Bird can't walk or stand

[Sally Robinson]

Hi everyone,

I have a bird with a strange problem visiting my garden which I think is possibly a baby chaffinch (though not dependent on parents anymore). It seems to have a problem with both its legs. It lands on the bird feeder or fence and grips on with its feet, but then it gradually falls over and ends up hanging upside down like a bat. It can't stand up or walk around and can only get where it needs to go by flying. It never gives up trying to stand up and does manage to get some food from the feeder before it falls over.

I have been seeing it for about 4 days now and I am amazed that it is still alive as I assume it can't sit in trees.

Has anyone seen this before? If so, do you know if it is something that might get better or will it be like this for the rest of its life? It seems weird that its feet are working, but its legs are not.

Thanks for any suggestions

Sally

[RKB]

It may have two broken legs. Wild birds do sometimes break their legs, and they heal with few problems, but two is a bit of a chellenge and it may get predated or starve before they knit together.

[Sally Robinson]

Thanks for the reply RKB.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for it.

Sally

[Kayleigh]

Can you see through bins if there is any deformity of the feet there is a fungal infection that affects finches.
I think its papilloma virus not sure if this would cause the bird to fall over.

[Sally Robinson]

Hi Kayleigh

I got really close to it yesterday as it fell the wrong side of my wire fence right to the bottom among brambles and nettles etc. I did manage to feed it some seed which I was pleased about as I was worried that it might not be getting much to eat. Couldn't see its feet but I have now decided it is a baby sparrow rather than a chaffinch. Is it only Chaffinch's that suffer from this virus?

I haven't seen the bird so far this morning, but it has generally been a bit of a latecomer over the last few days, so I'm hoping to see it soon.

Thanks

Sally

[lilylove]

I'm not sure about what the problem is but I had a similar problem with a duck chick last year - it floated but whenever it tried to get anywhere (ie follow Mum and siblings), it could only go round in circles!! Mum tried to be patient but with 8 other charges, she gave up after a while and went off to find food leaving the youngster on it's own. Guess which fool ended up diving into the river to rescue said youngster!!

[Sally Robinson]

Hi lilylove

Sounds like the sort of thing I would do. Did it survive? I've still not seen the bird today, but I have just come back from a walk, so I'm hoping it's still OK. I have been reading about your hedgehog (sounds like a real character). I also have a hedgehog that comes to my garden and I made him a feeding station, but unfortunately I haven't managed to lure him in there yet, so I shall try some of the suggestions given to you.

Thanks

Sally

[lilylove]

Not sure whether the duck survived but I did take it to the RSPCA so fingers crossed. Yes, the hedgie is quite a character - I've named it Scatter on account of my big brave boy and the cats running whenever they see it, lol!

[Kayleigh]

Not sure if Sparrows are affected but netting is big cause of foot injuries especially the ones on nuts.