Baby sparrow

[kellyrae]

This evening my daughter and I rescued a baby sparrow with a broken wing. It was hopping around in the street and almost got run over (I covered my daughters eyes because I thought for sure it was going to get hit). But, it didn't so she ran out and caught it. We put it in a little container that I've used for handfed babies and gave it some water and seed. But, now I'm not sure if it can eat seed or not. Does anyone have any idea what sparrows eat, and how I would know if it's weaned or not?

I'm going to bring it in tomorrow to our nature center. They take care of sick and hurt wild animals. Hope it makes it til tomorrow though.
Kelly

[cadria]

Hmmmmm....sparrows do eat seed, although I am not sure if babies do..actually, they should (just thinking of seeing baby sparrows being fed at our bird feeder). As for being weaned, good question. I would think if he was hopping around....??

Keep him warm and maybe if you have something like oatmeal or red river cereal try that. If you have some millet, I bet he would really enjoy that. It is an 'easy to eat' seed. But definitely the warmth and quiet is key when birds are hurt.

Let us know what happens.

[kellyrae]

Hmmmmm....sparrows do eat seed, although I am not sure if babies do..actually, they should (just thinking of seeing baby sparrows being fed at our bird feeder). As for being weaned, good question. I would think if he was hopping around....??

Keep him warm and maybe if you have something like oatmeal or red river cereal try that. If you have some millet, I bet he would really enjoy that. It is an 'easy to eat' seed. But definitely the warmth and quiet is key when birds are hurt.

Let us know what happens.

OH yea, good thought with the millet. I'm going to check him right now and I'll put a spray in. He's so tiny and cute! I'll let you know how he does. Thanks!

[cadria]

Oh I sure do hope he will be okay. *fingers crossed*

[Lovebirdfan]

Keep it in a shoebox for now, with air holes poked on the sides of the box and on top. Add some grass inside and keep it in a warm, dark and quiet spot.

http://www.lafeber.com/Products/feed...structions.asp

Wild birds should begin showing interest in their surroundings and start to eat on their own by 15 days. Provide live food (meal worms) and grass, twigs, etc. in the 'nest' to stimulate interest in the environment. Spreading seed on the bottom of the nest will also encourage the bird to eat on its own.

During the weaning period, it is critical to keep a close watch on the bird in order that good nutrition is maintained. Many times, a bird may be pecking at seed, giving the impression that it is eating, when in actuality, it is not taking in enough for maintenance. Therefore, it is very important to observe if the bird is eating seed during this period and regularly check the crop for fullness.

[Budgie_Mama]

I'd say take some millet seeds off of the stick and soak them to make it soft for it. If it's THAT young.

[Edd]

im sorry though, to say that the poor baby will not last that long without its mother, the babies are used to the mother regurgitatiing food into their mouths or possibly getting some insects, so i would say that feeding it special baby food, with a siringe is the best idea, Or if you prefer, buy some worms and see what he thinks.

But dont have your hopes high, without his mother, and with a broken wing he thinks he (the baby) thinks he is so vulnerable he could easily die of shock. Realisticly there is a slim chance he will live, but just do all you can for him and if he is gona go out with you try making his last few days pleasureable. But who knows hopefully he will live, good luck

[Budgie_Mama]

Edd: I found two baby Doves a long time ago and raised them on worms. And doves don't even eat worms. After I'd raised them I took them to an Aviary in a rest home where they had other doves and pigeons and such in some room.

So there is hope that it'll live.

[kurusui]

Edd: My dad has raised a baby rook that we found once, Ralph was so cute. Lol.

And a lot of people raise baby birds on here without the mums, so theres a good chance that it could be ok Lets all keep our fingers crossed

[kellyrae]

Baby Sparrow didn't make it. I'm not sure he was able to eat on his own and his wing was really broke. We tried.

Thanks for the positive thoughts though. I tried everything but hand feeding it. I think he was in shock. Bummer...

Kelly

[BirdBreeder1990]

poor baby

well now he is flying 24/7

[cadria]

Aww..sorry to hear that he didn't make it. Sometimes the trauma is enough to kill a bird. You tried and that is more than some people would do.

[pretty]

i rescued a few baby sparrows earlier this year <3
they saddly died but were so cute

[rachellee123]

Oh, how sad. I rescued a baby grackle earlier this year that had been hit by a car. His leg was completely broken and I think his jaw was damaged because he never seemed to be able to fully close his mouth. I took him to the Virginia Wildlife Center not far from here the same day I found him, but when I called to check on him a couple of days later, they said that he was so badly injured that they had to euthanize him. I was so sad, but at least he wasn't suffering anymore. I just couldn't leave him on the side of the road to die or get eaten by an animal.

[boomer girl]

I will save sick birds if I can get them and we take them to the local wildlife rescue where they do try hard to save them. A few years back we brought them a Grosbeak that crashed into our back window and was having seizures. A few days after the girl sent me a picture of the little baby and he looked great and was even perching, it made me cry that this tiny baby actually was saved and could hopefully live out his life as a normal bird. No doubt it would have died if we didnt take it to the rescue.

[Birdmanca]

Bring the bird to a wild bird center as soon as possible. They know best how to care for birds that are not pet birds. By the picture the bird looks like it has sense enough to survive. It just has a determined look to it.

[ArticunoGail]

I resued a sick pigeon once, took it to a vet's that knew specialists in looking after inured or orphaned wild birds who would release them once well, but unfortunatrely he was toobadly injured and they had to pt him down..this was where I lived before I dpo now, many years ago.

Last year I saw a very sick-looking pigeon, sitting on the ground and fluffed up, it didn't move even if you stood next to it. I looked at it, I cpuldn't see any signs of physical injury and debated trying to pick it up and take it somwhere, but this was when the bird flu epidemic was in full swing and an infected swan was found in Britain, and a few turkey farms near where i live became infected. The Ravens at the Tower of London were kept inside for safety's sake. If I hadn't had my fids, I would have taken it to a vets, but I didn't want to risk exposing myself (and thus my birds) to bird flu. It wasn't me I was worried about, it was them.

Kelly, you tried, and gave it a chance. It would have had zero chance had you left it. You did the best you could but unfortunately it wasn't to be. No-one can do better than their best. Please don't feel too bad, at least you tried. Good for you.

ArticunoGail

[nyde14]

DO NOT FEED HIM MILLET SPRAY THEY DON'T EAT SEED THEIR MORE INSECT EATING BIRDS. Feed him soaked dog or cat food in water mushed up with some liquid bird vitamens. Keep him warm under a heating pad on low during the night. A cardboard box should be suitable. He is a fledgling so don't get him too used to humans because he needs to go back into the wild. D NOT FEED HIM WATER as he can aspirate and die. Try to get him to a rehabilitaor within the next few days.

[victoria stiles]

Oh it is very sad to know about the birds. They are very small and not enough to deal with major injuries.