Hi!

[TheBirdLady]

Hello, I've just joined, Riverbird pointed me in this direction! I live in Devon, I rehabilitate injured and orphaned wild birds, birds are my biggest passion. I love walking along coastal paths and Dartmoor. I was born in a city but have always been a country girl at heart!
Look forward to getting to know you all!

[badgerwatcher]

Hi, birdlady, and welcome.
What a great job you're doing. Do you work in conjunction with a vet, or do you find you can get things like antibiotic powder, and if so from where?
I despair with the overzealous attentions of local vets, who tend to get excited about wild birds and get the Press in to photograph them and such like, and the poor birds are so traumatised, they die!
I would like to be able, should the need arise, to dust any wound with antibiotic, and release the bird if it is well enough.
We often get exhausted or injured racing pigeons here on the coast, one or two with airgun pellet wounds. In the absense of anyone I trust to ask, I tend to keep my distance, not even try to catch them, keep a constant supply of food and water, and keep away predators if possible.
I'd be glad of any tips.

[Boddie]

Welcome to the site BirdLady. Nice to have you with us

[honeybee]

Well done birdlady...what a great job you must be doing, must be hard work. Enjoy WAB

[Wolfhill]

Hi birdlady, welcome to WAB.

[Ollie]

Hello Birdlady and a warm welcome to WAB from me
Roger

[rlchew]

Hello Bird Lady

A warm welcome to WAB.

Enjoy the website.

Richard

[Deer Stalker]

Hi Bird Lady.

[canonman]

Hi Bird lady
Welcome to WAB, nice to have you with us
Mick

[FungiJohn]

Hello BirdLady and a very warm welcome to WAB. Enjoy!
John

[Wild-Woman]

Hello Birdlady. A very warm welcome welcome from me too. Enjoy the site.

Julie WW

[Riverbird]

Welcome Birdlady!!
Fancy seeing you here!!

[scribe]

Welcome Birdlady. I am sure that a number of us will be watching your messages for tips from yourself and also from Badgerwatcher. Keep up the good work, both of you!
George

[Adey]

Hi birdlady, welcome and well done you for helping to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wild birds.

[TheBirdLady]

Many thanks for the warm welcome everyone
Hi badgerwatcher! I do work in conjunction with local vets, but I have trouble finding a vet who has much knowledge of treating wild birds, for example I was once even given a woodpigeon which they'd had for 2 days and forgot to ring me about, with a gaping hole in its crop with grain spilling out, he was dead when I opened the box, he would have been severely dehydrated, when they passed him to me I was told he had a superficial wound on his breast. He could have been saved if his crop had been stitched. This vet is supposed to be a good Avian vet I am able to treat most of the birds myself unless they need stitches or ops, which the vets do and then they pass the bird back to me for recooperation. I have taught myself with the help of rehabbers which I trust, and the vets were at least able to show how to give fluids subcutaneously.
I no longer use anti-biotic (Auromycin, sp?)dust on birds, I think there was some concern that it may actually be poisonous to birds, or that the dust isn't good for their sensitive respiratory systems, I haven't used it for a few years, I mostly use oral anti-biotics.
All cat caught birds are given anti-biotics even if there's no sign of a puncture, we can't always see if the claw or teeth have gone in, and the bacteria on the teeth and claws can cause blood poisoning. 5 days of Baytril or Synulox. I try to avoid Baytril for babies as it can inhibit bone growth.
With racing pigeons, if they appear lethargic or injured and you are able to catch them it's good to give them a check over, some have broken bones or are emaciated (prominent, sharp breast bone, very little breast muscle). Shot wounds need to be cleaned and the bird put on anti-biotics, and if the pellet is still embedded removed by a vet if possible.
Sometimes though a racer just needs a few days of food and water, most pet shops sell mixed corn/sunflower kernels.
Any other questions please ask and I will help if I am able!

[Riverbird]

Originally Posted by TheBirdLady

Many thanks for the warm welcome everyone
Hi badgerwatcher! I do work in conjunction with local vets, but I have trouble finding a vet who has much knowledge of treating wild birds, for example I was once even given a woodpigeon which they'd had for 2 days and forgot to ring me about, with a gaping hole in its crop with grain spilling out, he was dead when I opened the box, he would have been severely dehydrated, when they passed him to me I was told he had a superficial wound on his breast. He could have been saved if his crop had been stitched. This vet is supposed to be a good Avian vet I am able to treat most of the birds myself unless they need stitches or ops, which the vets do and then they pass the bird back to me for recooperation. I have taught myself with the help of rehabbers which I trust, and the vets were at least able to show how to give fluids subcutaneously.
I no longer use anti-biotic (Auromycin, sp?)dust on birds, I think there was some concern that it may actually be poisonous to birds, or that the dust isn't good for their sensitive respiratory systems, I haven't used it for a few years, I mostly use oral anti-biotics.
All cat caught birds are given anti-biotics even if there's no sign of a puncture, we can't always see if the claw or teeth have gone in, and the bacteria on the teeth and claws can cause blood poisoning. 5 days of Baytril or Synulox. I try to avoid Baytril for babies as it can inhibit bone growth.
With racing pigeons, if they appear lethargic or injured and you are able to catch them it's good to give them a check over, some have broken bones or are emaciated (prominent, sharp breast bone, very little breast muscle). Shot wounds need to be cleaned and the bird put on anti-biotics, and if the pellet is still embedded removed by a vet if possible.
Sometimes though a racer just needs a few days of food and water, most pet shops sell mixed corn/sunflower kernels.
Any other questions please ask and I will help if I am able!

Hi birdlady, that was very interesting to read
You do such a fantastic job!!
How is the little pidgeon doing with the bald head?

[badgerwatcher]

Many thanks, Birdlady, for your reply. I'm so glad to have found this site, with people like you that I can ask for help if necessary! I prefer not to intervene at all than intervene without the knowledge that I can give effective assistance. But it is unbearable leaving an injured creature suffering, and I have never been able to bring myself to wring an injured bird's neck in the absence of other answers!

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Welcome Thebirdlady, welcome and keep up your excellent work. Do you get any funding for the drugs etc?

[TheBirdLady]

Hi Riverbird! The bald pigeon is doing well so far, but it's going to be a slow progress, her feathers may not regrow, so she may have to stay with me and live with the other pigeons.

Hi Billy, no I don't get any funding, I pay for it myself, gets a bit tough in spring and summer as it costs £80 a week then! I get the occasional donation which helps a little. I can't think of anything I'd rather spend money on though