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Across the Fence:  my afternoon  |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 4:45:43 PM
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Well...my afternoon was spent on bird rehabilitation. Not because I really wanted to, but when I took Collin(my mini sachnauzer) out to go to the bathroom this afternoon ... he kept sniffing and straining towards the big christmas tree type tree we have in the backyard...and that's when I saw it..a wee tiny mockingbird(about 3 inches tall) that could not hop very well at all it kept tumbling over itself and could not get away very well at all.Couldn't fly at all) and when it tried to hop it literally did tumbles over itself..poor thing...
So my daughter and I scooped it up, found a nest that has been blown apart and another nest that was tipped sideways in the tree, so my daughter took the one good nest and set it back upright into the tree and we put the baby bird back in the nest.
I went back out about 3 hrs later and the same scenario ensued... baby bird back on the ground, no parents around and the nest was again tipped over.
So this time around we went ahead and scooped the baby up and brought it in to keep the ants from getting it.I have left little birds before like this thinking that nature would do what nature would do and the parents would find them only to return to the bir a few hours later to see fire ants having a feast..I did not want the fire ants to have a feast on this little one.
So this afternoon has been spent making sure it eats. I have also discovered that its leg is broken up near the hip joint, so I tried my best to bind the leg with some very fine,thin seam binding and tape. What a chore! Not only is the bird a little wiggle worm, but my gracious birdy legs are so thin. It is tough trying to bind a baby birds leg.
But the good news is it is a vigorourous eater and has really been scarfing the blueberries and some moistened dog food. So that is promising.
My daughter managed to get it to eat a grub worm this afternoon too, so that is really good. The one leg that I had to bind, it refuses to move it and the foot is just being held very limpy, the hip joint just kind of flops around, so I tried very hard to bind it up to minimize the flopping of the leg.
I could see where the leg joint had gotten broken, but other than binding it up of course I don't know how to set it.
At least it tries to hop around on its one good leg though.And boy it can chirp loudly too.
So..that's how our day has gone this afternoon.
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We've gone to the birds..LOL
~I Dream of a Better World..where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned!~
blogs:http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and http://thevictorygardener.blogspot.com
magazine: www.stliving.net
etsy shops: http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com
and http://myvictorygarden.etsy.com |
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melanie47601
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Melanie
Boonville
IN
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 4:52:17 PM
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Poor little bird. You and your daughter are so sweet to take of the little thing. Hope he gets better soon. Sorry I don't have ideas to help with the broken leg.
Melanie
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, She's up!"
Blog~ http://wheelsarealwaysturning.blogspot.com/
Swap Blog~ http://mels-swapshop.blogspot.com/ |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 5:00:13 PM
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Unfortunatly, most of the time legs broken like that will have to be amputated, the risk of infection is very high if you leave it as is , but without the leg they usualy do just fine. Call your local Fish & game and see if you have a rehabilatator (sp?) in your local area, Good luck.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 5:01:39 PM
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Tina:
I thank God for people like you and your daughter who love animals, all animals. I will be praying that the little bird has a speedy recovery. I think you've fixed the leg pretty good. I don't know what else I would do. Maybe check online. Keep us posted on the birds progress.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 5:29:58 PM
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the leg appears to still have color and blood flow to it, so that is promising at least.(same coloring in the toes and foot as the healthy leg/so this is a good sign/only thing is it isn't using the leg and the leg has a good bit of "flop" even once it is bound)
it definitely eats well and tries to peck at the foods also. so this is a good thing. so far it is doing well.
I used to rehabilitate baby birds back when I was younger so I do know a little about what I am doing, except for the leg(I've never had to deal with one with a broken leg)...I could tell it was broken right at the joint that meets at the upper body, so I bound the leg as tightly as I could with thin seam binding and will keep an eye on it.Warm rice pack to keep the critter warm too.
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Now if this was a baby dove I would not have even tried this, as doves have to be fed regurgitated "dove milk" ..but this one is a mockingbird and eats a good bit differently.Had a treat of a fresh grub earlier that it enjoyed, and really enjoys fresh blueberries and moistened dog food.
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I looked all over for any signs of other baby birds tht might have fallen out too but this was the only one.Had the situation not repeated itself 3 hrs later I would have just left it alone of course.But we have some wicked mean fire ants around here that would have had a nice lunch had we not intervened, as I saw a few of them up under the tree when we rescued the baby.
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Last year we had a baby blue jay fall from the nest and I spied the parents nearby, so I left it where it was only to go outside a little while later to see it covered in fire ants..the poor thing.
I know nature can be cruel, but I honestly did not want to give the ants a chance today.
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I think the closest wildlife rehabilitator to us is about 30 miles away.
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~I Dream of a Better World..where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned!~
blogs:http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and http://thevictorygardener.blogspot.com
magazine: www.stliving.net
etsy shops: http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com
and http://myvictorygarden.etsy.com |
Edited by - Tina Michelle on Jul 19 2009 5:31:45 PM |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 6:09:23 PM
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How sweet, Tina. Ya'll must have lots of patience to do that and a good heart, too. I sure hope the little fella makes it. He's in good hands for sure.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 7:21:11 PM
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How kind of you to help this poor bird! I would agree that the leg will probably have to be amputated but the good news is birds can adjust pretty well to having only one leg. Plus mockingbirds are very resilient.I am saying a prayer for the little bird and bless you for taking care of it!
Cindy
"Dog is my co-pilot"
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 8:27:58 PM
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Tina:
Maybe you could set up a lamp with a 75 watt bulb to heat the little bird. It should keep it warm. I'd test it first to see if it is not too hot. I'll continue saying prayers for your little bird friend.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 01:39:15 AM
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Awww the poor little fellow. I do hope his leg is able to heal. It sounds like you know what you're doing and he couldn't be in better hands :) I had a kestrel with a broken wing in my driveway once. I was able to call a bird rehab person who came and between the 2 of us got the bird caught and it healed up well. They released it back into the wild from our house but unfortunately that day I had to work and didn't get to see the release doggone it.
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles 
http://fantasm01.imagekind.com/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Especially For You
True Blue Farmgirl
541 Posts
Tina
Watkinsville
GA
541 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 06:11:20 AM
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Tina,
I wonder if the leg is not broken but deformed. The way he is eating I don't think he is in any pain. Maybe thats why you found him alone. Most wild animals know when something is not right. Just a thought.
Tina |
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Across the Fence: my afternoon |
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my afternoon
