Injured bird in my kitchen!

needmoney

I have just rescued a bird from a screaming pack which included a magpie, now I don't know what to do with him. Have I been kind, stupid should I have just let them get on with it, any advice would be helpful as I have to go out later. I wrapped him in a duster and put him in a basket but he is now sitting sadly on the floor outside it.

mrcow

Call the RSPCA. They should tell you the nearest place that you can take him/her. It will probably be a local vet or shelter from one of their lists who will take it in for you.

BTW, please don't take any rubbish from them along the lines of 'leave it where you found it' etc. They'll somethimes say this (I think they read it off a script). This animal needs to be looked at, not to be left in someone's garden waiting for a cat to maul it to death.

I hate magpies...they are such bullies.

needmoney

Thanks mrcow will do that just hope I don't end up paying again, years ago an injured cat walked into my house and we took it to the vet who said it wouldn't survive and demanded £12 to put it to sleep, my husband used to say I somehow attracted 'lame ducks' dosen't say a lot for him does it;)

Bossyboots

When I took an injured pigeon to the local vet, I told themthe RSPCA had asked me to take it in and they simply took the bird from me. There was never any question of paying and the RSPCA had made that point to me when saying they could not get out to me for several hours.

I agre with mrcow, the RSPCA will tell you to leave it where it is, especially this time of year. They said the same to me and I had to explain to them that not only did I think the pigeon may have been hit by a car, it was clearly not a young bird. Even if it had been a young bird, leaving it where it was would have been cruel. It was obviously hurt and terrified and was slumped on the path in the High Street.

rushnowt

Hiya needmoney

How did you get on with swan rescue, errrrmm I mean the RSPCA. ?

Hope the little bird is ok

Swattie

I found two tiny baby squirrels in my back garden a couple of years ago - there was no sign of an adult anywhere.

I contacted the RSPCA who said they were classified as vermin and they refused to have anything to do with them.

I eventually found a British wildlife animal sanctury whom were happy to accept them, so I took them there - they were too young to fend for themselves - so one of the volunteers became their substitute Mum and took the home with her as they needed feeding throught the night.

If it had been left to the RSPCA they would have either starved to death or been killed by preditors.

Since that day I have stopped donating to the RSPCA and now donate to local animal charities (as well as other charities).

needmoney

Hiya all us softies:) a friend took it to a lady who cares for injured animals so I don't really know how he is but I did what I could. I am the silly kind of person who then worries that he will miss his family:o

mrcow

Swattie wrote:

I contacted the RSPCA who said they were classified as vermin and they refused to have anything to do with them.

They may be vermin, but it would still be cruel to have left them at the mercy of the next cat/dog who happened along. They seem to give people different advice.

I was in a similar position a few years ago with a field mouse I found lying in my kitchen (shudder!). If that's not vermin, then I don't know what is! The RSPCA advised me to take it to a local vet, and to report back to them if I had any problems.

Nasnowt

mrcow wrote:

I hate magpies...they are such bullies.

I've just watched our local foxes ambush and kill a magpie!

Re injured birds, if they are panicking, popping them into a dark but well ventilated container, such as a shoe box with lots of air holes punched into it, really calms them down.

mrcow

Nasnowt wrote:

I've just watched our local foxes ambush and kill a magpie!

Euw! I suppose the difference is that the foxes did it for food?

I've seen a magpie peck out the eyes of a pigeon for no apparent reason _pale_

rushnowt

these are the kinds of stories that really infuriates me about the RSPCA, I stopped donating money to them years ago, and would never support them again. We call them swan rescue, cos it's the only bloody thing they seem to care about. :mad: