HELP Baby Sparrow

[rebbetzin]

Ok... this am I found a baby sparrow, Just geting a few feathers, most the body is naked. He/she fell from quite high, had a big cut on it's head, I cleaned it out and put the edges of the skng together with Super Glue.

He has been appily eating and pooping just fine all day...

But... now it appears to be constipated. I used a "formula" from a website. The main ingredient was dried dog food.

Do you think it is going to die? His tummy is all distended and he is not a happy camper at the moment!!

Anybody go any ideas?? I was hopeful he would live...

 

[kees]

Make sure that the sparrow is in a tissue box lined with tissues. There should be a heating pad underneath set to the lowest setting for warmth. You might consider mixing the ground dog food with some cooked egg yolk and some ground up shell also and warm water (boiled and cooled a bit). Then as you approach the bird, jiggle the box just as mom would do when landing on the nest. It should be fed every 40 minutes or hour for 14 hours a day.
It sounds like the bird is constipated. You can try holding it very gently in a bowl of warm water to loosen things up a bit. The chances are though that the bird won't make it. Sometimes the parents kick the birds out of the nest when they know that it won't survive. But you are doing a wonderful thing in trying to help it. At least it is a warm and safe place. Keep us updated.

 

[kees]

Just another note...birds don't show signs of illness unless they're really, really sick so that predators won't get them. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[nutmeggie]

Good luck!!

 

[redhen]

you can also feed wet cat food...but the main thing is keeping him warm..but not roasting..you can thin the cat food with some water..just a little.(it should not be runny).and let him bob his head to eat the food..put the spoon at the tip if his beak..and if he wont bob his head to take it..take his beak gently in your fingers and bob his head just a little bit to stimulate his natural feeding reflex...but never force food in a babys mouth..they asperiate sooo easy...if you have to syringe feed him..i'll try to explain which side of his beak to go in on..etc...let me know..also..maybe..warm any thing you try to feed him just a bit..so its warm like coming from mom...cold food can also impact a crop..but i'm not to sure of wild birds..just some ideas..that i hope help you...best wishes..Wendy

 

[rebbetzin]

On the website I read today... It said to keep birds with pin feathers at about 85 degrees. He has some feathers on his wings and head, and down his back, they are just poking out of the skin though...

I rigged up an icubator from a lamp and I have him in a basket under the lamp... and the thermometer reads about 85...

I carefully massaged his tummy, and he pooped quite a bit... now he is a bit tired, and isn't very hungry.. but it is now 9:30pm here, so maybe he doesn't need to eat all night long.

I think I will just let him be for the time being and unless he begins to act hungry, since his little belly seems kind of full still. But it doesn't look as "swollen up" as it did a while ago.

It is a longshot that he can live, I knew that when I picked him up... but, I just couldn't bring myself to just let him die all cold and cut up. He was happy most of the day!!!

 

[redhen]

his crop should almost empty out in between each feeding so the crop dosent get impacted..i think...thats the way it is for parrots and such..but wild birds may be differant....thats good his belly went down some..;o)..Wendy

 

[rebbetzin]

The lamp has foil on it to help direct the heat downward. (anyhow that was my thinking on it...)

He is sleeping now. I just talked to a friend of mine that for years hand raised "pet" birds.

She said wild birds are not easy.

 

[rebbetzin]

His crop is empty, and all day everything was going really well. My friend (the bird keeper) said to thin down the food and make sure it is a bit warm.

I think I will set the food in a bit of hot water to keep it warm... just like those old fashioned baby dishes!

 

[redhen]

yes...thats the best way to warm baby bird food...in a hot water bath..yeah..i have also heard that wild birds are not easy also...poor little guy!..did they say how often to feed him?..wendy