Do not try to force feed or give water to the bird. Take the bird outside and open the box every fifteen minutues to see if it is able to fly away. If it is still staying put after a few hours, you can try to find a local wildlife rehabilitator. Click here to locate a Wildlife Rehabilitator by county.
Birds that are in shock appear weak, unresponsive, fluffed up and breathe in slowly and out quickly. Place the bird in a quiet, semi-dark, warm, humid environment. Warmth is essential in getting birds through a state of shock – temperature should be between 25 and 30 degrees.
The following are indications that a bird may be sick or injured: The bird is quiet, dull, the eyes may be closed, and it has fluffed feathers (the bird looks “puffed up”). It may have an obvious wound, breathing problems, a drooping wing, or show lameness or an inability to stand. It does not fly away when approached.
If you have found a sick or injured bird it will need to see a vet before coming into care. If you are able to safely contain the bird, you can keep it in a quiet, dark, warm place e.g. wrapped in a towel in a ventilated box or carrier with a lid while you transport it to the nearest vet.
Depending on the severity of the impact, it may take just a few minutes or up to 2-3 hours for a bird to recover, and during that time it should be stimulated as little as possible.
Placing an ill or injured bird in a heated hospital enclosure or carrier, brooder, or incubator can literally save their life. The less energy a bird has to expend to maintain their body temperature, the more likely they are to recover.
Treatment of Paralysis in Birds
A change of diet and added supplements can help build up a weakened immune system or nutritional deficiency. Adding full spectrum lamps to provide healthy UVA and UVB rays during winter can help your bird.
Any songbird you find on the ground who is an adult, rather than a fledgling, and who does not immediately fly away from you is in need of help. The bird is either sick or injured and must be taken right away to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
The muscles in the legs and feet of dead birds will be stiff while birds that are just stunned will still have relaxed muscles in their feet and legs. Check the eyes. If you can see no blinking or movement in the bird's eyes, then it is probably dead. Dead birds will also have their eyes closed.
A dead bird looks like it has poor muscle tone will appear stiff and is cold to touch. 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.
Hovering Flight. Some birds, such as kestrels, remain motionless "wind hovering" above a point on the ground by flying into the wind at a speed equal to that of the wind, and other birds hover momentarily while foraging.
Will My Bird Come Back If It Flies Away? Birds are social animals who need companionship. They'll eventually search for people and birds they know and will attempt to come back to their owner in most cases. Furthermore, captive birds will have difficulty finding food in the wild.
The oozlum bird of Australian and British legends has only one wing. It's also called the weejy weejy bird. The one-winged oozlum flies in tighter, faster and smaller circles until it disappears up its own fundament.
Symptoms and signs may indicate pain including: Change in temperament (aggressive or passive) Appearance of being uncomfortable (unable to rest) Decrease in normal activity, especially grooming (often exhibited as fluffing, reluctance to perch)
According to psychologist and ecologist Gay Bradshaw, PhD—who established the field of trans-species psychology—captive birds experience Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from prolonged, repeated suffering.
Fractures. If one wing is droopy, it is very likely broken. Pull out the other wing and observe how it snaps into place. Then pull out the droopy one; if it does not snap back close to the body, it is probably fractured.
It is recommended that you do not touch or pick up a dead, wild bird, but leave it in situ.
Instructions. Don't use bare hands to pick up a dead bird or animal. Use disposable waterproof gloves and/or an inverted plastic bag to pick up the dead bird(s). Double the plastic bag with the bird(s) inside and dispose in the trash where it cannot be accessed by children or animals.
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. "The baby will squawk, and its parents will find it," Stringham said.
Lethargy. Birds are normally highly active, so any sign of lethargy, depression, or fatigue should be taken as potentially serious. 1 Birds that are found lying on the bottom of the cage or who refuse to leave their nests or perches are often very sick and in need of immediate veterinary care.
Physical hugging or scratching around the head is acceptable, but scratching, stroking or petting your bird around the back, rump, and hind end may cause sexual stimulation. Redirect your bird's attention towards other toys and healthy interactive play with you, the owner.
The correct etiology of the paralysis is unclear, but it is considered that a deficiency in calcium and/or vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D, and E may be involved, especially as a dry seed diet is particularly lacking in these ingredients are the main cause of the diseases [7, 11].