baby bird doing well,what now

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by TeresaW

Jim I really dont' think Brooke was 'snivelling' over the fact her cat killed the other birds. It goes without saying that's a problem that needs addressing, and a simple bell on a collar which warns the birds, would do the trick or at least make a big difference. She was simply asking for advice on what to do and how to help the remaining chick.

You need at least 2 bells as cats with a single bell learn to move without making it tinkle. And it would only be of use to warn adult birds, no use to nestlings or fledglings that can scarecely fly.

[rossy]

rkb i like the way you control your cat , and some good points made , if only other people would do the same, not everyone will agree im sure of that. and jim good point on not putting food out for the birds, but if you love your birds like im certain most on here do, its hard as we like to watch them close up. now ive put mesh , sticks, added more fencing, but this morning a cat got one bird before i could get out it was off. friday a dead young wood pigeon, and if you looked at the mesh you would see where the cats have tried to go for the birds, so now ive erected feeders higher, i dont own a cat and never will, and as ive stated before cats do not kill for food, and how many more will fall victim , its ongoing , but it needs looking at sooner than later, rossy.

[Vixen]

lets not let this turn into another cat thread

To the OP good for you for raising the bird, but I would contact yoour local wildlife centre as they will be able to take the bird when it fledge's, and wild it up and give it a better chance to suvive.

Only one bird I have reared for my local wildlife centre has been releaced by myself, and she was a house martin that was feeding itself and I found a very good site with many other martins, I hope she suvived I gave her the best chance, and she did join up with 3 other and flew off.

The others have gone to learn there trade with other birds in averies, including a Jackdaw I rescue myself from the road that was becoming inprinted, broke my heart to let them have him, he went in with 7 other and 7 days later when I saw him he didn't react at all to my pressance.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Where I disagree is that in Sheffield where I lived until 8 months ago not a single cat owner that I knew had their cats chipped.

Ok, maybe not most then, but still millions.

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

(Maybe chipping is a southern thing, it hasn't caught on up here yet ...)

My cat's further north than you are.

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Only one kept their cat indoors, all of the others allowed their cats unfettered access to outside 24/7, i.e. cat flap that was always left open. And they did see them as low maintenance pets too, often couched in the terms that their pets were very independent ... They wanted the companionship but also wanted a pet with minimum looking after, something that they could leave all day whilst out at work, and that wouldn't be an expense or inconvenience when they went on their frequent holidays, just give a friend a key to fill up the food dish and water bowl for them daily until they came back.

And that's what mine is. You can even buy automatic feeders. And note that they are locked in when the owners are on holidays - so why not other tiems too? If you charge these people 50 quid to even get a cat (chipped), then fine them (or threaten to) if it's picked up outside, that will make them think about their actions. It's not just birds, it's also their neighbours (who get xexexexe all over their gardens).

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

And cats can cause road accidents. It is instinct to brake very hard or swerve if one runs out in front of a car, and that is when one is most likely to lose control of the car.

I doubt it's a big issue. Hitting a dog will smash your lights and dent your numper. Hitting a cat will fill your tyre tread at the most. It's like hitting a rabbit, and drivers know that.

BgBear99 - cost is clearly a disincentive to irrepsonsibility and ownership (whether it's cats or Porsches). For a start, those without enough resources and committment wont get a cat in the first place. Dogs were also once very cheap or free, but now they are quite expensive and ownership is falling.

Vixen - how do you know that a captive house martin can feed itself on flying insects?!

[Angelika]

I have 2 cats and dont let them out unless they are supervised in the garden by me they are house cats,you cant not expect to have birds come in your garden and if you let your cats out not kill the bird,lots of birds also feed on the ground,if i were an owner who let my cats out and roam i would never encourage birds in my garden,its not fair to the birds,also roads are a danger to cats and it not fair for the cat to get hit by a car and die suffering at the side of the road.

[Jim Ford]

Lots of responsible cat owners coming forward to say what precautions they take.

I actually wouldn't mind if people come forward and say that they let their cat roam unhindered and don't give a damn about the birds it kills. At least it's honest. What's like a red rag to a bull to me are those that claim to care about wildlife and yet don't ensure that it's not predated by their cat, or try to salve their conscience by whining about it!

Jim

[brooke]

hi everyone,i appear to have sparked a massive debate but would like to point out a few things
i do not feed any birds they are wild and just live in shrubs nearby and in neigbours gardens
i never snivell about my cats killing birds,it is sad,but cats kill its there nature i accept that.
when i picked up this baby i honestly thought it would not survive the hour so its obviously through my own sheer strength of chariter and the little things will to live that it survived
i will be putting a bell on my cats,so even if the cat gets the chicks the adults can make an escape,its not perfect but it balances things out a bit
i love all animals and even when i know full well its in a cats nature to kill,and no amount of arguing can pursuade me otherwise if i ever ever EVER see a hurt animal i will do what my heart tells me,after all if a man /woman with terminal cancer was hit by a car and bleeding to death would you leave them just because they were going to die anyway?? no didnt think so.
i did what i thought was beat at the time and dont regret it for a second.good karma.POSIE i will stick around thanks to you. see you all tomorrow.
x x tweet peep tweet

[RKB]

Have you phoned St Tiggywinkles? You really should, if you haven't already...

[davecatt]

All the points made above about responsible cat ownership are valid, I believe it would not cost the government a lot to bring in legislation to control the number of cats kept as pets by making it compulsory to have all cats chipped and (in the case of cats not kept for breading for pedigree shows) neutered or spayed.
Putting a financial penalty on irresponsible ownership would be a step in the right direction.

However the reason for me putting in my twopennyworth has'nt been addressed,

God Knows I've kicked off once or twice on this forum, but it has always been about people potentially or actually abusing WAB.

To attack someone new to the forum, be it for lack of knowledge that the attacker has, or sheer pedantic bloody mindedness (Such as "Google lt, it aint difficult") is arrogant and unnecessary.

I'm a blunt straight speaking northerner who has been brought up to "Tek no xexexexexe from anybody". But there are times when tactful advice and a bit of empathy can make the difference between estrangement and friendship!

Every one brings something of use to us even if it is only a different point of view and if we care, then they also take away something of use, even if it is only the fact that somebody cares enough to help.
Dave

[faz]

Originally Posted by brooke

he is nice and warm thanks,that was my first thought,and as for species i think maybe a blackbird or thrush type thing.im usure as its just a mass of downy baby feathers at the moment?why does it make a difference as to what he/she is..please help.

hi all ofmwahat rkb has said is true follow that advise if u can catch some spiders and woems aswell to feed the black bird hope it all works oput for you and the bird and well done forhaving a go