Trouble with wings

[sugarthegreysquirrel]

Have rescued a large young herring gull. Problem is, it cannot extend its wings fully, in order to fly. There is no injuries to the wings. I have never encountered such a problem in the other birds I have rehabilited and returned to the wild. Can anyone help me with this problem.

Cheers

[ron1863]

Hi and welcome to WAB. I would take it to the vet as he will know what to do.

[sugarthegreysquirrel]

Hi Ron

I intend to do so.

Cheers

[stephen p]

I agree take him to a local vet, preferably one you know.

i rescued a Rook once with the same problem and the vet sorted him out, a local man looked after him in his garden (he rescues Bird of Prey) and a few days later he was released full of health.

Steve

[shei111]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Hi and welcome to WAB. I would take it to the vet as he will know what to do.

Yes I second that opinion. shei

[sugarthegreysquirrel]

Steve

Thanks for the reply. I did take it to our vet, who said the wings had arthritis. He thinks the onset of the disease has been over say, the last year. It is a young bird with the brown grey plummage still in tact. Can you tell me what your vet said about the Rook you had with a similar problem? I am going to try to add some supplements to the birds diet and see how it progresses. According to our vet it does not seem to be in pain and it runs around the avairy at great speed.
Would welcome your reply.

Yvonne

Originally Posted by stephen p

I agree take him to a local vet, preferably one you know.

i rescued a Rook once with the same problem and the vet sorted him out, a local man looked after him in his garden (he rescues Bird of Prey) and a few days later he was released full of health.

Steve

[ron1863]

Hi Yvonne, you learn something new every day. I didn't realise that birds got arthritis. I always equate it as a symptom of old age, though I do know that some young people do get it

[sugarthegreysquirrel]

Ron

I knew that birds got arthritis but I never thought that was the case with this Gull, it seemed so well and its wings are flush with its body, as if there is nothing wrong and of course it is a young bird.

Yvonne

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by sugarthegreysquirrel

Ron

I knew that birds got arthritis but I never thought that was the case with this Gull, it seemed so well and its wings are flush with its body, as if there is nothing wrong and of course it is a young bird.

Yvonne

Hi Yvonne,

Personally, I think your vet may be fobbing you off, but if you do think it's arthiritis this page may be of use:

Caring For Arthritic Birds

I know chickens can contract a form of viral arthiritis, don't know how common it is in wild birds?

If I were you I'd google 'nerve damage' or 'nerve injury'.

Cheers
Jonathan

[sugarthegreysquirrel]

Jonathan

Thank you so much for the web link vis a vis arthritic birds. It will come in very useful. I hear what you say about the vet, but he has been a vet to our wild aminals, as well as our dogs for 10 years and on one occassion operated on a Herring Gulls broken wing but was unable to save it. He is knowledgeable about birds.
I would like to thank you again for the website and wish you kind regards.

Cheers

Yvonne