it, but she confirmed that it did live and was eventually released!!:dance I nearly cried with joy! Can't think of a better anniversary present for us.:Love_Icon

Thank you SO much Nancy for all the help and info:hug - next time I find a fledgling, I will already know how to feed it and what to look for.:thumbsup

Great update on your little one.
Glad there was a rehabber willing to help him.
Thank you for saving this little one's life.
He never could have made it without intervention. :hug