Help - I've picked up a cold bird ... what do I do?

[summerdays]

And no it wasn't that sort of bird....

Its a little blue tit... and it was sitting in the middle of the road, and refused to fly off. A van was coming so I stood in the road and picked it up after it had passed. Then I was going to leave it on a bush somewhere but it just looked so cold and didn't fly off ... I put it in my pannier.

Its now in my kitchen in a box with water, cheese and raisins... is there something better I should be doing?

 

[johnnyh]

keep it warm and see what gives I guess.

either that or chop some carrots, swede and spuds, make a stock and ...

 

[Eat MY Dust]

Cheese? is that what birds eat?

 

[Chris James]

If it was in the middle of the road then it was probably hit by a car and injured. The fact it didn't fly off would also imply that it is injured.

In which case the kindest thing would probably be to put it out of its misery.

However, there is a slight possibility that it was just cold. Therefore warming it up would be a good idea. The RPSB suggest putting injured birds in a warm dark box and seeking vetinary help. If no local vet is available then they suggest the RSPB advice line on 0870 55 55 999

www.bbowt.org.uk/do_download.asp?did=24605

Edit - just to say it sounds like you are doing the right thing.

 

[summerdays]

I was trying to think fat.. to give him/her energy... hasn't touched anything ... just sitting there looking like she is shivering... (if a bird can shiver).

Rang the RSPB .. or a number on their website.. they said take it to RSPCA... in St Philips... I can't get there and back to work so it will have to sit in the box...

I think I would only need half a carrot and 1/4 of a potato... doesn't look as if there is more than a mouthful there.

 

[summerdays]

If it was in the middle of the road then it was probably hit by a car and injured. The fact it didn't fly off would also imply that it is injured.

I've seen him stretch his wings out and he move around in my pannier to find a corner to tuck himself into - so I think he is uninjured.

 

[papercorn2000]

Maybe he'll be your friend. You could travel about the countryside with him (it) nesting in your pannier and meet lots of people and have adventures. And stuff.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

And no it wasn't that sort of bird....

Its now in my kitchen in a box with water, cheese and raisins... is there something better I should be doing?

Putting some airholes in the box ?

Sorry.

 

[summerdays]

Mr Summerdays says he doesn't want to find him fully recovered and flying around everywhere when he returns...or I will have the mess to clean up. But he's agreed to keep an eye on him when he comes home later this afternoon.

 

[summerdays]

Putting some airholes in the box ?

Sorry.

Its got an open top... however when I picked him up... and decided to put him in my pannier ... the first thought that came in my head was that joke last week about someone putting a head inside a plastic bag to rush it to hospital.

 

[Maz]

Its now in my kitchen in a box with water, cheese and raisins... is there something better I should be doing?

No.

I think it's good tweetment.

 

[Mr Pig]

Do you have a cat?

 

[summerdays]

No but next door do... but I couldn't do that... if I was going to do that I may as well left it on the road... its starting to move around more now.

 

[colly]

Anything like seeds, nuts or a couple of small bits of bacon fat would keep him fed. Make sure he has some water as well (if you haven't already)

 

[Globalti]

I revived a very cold and slow bumble bee by giving it some sugar syrup. You should have seen it gobble the stuff; after a few minutes it was charging round my garage like a nutter.