Help Sammy :(

I found a little tiny bird that fell out of its nest I think. I think it's sick or something and I could see the momma bird flying around trying to get to it I think, but I don't know where the nest is so I can't take Sammy back there... !!! I made some rice to try and feed it but it wouldn't eat it. I'm afraid to hand feed it anything because it might not be able to digest what I give it ... I don't know what to do now, poor Sammy :( I've left it outside hoping maybe momma bird will come and somehow carry Sammy back to his nest, but I don't think it can ...

I remember studying at school that usually baby birds leave the nest even when they can't fly, but their parents will still take care of them... but I'm not sure about this bird because it looks really sick and I found it in an open place with no trees or buildings or nests or anything. I think maybe I should leave it where I found it but Im afraid a cat will come and eat it or something ... Does anyone have any ideas?

Spoiler:

Just throw it in the bin.

Its mother wont help it when it has been touched by a human :/
Just put it in a basket with some nice wool or something and try to feed it with worms or something *Shrug*

Antle/Línn wrote:Its mother wont help it when it has been touched by a human :/

Most birds don't have a sense of smell. That's a very common misconception. I'm 99% sure and I hope I'm right. If I'm wrong and you're right then oh my god, poor Sammy!!!!! :(

And thanks, Antle. I'm making a little house for it in a shoe-box now anyways, and I lined it with paper towels. A friend of mine also told me I should feed it dog food or something?

Paragus wrote:Just throw it in the bin.

Pretty sure he already tried it.

Baby birds that fall from a tree are more often than not, doomed. I'm sorry to say that, if it upsets you, but it's nature. And perfectly "normal".

Telling what bird it is from a non-fledged chick is very hard. Do you have a picture of its parent? Regardless the bird would probably be eating a soup of partially digested grubs and insects poured lovingly into its mouth by mum/dad. Rice will probably make the birds stomach explode if eaten anyway, as the thing probably can't break down the starch/sugars nor poop properly.

I think maybe you'd be better of returning it. Though now you've handled it, sadly, it probably won't be "taken back" by it's parent (who was probably flying round to scare you away from it's nest!). It's not just about smell, though smell does matter (like you say it's a misconception, but does effect new born animals, including birds).

It's probably more "humane" to break its neck to be fair (simply done, if not really pleasant). If you don't want it to starve/get nibbled/played with by some passing feline or even other bird.

And, you at least tried. That's nice. I think. But in the case of wildlife, usually not the right course - unless you're prepared for some "shitty" choices/consequences or don't mind "stepping in" and "taking over".

My suggestion really would be to kill it I'm afraid. Returning it, now, wouldn't give it any chance of survival.

But I'm not Bill Oddie, maybe I'm wrong (though I was in the RSPB!).

grufftoof wrote:Baby birds that fall from a tree are more often than not, doomed. I'm sorry to say that, if it upsets you, but it's nature. And perfectly "normal".

That's my experience as well sadly They're too young to survive without their mom. I learned that the hard way. I agree with Gruff's post in general.

I don't think it's a baby chick, because it was hopping around and flapping its wings. And no, I don't have a picture of its parents anywhere - I have no idea what bird it is.

I didn't handle it for very long though, and I left it where I found it. I just went back to it and I think I saw momma bird next to it, but I'm not sure .

Anyways, thanks so much, grufftoof!! I'm going to see what happens now, and I don't think I will snap its neck just yet, but thanks for the info!!!! I at least now know to not interfere in future.....

grufftoof wrote:Though now you've handled it, sadly, it probably won't be "taken back" by it's parent (who was probably flying round to scare you away from it's nest!). It's not just about smell, though smell does matter (like you say it's a misconception, but does effect new born animals, including birds).

Are you sure of that, by the way? Because I'm nearly absolutely positive that the momma bird will still take it back... I even checked the RSPB website(?).

I reared a crow to adulthood a while ago but it was a LOT more developed than than chick looks. The mix was kitten food, mushed up with egg and a few veggies. Stinks like hell and you have to feed them VERY regularly/often, hand feeding working best (My fingers were savaged for WEEKS but he did pick up an amazing habit of mimicking us during feedings and SHOUTING "NOMNOMNOM").

With the crow this was getting up every two hours through the night etc etc.

Unfortunately most likely it'll die

Kittrina wrote:I reared a crow to adulthood a while ago but it was a LOT more developed than than chick looks. The mix was kitten food, mushed up with egg and a few veggies. Stinks like hell and you have to feed them VERY regularly/often, hand feeding working best (My fingers were savaged for WEEKS but he did pick up an amazing habit of mimicking us during feedings and SHOUTING "NOMNOMNOM").

With the crow this was getting up every two hours through the night etc etc.

Unfortunately most likely it'll die

Wow. Thats commitment.

BUILD A NEST FOR IT.
ADD ANOTHER BUNCH OF BABY BIRDS.
RAISE BIRD ARMY

ok well after you clean and feed him then

Antle/Línn wrote:Its mother wont help it when it has been touched by a human :/

A myth. Its mother will take the birdy back, but not while humans are fussing over it. If you can see the general direction that mummy lives, leave the little darling under some cover nearby. It'll call her back and she'll come help.

Morinth wrote:
A myth. Its mother will take the birdy back, but not while humans are fussing over it. If you can see the general direction that mummy lives, leave the little darling under some cover nearby. It'll call her back and she'll come help.

Is that before or after the random cat jumps it? Yes, that has happened to me...*breaks down crying at the memory*

I'm the white, female version of Doctor Dolittle. o/ I've reared many lost baby animals that I've been certain won't survive without aid, but birds are generally clever. If birds died from being unable to fly, there'd be none left in the world. They ALWAYS fall out of their nests trying, but they get the jist of it eventually. Mummy will try and feed it from the ground if needs be. We get plenty of baby birds in the spring falling out of the barns on the farm this time of the year, and along the wooded path where I live.

I had a little sparrow once.. It fell from a tree in my garden, and the mother didn't care for it at all. It was way under-developed for flying and such, so as I saw it getting weaker and weaker, I brought it inside and fed it through a syringe without hte needle. The bigger kind of syringe though, not the tinsy tiny kind

As for the diet, I crushed catfood, added an egg and some olive oil and ran it through the blender. Read somewhere that that was a decent diet for baby birds. No idea if there's any truth to it though, but the lil' bugger seemed to like it, and within a few days he was back at health. ^^

Keep in mind though, like mentioned above, that a project like this will take a -lot- of time. You'll have to keep it warm and such, and feed it every 2 hours. My little sparrow (Named Jack, lol) just kept shivering and freezing no matter how many towels and blankets I wrapped it in, so in the end I put him inside a woolen mitt and made a nest for him in my cleavage. He seemed to approve of the bodyheat (or just the tits, god knows..) So I'd advice you to keep it close to your skin if you do choose to try and take care of it.

Remember though, it is a challenge, and it may well fail anyway. But in my opinion, it's worth a try.

Good luck!! <3

An incubator works We have one at home for sick puppies, etc.

But bare in mind that a bird you've hand reared will have no idea how to function once released. So prepare to keep a baby bird!

I once found a kitten which has been run over, I carried her to the local vets. She died through the net, but thankfully she was looked after. Not alone and cold.

I hope Sammy gets well!

Morinth wrote:An incubator works We have one at home for sick puppies, etc.

But bare in mind that a bird you've hand reared will have no idea how to function once released. So prepare to keep a baby bird!

Indeed, but unless you're like an animal-breeder or something, people don't usually have incubators at home

Nar'Gaya wrote:

Morinth wrote:An incubator works We have one at home for sick puppies, etc.

But bare in mind that a bird you've hand reared will have no idea how to function once released. So prepare to keep a baby bird!

Indeed, but unless you're like an animal-breeder or something, people don't usually have incubators at home

It was for plants! Works fer ickle animals too! Available at any decent garden centre!

I once found a sick baby bird as a child, me and my friends tried to care for it as best we could after we realised it had fallen from the nest and the mother wouldn't take it back.
At one point one of my friends Granddad called a vet, he said there wasn't really any proper options for our little birdie.....
Im not sure about the other options presented in this thread, but remember that even though it sounds really sad, sometimes just ending the little birds life may be the best option for it.
Good luck with whatever you do with it.

Yesterday, I ran to the grocery and I bought some cat and dog food and then some bird pellets. I grounded it all up together and I fed Sammy through a syringe. I had left him outside where I found him and then I realised it was probably a bad idea because cats come out at night and they might eat him ... so I ran outside to the spot where I found him, I fed him somewhere, I went back home, and then went to bed....

... for 3 hours. He woke me up and wouldn't shut up lol so I fed him some more and today morning, when I was about to go for my run, I took him outside and he was perched on my finger and he was flapping his wings. So I was moving my hand up and down and then he just flew away!!! It was so beautiful and I'm so happy I think he's some super bird or something (oh and I found a big version of Sammy, they're tiny little birds nearly as big as him)

I'm so happy yay thanks so much guys for all your help!!! <3

Aawwh that is so awesome, hun!!!! *sheds tears of joy* <3 I'm really really happy for both of you.
He probably just needed some time to get his head together after the fall and such. ^^ Yay!!

Shaelyssa wrote:
... for 3 hours. He woke me up and wouldn't shut up lol so I fed him some more and today morning, when I was about to go for my run, I took him outside and he was perched on my finger and he was flapping his wings. So I was moving my hand up and down and then he just flew away!!! It was so beautiful and I'm so happy I think he's some super bird or something (oh and I found a big version of Sammy, they're tiny little birds nearly as big as him)

*camera follows the flying little bird, showing his flight in slowmotion, "we are the champions" starts top lay in the background*

Kristeas Sunbinder wrote:
*camera follows the flying little bird, showing his flight in slowmotion, "we are the champions" starts top lay in the background*

*cat jumps out of nowhere and (mouth wide open) dives and swallows Sammy whole*

What?! Someone had to.

Fly Sammy, fly! (queue tears and photo montage of Sammy's memorable moments)

I'm glad the story has a "happy ending" though. Time will tell if he/she makes it. Sounds like Sammy was some kind of sparrow or finch maybe?