How often do you see injured birds around your home or neighbourhood? They are very helpless and need immediate help. They can be easily rescued if we know how to handle them. But sometimes it will be very difficult to handle them because we don’t know how to take care of them. But it is quite easy and needs some patience. In this article, we will explain how to take care of an injured bird.
Reason for becoming injured a bird
The wildlife of a bird is not only for entertainment purposes but also for their survival. Birds have different types of predators like cats, dogs, snakes, etc. These animals hunt the birds and eat them. Sometimes these animale attacks the bird when they are feeding on food. It happens that these animals bite the birds’ feet and legs. This causes injury to the feet and legs of the bird.
How to take care of an injured bird
1. First thing first: Don’t panic!
You must never panic when you find an injured bird. You first try to find out where the bird was injured. If you cannot find any sign of the bird then you should call someone who knows about birds. The best person to contact is a veterinarian. They will tell you what to do next.
2. Check whether there is bleeding or not
If the bird has been bitten by a predator, then blood may come from its mouth. When you see blood coming out of the mouth of the bird, immediately put the bird inside a cage. Do not let the bird fly away. Keep the bird still until the vet checks it.
4. Clean the wound with antiseptic
If you see blood coming out from the wound of the bird, then clean the wound using antiseptic. Use cotton balls soaked in antiseptic. Put the cotton ball at the wound site and cover it with a gauze bandage.
5. Provide food and water
It very needs to provide food to the injured bird because it may starve for a long time. So give it some food like sunflower seeds, bread, biscuits, etc. Also, make sure that the bird gets plenty of water.
6. Take the bird to the vet
Take the bird to the nearest veterinary hospital as soon as possible. A veterinarian will examine the bird and treat it accordingly.
7. Give medicine
A veterinarian will prescribe the proper medication for the bird depending on the type of injury. You need to follow the prescription and feed medicine to the injured bird.
8. Monitor the health condition of the bird
After treatment, keep monitoring the health condition of the injured bird. If the bird shows signs of improvement then you can release it back into nature. However, if the bird does not show any improvement within 24 hours, then you need to consult a veterinari again.
Precaution during handling an injured bird
1. Make sure that the bird is not too hot or cold
Never allow the bird to stay outside in extreme temperatures. For example, if the temperature is below zero degrees Celsius, then the bird should not be left outside. Similarly, if the temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius, then the injured bird should not be allowed outdoors.
2. Avoid touching the eyes of the bird
Never touch the eye of the bird. If you accidentally touch the eye of the injured bird, then you might get infected.
3. Be careful while cleaning the wounds
When cleaning the wound, use a clean cloth and warm water. Never use soap or detergent.
4. Don’t leave the bird alone
Make sure that you don’t leave the bird alone even for a few minutes. If you leave the bird alone, then it could die due to shock.
5. Always wear gloves
Always wear gloves when handling an injured bird. Gloves help protect your hands from getting scratched.
6. Wash your hands after handling the bird
Wash your hands before eating anything. This helps prevent infection.
Why is it necessary to take care of an animal after being injured?
Injured animals are prone to infections. They become weak and lose weight. After recovering from injuries, the animal becomes vulnerable to other diseases. Therefore, it is essential to take care of an affected animal.
What can I feed an injured bird?
Feeding an injured bird is very important. You can feed it anything which is suitable for a healthy bird. Make sure that the bird eats enough so that it recovers quickly.
Can an injured bird survive?
Yes, an injured bird can survive. But it depends on how much damage it suffered from the accident. Some birds die instantly while others recover completely. In general, most injured birds die within 3 days.
Do injured birds feel pain?
An injured bird feels pain just like humans. It feels pain when its body parts get hurt. An injured bird cries when it suffers pain.
Final thought
Taking care of an injured bird is very easy, but you need to follow some precautions that are mentioned above. Your good care can save an injured birdlife. In this article, we have discussed how to take care of an injured bird. We hope you got some knowledge and it will help you to save an injured birdlife.
