Anyone Know How To Help Hurt Baby Birds?

I know the rule of thumb is to interfere as little as possible with wild birds, but the kids didn't know that. Yesterday evening two of the neighborhood kids brought us a hurt baby bird that they found in someone's yard. Sine it's not my yard, nor do I know the people that live there, I was unable to try to locate the nest and place this sweet baby bird back in there.

We now have him here and are trying to care for it. As far as we are able to tell, it has a hurt foot (not putting pressure on it kinda doesn't use it at all and it's redder than the other) and possibly the wing on the same side is hurt. Otherwise it's alert and seems okay.

These photos were from last night. We blended bird food into a paste for it to eat.

We woke 2 hours ago to hear the bird chirping. It's been chirping since. There's a storm rolling in, so I plan to get some worms as soon as the rain falls and they are out. Anyone know what we can do to assure this little one makes it?

More photos from this morning.

The foot we think is hurt.

Photos of underside and belly.

Photos of the bad leg. It seems there's dried blood around it. It's undoubtedly hurt. :(

Underside of wing that also may be hurt.

There's a video here of it and another here of it chirping.

I've posted this to all the bird groups I have here. If it's not fitting, feel free to remove it, just hoping someone can help. :(

Comments: 38

Angela M. May 25, 2010, 10:31am UTC

are you sure there is no nesting material anywhere wrapped around the leg?

Angela M. May 25, 2010, 10:36am UTC

can you get a better shot of the leg?

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:05pm UTC

I'll check now and try to get a better shot of it.

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:26pm UTC

Okay, I got more shots. The best he'll let me get. He kinda hops around when I try to get photos of it.

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Debra H. May 25, 2010, 10:33am UTC

Try feeding it a little sugar water with an eyedropper every few hours until you can call a vet and ask for suggestions. It might be easier to get worms from a bait and tackle shop too, you will need to cut them in half and use tweezers to feed. Be aware most birds this small usually won't make it its going to take lots of TLC.

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:27pm UTC

Thank you Debra we'll try that now.

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:27pm UTC

I warned all 3 kids that he night not make it, but promised we'd do our best to help it.

Debra H. May 25, 2010, 12:30pm UTC

Good deal - also try not to handle the baby bird any more than you have to - they are very fragile inside and most of them die from too much well intentioned handling.

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:32pm UTC

Yes, we are handling as little as possible. I figured that more than that risked more injury/stress and neither will help this little one along.

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Cathi L. May 25, 2010, 10:37am UTC

Jennifer, can you describe the feet? Are there two toes front, two toes back? Three front, one back? And what color? Also, is the underbelly lighter than the back? It seems it is from the pictures but it would help to know for sure.

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:28pm UTC

I got some more photos of the underside and bad foot. Not sure they help. He was chirping away in my hands, so I think he must not have been terribly upset at the extra photos and handling.

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Cathi L. May 25, 2010, 10:38am UTC

Plus, it looks like down covering the head and back. Is it? Or is it feathers? Can you see any skin just by looking at it?

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:06pm UTC

The underside is pretty bare he's feathered but still has bare patches of skin and downy feathers. Lemme try to get some better photos of him without getting it too stressed.

Cathi L. May 25, 2010, 12:13pm UTC

Yeah, I'd agree the less handling the better. This is one of the problems with cleaning birds from the oil spill. Many don't survive more than 7 days after being cleaned because of the stress.

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:28pm UTC

Yes, they get terribly stressed. It's so sad, too once cleaned they have such a good chance at life.

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Cathi L. May 25, 2010, 10:41am UTC

I think you might be right about House Sparrow.

Cathi L. May 25, 2010, 10:44am UTC

If so, check this site:

Baby Starling & Sparrow Care

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:29pm UTC

Thank you for all your help, Cathi!

Cathi L. May 25, 2010, 12:32pm UTC

Definitely my pleasure. :)

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The original comment in this thread has been deleted by its author.

Jennifer Neff May 25, 2010, 12:30pm UTC

It rained a tiny bit earlier. I actually had to go offline as it was a thunderstorm.

I think he's a sparrow. There's only a cat/dog vet here in town. There's a small animal one about 30 miles out where we took our degus and guinea pig. We can call there. Thanks!

Stephanie S. May 25, 2010, 9:20pm UTC

Cute little guy. Looks like a house sparrow. Very tiny. It looks like he is pretty roughed up. Deffinetly have to try and get water and food into him. Use a dropper as was already stated. I fed the duckling I had here bread. Maybe not the best thing. But it was something..

Jennifer Neff May 26, 2010, 6:18pm UTC

He did seem pretty roughed up. Poor little thing. He reused all food and water we had no matter how we tried to coax him to eat.

We just aren't his mommy, and he knew that. :(

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Stephanie S. May 25, 2010, 9:23pm UTC

Thanks so much for posting this to Cheerful Chickadees and Their Feathered Friends

Cheery Chickadees

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Stephanie S. May 25, 2010, 9:23pm UTC

Now featured at Cheerful Chickadees

Wish you luck with with the little guy

Jennifer Neff May 30, 2010, 11:27pm UTC

Thank you

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Cathi L. May 26, 2010, 2:05pm UTC

Hope he's doing well today!

Jennifer Neff May 26, 2010, 6:19pm UTC

Sadly, he sang to us all morning yesterday, and passed in the early afternoon. We are so saddened that he didn't pull through. I guess there's points where we as humans cannot do what the bird mommies can.

Poor little baby. We gave it our best shot.

Cathi L. May 26, 2010, 7:04pm UTC

You did the best you could. You searched for information, for the right information, but you were already alerted that it would be an uphill battle. Bless your heart for trying. I can only suggest you either leave his little body where it will nourish another animal or bury it where it will nourish a plant. Then his little life cycle will be complete. And remember the precious short time he spent with you. All life is precious. :)

Jennifer Neff May 26, 2010, 9:32pm UTC

Yes, all life is very precious. Gideon has asked that we bury it with our own furry pets that have passed on. We've dine just that. Still miss hearing his beautiful songs. :(

Cathi L. May 26, 2010, 9:33pm UTC

Then I'm sure his spirit is in good company. Gideon sounds like a wise young man.

Jennifer Neff May 26, 2010, 9:36pm UTC

Yes, I'm sure it is. He rests with a hamster, guinea pig and mouse. Gideon is wise and very kind hearted especially when animals are concerned. It hit us both hard that the little one didn't make it, but I did try to prepare him for the worst just in case.

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Kat W. May 26, 2010, 11:05pm UTC

Poor little fella. It's so sad when they don't make it.

Jennifer Neff May 28, 2010, 5:12pm UTC

It truly is. I was hoping for the best but preparing the kids for the worst. They ranged from age 7-10

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Angela M. May 28, 2010, 4:43pm UTC

I dont think anyone could have done much for him, sad he didnt make it

Jennifer Neff May 28, 2010, 5:12pm UTC

Unfortunately you are probably right. My heart sank when the rehabilitator said if he had a broken foot that it was very bad. I was hoping for a more positive outlook for him.

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Debbie W. May 30, 2010, 11:14pm UTC

I hand raised a cardinal from the time it had less feathers than that little guy. I found it in my pool.
I bought some stuff at the pet store for baby birds.I can't remember what it was called, but it's made for baby birds. You mix it with a little bit of water. Kind of a mush-cornmeal looking stuff.
I would try to see if it will eat on it's own. Mine did after a few days then I introduced wild bird seed.-NO DAIRY!! Birds don't have boobs for a reason. They can't digest dairy.
I would put the food in a little lid, something like a flat butter bowl lid. It will make a mess, but it's the only way to see if it will eat on it's own. I also fed mine by hand my placing the food between my thumb and pointer finder (mocks mamas beak)
I'm not sure of the injuries, but it may have been attacked by another animal. Best solution is to see if there's any wildlife sanctuaries in your area.

Jennifer Neff May 30, 2010, 11:29pm UTC

Thank you Debbie. I called a sanctuary more than 80 miles away and she warned that broken legs are bad news. My heart sank at that point.

I'm so glad you had success with your method. I fear a cat got him. There are cats at that house and I'm pretty sure that might be what harmed him

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Debbie W. May 30, 2010, 11:18pm UTC

So sorry, I just read the other posts.

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Anyone Know How To Help Hurt Baby Birds?

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