Help!!!

I have just come across a cat disturbing a nest of blackbird chicks - in my garden.

I have rescued two very young chicks (no feathers) and am keeping them warm in the house.

What do I do next?

Anybody any advice on a sanctuary to call or take them to??

How do I keep them alive in the meantime ??

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you haven't a hope in hell of raising them.

Damn cats :rant: EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE

Oh dear,

Little pieces of earthworm, occasional drop of water.
Start practising your jumping off the shed roof when you have to teach them to fly!

Know nothing about them but this is off the web:

Mangham Animal & Bird Sanctuary
01709 527410
Mangham Manor House Scrooby Lane
Parkgate
Rotherham
S62 6NX

I don't wanna raise them!

If we coudl get them back in the nest it would be good, but I've no idea what height it fell from

Can't I feed them something else? Worms gross me out so much (I'm struggling with featherless birds to tell the truth)

Raise them as humans - give them human names, send them to public school - make them eat with cultelry, introduce them to a wide circle of social climbers. May I suggest calling them Justin and Tara! No one will ever know!

Who knows one day we might even see a blackbird in the whitehouse - and the BNP will weep!!

Any problems come up, let me know!

Originally posted by miniminch


Who knows one day we might even see a blackbird in the whitehouse - and the BNP will weep!!

Any problems come up, let me know! [/B]

I thought Condoleeza Rice was already in the White House :D

Let's keep this on topic please Gents! :)

Originally posted by Kristian
Let's keep this on topic please Gents! :)

Condo, is a blackbird chick ;)

BTW Kristian did anyone ever tell you that you look ever so nice when you are being masterful :D

Don't wish to sound harsh, but you haven't a chance of ensuring they survive. Put them back on the lawn, and let nature takes its course. They will either die of starvation and/or cold, or some predator will be grateful for a meal.

Yiou could try meaty cat food as an alternative to worms.

Had I known who the cherfin moggy belonged to they and the two beheaded ones would have gone through a letterbox along with the nest :rant:

Originally posted by woolspinster
Yiou could try meaty cat food as an alternative to worms.
Is that true or an oldwives' tale?

And will dog food work?

It's got to be better than nothing, and I suppose dog food would work too.

Originally posted by owdlad
BTW Kristian did anyone ever tell you that you look ever so nice when you are being masterful :D

Once ot twice Owdie, normally when I've got my leather hat on! :D Right then, back to topic....

All I can say is poor little things. Well done for saving them. Blackbirds do nest very low in gardens, privet etc. Is there no chance of looking around for evidence of where they came from, however the problem is you have held them and their mother and father will just not have anything more to do with them because of the human smell.

Try and contact RSPB they will help you I am sure.

Well done for saving then even if not for long just from the clutches of an awful predator death : (

Originally posted by owdlad
I thought Condoleeza Rice was already in the White House :D very qick there old lad,just beat me to it
:lol:

This is a regular feature of birds nesting in people's gardens. Taking them into your house is not doing them or you or nature any favours. I once heard a nature phone-in on the radio and all the RSPB people and naturalists say leave them where they are. Often an adult bird is coming back to them but is hiding from any human which approaches. If the nest is in the road and about to be run over then sure pick it up and put it on top of the nearest bush. But If you try to raise them yourself they will just die.

Another 22 and you can bake a pie ;)

As you may know I am not a huge fan of blackbirds only just managed to get rid of the noisy little s**t that used to screech outside my house every morning!!! But do not put them back in the nest as someone has already said they now have your scent on them.

Worms obviously would be best but maybe a bit of raw bacon, the best thing to do really is get them to a bird rescue place but I did know someone who found a sparrow and they wouldn't take it as they said it was a waste of time because it wouldn't survive but you could try - at least they might advise you or at least take them from you so you don't have the worry.

Good luck.

I know this is a little off topic but my mum has robins nesting in her geranuims!! They've laid 4 eggs. Does anyone know the gestation period as she is really curious and wants to be extra cautious not to disturb any new borns.

Originally posted by dawny1
as someone has already said they now have your scent on them.

Birds have virtually no sense of smell. Your best bet is to put them back where you found them and chuck a bit of Silent Roar around your garden.

Thanks for all the confllicting advice :D

I left them out there for 3 hours after the incident to see how mum and dad would cope with the situation. It seems that they were a bit thrown by the nest not being where they expected to find it, but as we don't know where it goes, we are not best equipped to help :(

I thought I only had one live one, but I picked them up with paper towel and warmed them (through it) in the palm of my hand. I was pleased to find them both alive.

They have had some water, and some beef stock (mince juice, not oxo) and are much more lively now.

The RSPCA have put them down for a collection, which I have to say makes me wonder if they expect them to die before morning :(

I hope not ;)

Ahhh, things like this make me ever so sad. Let us know what happens Strix, but only if it's good news! :D If it's bad news, could you PM me with a lie? ;)

aww good look hope the night goes well for them - are they nice and warm?

Yep, keep us updated strix!

Been chatting to some friends who had a pheasant nesting under their hedge. Yesterday there were 12 eggs - but this morning they were all gone :( But that's the way it goes I suppose. Apparently there is a fox nearby with two cubs (dunno what baby foxes are called!), so it's possible they had them.

It's just a shame when it is a cat, such as in this case, who is just playing.

Originally posted by beckyaa
It's just a shame when it is a cat, such as in this case, who is just playing.

The other two have their heads missing, Becky :(

I let Brude chase the blighter :D

It's a damn good job I don't have an air rifle. (I recently found put I'm a damn good shot) :D :D

It's easy to understand the depletion in wild birds. That's four of next year's population who won't be adding to the stats :(

Minus one chick :(

I put them to sleep in a darkened room as instruced by rspca, but just went to check on them, and one has given up the ghost.

The other doesn't look too clever either :(

Well, he's slept a bit and now he's perked up and is demanding food.

I ain't feeding regurgitated worms to anybody though :gag:

I wonder if the rspca will really come out and get him :confused:



Brude is ace. He keeps checking up on him too :D

cats are evil & the work of the very devil.:rant:
They have no use in todays society & should be eliminated.

Hope the last wee birdie makes it.

Last year I came home from holiday to find a blackbirds nest destroyed that was in my lilac tree beside my shed.

The mother blackbird had only 1 leg herself & had still managed to raise a brood of 3 chicks before I went away.
I fed them everyday & she'd follow me around the garden watching & waiting when I was doing a bit of digging.

Some ferral cats at my factory have massacred a fox den while the vixen was out hunting.

One of the steelworkers brought the last cub to the medical ctr & my collegue took it home & put it to her bitch who had just had a litter.
Sadly it died of pneumonia despite the vets' efforts.

AAaarrgh! :rant: Cats!

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
cats are evil & the work of the very devil.:rant:

It's the people who let them roam that's the problem.

We used to let dogs do it, but that's no longer socially acceptable. (and if they still could, there would be less pesky cats causing trouble :mad: )

I'm looking forward to the day the rules change for cats too :mad:

He's too young to be able to survive, apparently :(

The lady from the rspca took him off my hands and said she'd put him to sleep in the van :(

Awwww Strix, after all your hard work too :(
at least blackbirds have more than one brood a year so they can try again (hopefully with their nest in a more secure place)

Originally posted by Strix
He's too young to be able to survive, apparently :(

The lady from the rspca took him off my hands and said she'd put him to sleep in the van :(

Very sorry to hear that, but you did everything you could.

Hope you are ok.

Oh well. Good on you for trying anyway.

On a happier note, we've got great tits nesting in the roof - well out of the way of next door's sour-faced moggies.

Originally posted by em3978
Awwww Strix, after all your hard work too :(
at least blackbirds have more than one brood a year so they can try again (hopefully with their nest in a more secure place)

They've been in the same place for a couple of years at least. I hope they find somewhere safe. There's far too many predatory pets in these parts. If only foxes ate cats, then cat owners would supervise their pets better :mad:

Thanks for asking Becky, I'm very tired, but resigned about the birds. I was surprised they survived the first couple of hours that I'd left them incase their mum decided she could cope with them.

And I haven't seen the squirrel recently either :suspect:

Unfortunatley I am a massive lover of all animals including CATS!!! but do completely feel for you having tried soooo hard to raise them. I would have done the same myself. Its ok for people to remark on how horrid cats are but its only nature you know dog eat dog and all that.

Yes cats are cruel and mine frequently bring birds/mice into the house. Ive even saved a couple having chased my cat around the house during the early hours completely in the buff and taken the saved ones outside (yes still in the nude) and have even cried if they died on me.

I have set my own dog to chase my cats if I see they have anything but as I said before its only nature.

Actually people do blame cats for lots of dead birds but for fledglings they have been known to fall out of their nests and die and then the cats see them and have a gnawl at them so they arnt always responsible.

DONT FORGET CATS WERE WORSHIPPED BY THE EGYPTIANS

AND DOGS CAN BE JUST AS CRUEL!!!!!!

strix: Have you thought about putting something around the bottom of the tree to stop them climbing up so protect the birds?????

Originally posted by technophobe
strix: Have you thought about putting something around the bottom of the tree to stop them climbing up so protect the birds?????

It's a conifer hedge :(

Awwww I felt really sad reading this. Well done for what you did for the little bird.

xxx

put em in a pie!


Just kidding before everyone gets animal lib on me!

Originally posted by technophobe

DONT FORGET CATS WERE WORSHIPPED BY THE EGYPTIANS
Oh, thats OK then :rolleyes:

Originally posted by technophobe AND DOGS CAN BE JUST AS CRUEL!!!!!!

[/B] How so?:confused:

My fella just found one of our cats playing with a baby bird. It's so young it can't even hold up it's own head, no feathers, just a tiny bit of fuzz on it's head.
There's no nest to be seen, no idea what kinda bird it is/will be, looks a bit freaky tbh right now.
The damage is minor. Just a slightly bloody scratch on one wing. At the moment it's breathing and the pulse is shaking the whole body but it looks like a survivor.
So, now what? We've put the poor thing in a box with various lining stuff. I'm not very good with masticating worms and stuff, what can we give it and how do we do it? How do we give it water? Does it need water or is worm juice enough?
How often should we feed it if we must?
Does anyone know of someone who looks after birds like this? PLEASE?????

If you call the RSPCA they will take it. With it being so young the sooner the better.

Oh Zebra this time last year I found one like that in our garden. I phoned SSPCA and they said there wasn't much hope in it surviving and I should just try to make it comfortable and warm :( It was the most pathetic looking thing ever, like a wee alien even. It died. They said they would come out but they never did, I think they knew it was pointless.

Hate to rain on the parade here but some years ago Jarvis (or 'Hannibal Lecter' as he is also known) bought in 7 fledglings.

We attempted to get the RSPCA to take them on board but there was no joy.

Unless the parents take them back on board quite quickly - and as they'll now smell of cat - fledglings don't have much hope.

I guess I'm saying prepare for the worst. Sorry, Zebra. :(

Joe

Sorry Zebra, but this one has got me beat as well. Have never had success at keeping baby birds alive. Believe me, we've had hundreds.

They always seem to be surviving, then 'flop', dead the next day. Must have spent hours with them in my lap putting cat food into their beaks, using tweezers, everytime they beg for it.

No water required as far as I know. (their mums wouldn't be able to give them a drink)

Trouble is they need feeding practically 24/7 with short breaks when its dark. They also suffer from shock and may not be digesting the food they're swallowing.

Maybe an animal shelter would be the best bet.

Good luck with the little fella.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Zebra
My fella just found one of our cats playing with a baby bird. It's so young it can't even hold up it's own head, no feathers, just a tiny bit of fuzz on it's head.
There's no nest to be seen, no idea what kinda bird it is/will be, looks a bit freaky tbh right now.
The damage is minor. Just a slightly bloody scratch on one wing. At the moment it's breathing and the pulse is shaking the whole body but it looks like a survivor.
So, now what? We've put the poor thing in a box with various lining stuff. I'm not very good with masticating worms and stuff, what can we give it and how do we do it? How do we give it water? Does it need water or is worm juice enough?
How often should we feed it if we must?
Does anyone know of someone who looks after birds like this? PLEASE?????
unfortunatly not many small animal can survive a cat attack at the have certain bacteria in thier mouth and claws. they say that after a cat attack they are lucky to live 48 hours. i think the best thing to do is to make it as comfortable as possible and let nature take its course.. it might be even more shaky as it will smell your cats and probably fear them.. i know this is not much help .. let us know what happens.

try to keep it warm, do you know where its come from, where the nest is? last year i picked up a little baby magpie and put it in a box where i found it and the parents came down to it and after a few hours i went. but sadly sometimes the simply shock can be too much forthe little things.:cry:

OK, well, I couldn't stand the thought of not being able to care for it properly and since we couldn't find the parents etc I felt something had to be done.
Somewhere in the recess of my memory I remembered this place:

VOLUNTARY RESCUE CENTRE FOR BIRDS & WILDLIFE
WOODSEATS ROAD
SHEFFIELD
TEL 01142 55 78 24
MOBILE 07860 808179
EMAIL voluntaryrescue@yahoo.co.uk

Rang the chap, he said to bring it over and he took the poor thing in. He's been going for years and seems to do well with them from what I hear.
With any luck the bird will be fine. (He couldn't tell what it was either since it's so small). I feel we've done our best now.
Thanks for all replies. I would never have thought of cat food as a bird food but I can see how it's a good idea.
I'll let you know of I hear any more about it's progress. :)

EDIT: Found this after the event but maybe it will help someone else one day?
NEVER TRY TO GIVE IT A DRINK BY HAND YOU WILL PROBABLY DROWN IT.

NEVER GIVE IT BREAD, MILK, ALCOHOL OR EARTHWORMS SOME ARE TOXIC.

NEVER GIVE A DEHYDRATED BIRD WATER IT MAKES THEIR CONDITION WORSE GIVE THEM INTERNATIONAL RE-HYDRATING FLUID.

DO NOT PUT BIRDS ON HAY OR STRAW IT CAN LEAD TO RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.

DO NOT PUT THEM ON COTTON WOOL EITHER IT WILL CLOG WOUNDS AND THROAT.

Originally posted by Zebra
OK, well, I couldn't stand the thought of not being able to care for it properly and since we couldn't find the parents etc I felt something had to be done.
Somewhere in the recess of my memory I remembered this place:

VOLUNTARY RESCUE CENTRE FOR BIRDS & WILDLIFE
WOODSEATS ROAD
SHEFFIELD
TEL 01142 55 78 24
MOBILE 07860 808179
EMAIL voluntaryrescue@yahoo.co.uk

Rang the chap, he said to bring it over and he took the poor thing in. He's been going for years and seems to do well with them from what I hear.
With any luck the bird will be fine. (He couldn't tell what it was either since it's so small). I feel we've done our best now.
Thanks for all replies. I would never have thought of cat food as a bird food but I can see how it's a good idea.
I'll let you know of I hear any more about it's progress. :) well done !!:thumbsup:

Excellent news Zebra.:clap:

Don't forget to visit the little chap now, will you.

What's it's name anyway........come on, you must have called it something.;)

Give them some Khat. Black birds really dig that stuff

Some birds seem to cope ok if adopted (http://www.funnyjunk.com/p/ducky_mother-jpg.html)