# Caring for Wounded Bird **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344 "2010-02-09T23:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/21 "2010-02-10T22:38:30Z")
Psh, why are you wasting your time? It’s \*never \*lupus. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/22 "2010-02-11T05:35:48Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Well, the bird’s still with us and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed but it can’t fly. I keeps holding its head turned to the far left and moving in circles which makes me think either its wing is hurt or something with its neck (although it can hop about so I don’t think its neck it outright broken). Possible causes of a marked head tilt and circling (in order of most likely): Damage to the internal ear/balance system due to a) trauma b) infection either bacterial or viral c) tumor d) non-traumatic vascular event (like stroke or clotting problem). I’d say that the top two options put together are about 80% likely, with the third option taking up another 18%. Neck trauma is out because the bird wouldn’t be circling. Wing trauma doesn’t cause either of the symptoms you describe. Prognosis is still not so hot, even though he looks ok so far. If it is trauma or infection, he might pull through but never be normal enough to release. If it’s a tumor, it’ll get worse for sure. So, new pet? What **Broomstick** said about the food is very true. If he can’t eat on his own, he’ll be a very problematic pet. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/23 "2010-02-11T06:01:11Z")
Well, whatever it was, it got the best of him tonight. He seemed okay this morning, was a bit listless this afternoon and I had a feeling he wouldn’t last the night. By 8:30pm, I went to check on him and that was that. I’m not sure if he was eating or drinking due to his injury (he was pooping but that could have been stuff eaten pre-injury). Thanks for the help from those who helped and it was a good experience, even if it was one with an unhappy ending. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/24 "2010-02-11T06:13:32Z")
We recently found a wild bird on our patio who seemed either injured or ill, and had to deal with much of the same issues you did, **Jophiel**. With the same result. I comforted myself (I’m such a frigging sap) the same way I’ll offer you words of comfort… You gave him a warm, safe, protected place to live out his last hours. Deride this as “warm fuzzies,” but I believe that offering such a small bit of comfort in the world contributes to the betterment of the overall energy of life. Good for you for trying and for caring for a small living thing. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/25 "2010-02-11T16:20:21Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Possible causes of a marked head tilt and circling (in order of most likely): Damage to the internal ear/balance system due to [snip] b) infection either bacterial or viral Woo! I wasn’t completely off base! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/26 "2010-02-11T16:58:03Z")
Thank you, **Jophiel**. I think that’s a great thing you did. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/27 "2010-02-11T21:07:31Z")
Thanks for trying. That’s all we can do for each other anyway. ~:\> ---
**Author:** ![Magicicada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@Magicicada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magicicada)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/28 "2010-02-11T23:12:52Z")
Rest in peace, little English house sparrow… ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/29 "2010-02-12T03:48:27Z")
Lovely warm thread. May only good things happen to OP, and to all participants in the thread… ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/30 "2010-02-12T17:31:12Z")
There’s a very low success rate with wild birds like this. Most veterinarians don’t specialise in it and even handling them will often stress them enough to kill them. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344/31 "2010-02-19T17:53:12Z")
Missed the last update from you, Joph. ☹ At least the bird died safe and warm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caring-for-wounded-bird/528344.md?page=1)