The bird will generally take 4 to 6 hours to recover from shock if there are no other major medical issues or injuries sustained – if it doesn't – seek advice. While the bird is in shock, don't force it to eat or drink.
A stunned bird can die because it may be injured or is a prime target for predators. How long will a bird stay stunned? It can take around two to three hours for a stunned bird to fully recover and be able to fly off.
How to help a bird who has flown into a window. Gently cover and catch the bird with a towel and place her in a paper bag or cardboard box (with air holes) that is securely closed. Keep the bird in a quiet, warm, dark place, away from activity. Check on the bird every 30 minutes, but don't touch the bird.
Indications that a bird may be effectively stunned (but not killed): No rhythmic breathing (examine the bird's abdomen).
A stunned bird looks like it is limp and weak from the physical trauma. Cover the bird with a cloth to keep it warm and check on the bird every 20 minutes. Recovery time may take a few minutes and some may take up to 2-3 hours.
Keep the bird safe.
If the bird appears just to be stunned, put it in a safe, sheltered place. If possible, leave the bird in the area where the collision occurred, but if the area is not safe from predators or other hazards, put the bird in a small box or paper bag.
Keeping the bird in the dark helps reduce stress, and a source of heat can help with shock. You can wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and place it inside or next to the box, making sure the bird can get away from the heat if it wants to. If it begins to pant, remove the heat source immediately.
The bird will generally take 4 to 6 hours to recover from shock if there are no other major medical issues or injuries sustained – if it doesn't – seek advice. While the bird is in shock, don't force it to eat or drink.
It is really best not to interfere. The parents will be close by and come to feed the bird as soon as it is safe. If the bird is in a vulnerable position it will do no harm to move it into shelter but not too far away as the parents will then be unable to find it.
Birds go into shock very easily when injured, and often die from the shock. If a bird has hit a window and is still alive, it may just need a little time to regain its senses, then may be able to fly away. Do not try to force feed or give water to the bird.
What happens to birds that hit windows? Sadly, the bird often dies, even when it is only temporarily stunned and manages to fly away. Many times these birds die later from internal bleeding or bruising, especially on the brain. Daniel Klem of Muhlenberg College has researched this issue since the 1970s.
Birds of all shapes and sizes travel at speeds high enough that a window collision almost always proves fatal. Birds that survive immediate impact are stunned and often fall prey to predators, like domestic cats, soon after a collision.
Signs include seizures, ataxia, tremors, head tilt and blindness. Head trauma is common if the bird is free flying.
Home care treatment? None , there is no effective home treatment for shock , the best that can be done is put the bird into a travel cage , cover it so it's dark , keep the bird very warm at (30-32 degrees C/ 86-90 degrees F) and go to your veterinary office IMMEDIATELY!
Put it back in the nest if it doesn't have feathers
If the bird is very small and still featherless, you should place it back in its nest. If you can't find the nest, put the bird on a branch safely out of reach of dogs and cats.
Some birds can go into shock and can remain like that for several hours, which is why people often assume that they are dead, when they may not be. There is no exact time for a bird to stay in shock, as it depends on what has happened and the force at which they have hit or injured themselves.
The bird is either sick or injured and must be taken right away to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Important: For the bird to have the best chance of recovery and release, you must contact a rehabilitator right away and transport the songbird there immediately. Don't ever try to care for the bird yourself.
Concussions, fractures or lacerations can all occur with head injuries. Birds can often recover quickly from seemingly serious head injuries.
Most birds with minor concussions recover within an hour or two if they're going to recover at all. If blood or black spinal fluid is coming from the mouth, the bird is most likely fatally injured.
From transduction to transmission, modulation, projection, and perception, birds possess the neurologic components necessary to respond to painful stimuli and they likely perceive pain in a manner similar to mammals.
Brown, yellow, tarry, or black droppings indicate internal bleeding or other serious problems. If your bird's droppings are overly runny or too solid, there may be complications present.
Window strikes are among the top three human-related cause of bird deaths, along with cats and habitat destruction. Up to one billion birds die each year in the United States due to collisions with windows and research shows that 54-76 percent of window collisions are fatal.
An injured bird should always be passed onto a local vet, RSPCA in England and Wales, SSPCA in Scotland, USPCA in Northern Ireland or an independent rescue centre, so it can receive appropriate treatment without undue delay.
Check for Life. Even when a bird survives a strike, it is often stunned and may appear dead or injured. If it isn't immediately apparent whether a bird is dead or alive, you can find out by gently moving its legs, says Rita McMahon, director of Wild Bird Fund in New York City.