Fledgling Blackbird Mauled by Fox, any chances?

Whatdo

Hi All,

Have a fox earth very close, and just looked out to see fox playing with something on lawn, I thought unusual because blackbird nearby, Realised fox had something underfoot, and it tossed what was clearly a bird over its head, I made fox run off, and went to see damage.

Looks like a young bird, obvoiusly traumatised, laying still and breathing heavily, Mother nearby.

I was expecting to put it down, despite having absolutely no tail feathers and a bald back, one wing denuded and the other with only a couple of feathers left, it has both it's legs but they are curled up. I can see only minor teeth marks,with slight penetration so I have put it in a box in a dark cool room with a tea shirt and some wet bread. To let it settle.

Mother still anxious, but I do not believe she can be of any assistance. They are settling for bed now.

What next, I was going to look in in an hour to see how well bird is doing and re-asses if bird can be saved. I guess its feathers will grow back, but how long will it take, anybody know.....

natalie1974

If you are very lucky it may still be alive come morning . Seems to have been through the mill with the fox , shame . Fingers crossed for you xx

tanith

Its a cruel world but I would say its unlikely the bird would survive the night, its usually the shock that kills them... I hope I'm wrong..

Whatdo

Just had a look, its breathing has settled, but i guess if it has any discrete internal injuries, it now sort of looks as if it is missing some of the bad wing, I cant tell.... and I do not want to give it more grief by poking it around too much.

I hope it is not in pain, I wish I had the courage to kill it..........

foreign_correspondent

... it may have been kinder to let the fox finish it off and eat it - it is nature, red in tooth and claw...

Whatdo

Not only is it still alive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but this morning it appears fully perky alert and fighting like a maniac.

I believe it is probably well enough to free, however it has very few feathers left and therefore flying is impossible. It is extrodinary how the fox has managed to essentially pluck it as effectivly as a sparrowhawk would. The birds torso and rear end are exactly as a prepared chicken on the shelf. that together with a choristers collar and two black legs and maybe four wing feathers at most on one side. it is definitely half prepared for a pie!!!!

I have an old pet cage in a garage which I will seek out, which is better than a box maybe,

it has poohed so i assume its internals are functioning ok and its not bleeding anymore.

I do not have to much time to go hunting for millipede bugs.........so any suggestions as to a suitable food..


this might turn into a long haul.

Silveralice

Whereabouts are you? There might be a wildlife hospital nearby that could take it from you if you like? Otherwise, you can buy mealworms/waxworms from reptile suppliers, or worms from anglers, all of which might be a good start foodwise?

Whatdo

i will checkout if somebody has a worm compost bin that i can raid, the wildlife hospital is a good idea, ill check that out too..

ill also check out the local fishing bait shop

what about cat or dog food? i have some old tins in the back of the larder

anything i can put in the water to aid recovery, Im not thinking homeopathy....


cheers all,

Whatdo

The inevitable................

please close thread

picklepick

has it died?

Well done to you for trying xx

chris_n_tj

THats so sad, but at least you cared enough to try xxxxx