Nuggywoo Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I know this isn't the place for this but I hope someone can help! I have a very sick coot chick and would like some advice as to how I can get him through the night or at the very least make his last hours more comfortable. I can't find any signs of external injury, his eyes are open, he's breathing (albeit through his beak), I've wrapped him loosely in a warm towel and squeezed some water into his beak via a cotton wool ball. What else can I do?? I have no glucose - would dissolved sugared water be the same? (I have no rescue remedy or anything like that.) He's sort of perked up a bit - well he can hold his head up now - his legs seem ok, I estimate him to be about 8wks old. He's actually moving a bit too - good sign! Pls excuse any spelling errors, I'm typing this one handed. Please help I've phoned Wildlife Rescue & left messages. ps my murdering b****** cat brought him in so I understand he may well die of shock (the cat might too!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 do you know where the cat might have got it from? is there a canal near you or a pond? would it be possible to return it to its mum as that's probably the best chance it's got? Other than that I don't know I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Glucose and sugar water are one and the same. Sounds like you are doing your best. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 thank you! I don't want to take him back until i'm sure he'll be ok. i know he's better off with mum etc but at the moment he's very 'easy' prey and I'd like to at least give him some chance. Just tried him with water again and he either went to peck me or the cotton wool - very half heartedly but he's not giving up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 without his mum feeding him, he'll just get weaker I'm afraid. He really does need his mum. see if this helps at all http://britishwildlifehelpline.com/feeding%20birds.html Feeding and caring for baby birds Place in an incubator or cage with an electric heat pad secured to one side or a small heated pad inside. If you have nothing else, put some warm water in a small screw cap bottle, wrap in a flannel and use inside to warm the chick. If they are bald or only partly feathered make a nest for them using a plastic dish and line with paper towelling. A small soft toy can be added as a surrogate mother. The first feed should not be given until the bird feels warm and looks reasonably alert. Water birds will also need an incubator but with a towel covering a newspaper floor covering and a cotton mop-head to nestle in. Ducks are self feeding, so once they are warm, they will need appropriate food and water in their incubator at all times. Coots, moorhen, pheasant etc. also self feed but need to be offered small amounts of food hourly to make sure they get enough. WATER BIRDS Coot, Lapwing and Moorhen Hand feed chopped maggots and mealworms, also tiny pieces of washed whitebait. Provide a small bowl of sluis with a few live maggots/mealworms and a small bowl of pond water in the cage. Cygnets, Ducklings and Goslings These eat chick crumbs soaked in pond water. Place this in bowls that are too small for them to sit in. If they get wet at this early, fluffy stage they get cold and lethargic and are unable to feed. They do not become waterproof until the adult feathers develop so need on their mother to provide warmth and stop them getting waterlogged. They will need a towel over a layer of newspaper in their cage, a mop-head “Mummy” to cuddle up to and an overhead heat source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 anyone know what sluis is???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 anyone know what sluis is???? My guess is that it's slugs, esp given the other items. Excellent research, Poet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 I was wondering that. Thought it was a technical term... This little baby is far younger than I thought. His little wings are just stumps. Huge great danglies and tiny wings. I feel so helpless, I can't take him back tonight, it's raining - he'd freeze - and I'm not entirely sure where he came from, if I took him to the wrong place he'd die. If I'd come home half hour later it might have been for the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 You can only do the best you can under the circumstances. Whatever happens, at least you will have given the poor thing some comfort. Everything crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 You can only do the best you can under the circumstances. Whatever happens, at least you will have given the poor thing some comfort. Everything crossed. absolutely! I'd put a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel in for him and make him as snuggly and warm as you can. Are you able to feed him every hour? I'm wondering if a bit of cat food mixed with water would be any good to syringe into his little mouth in lieu of meal worms or whitebait or perhaps some tuna (rinsed first to remove the brine)? good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 or pop out to the garden and try him with a bit of mushed up slug? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 how's he doing? if he's still ok tomorrow i'd ring the wildfowl and wetlands trust for advice, http://www.wwt.org.uk/ our nearest one is 'martin mere' if you wanted to phone them. I bet they'd help you out! They maybe could rehome him him at one of their visitor centres? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 Thanks everyone. He didn't make it. He was alert, trying to preen (I think), fell asleep again, woke up, had an enormous poo down my jammies then died in my hands. Bit upset but he died warm and not in pain, I hope... Looking at him properly I'd guess he was a very new baby, maybe as young as days rather than weeks. Forget my original guess of 8 wks - way out! I'd set up the incubator, ready to get a little tiny bowl of mushy cat food (already ripped a huge great boa into 5 bits for my reprobates - couldn't do it again ) - and was planning my sleepless night. I tried, and failed, to keep him alive, 4 hrs later he gave up - maybe it was delayed shock? Thanks very much (Poet especially) for your help and advice - very much appreciated. Now where's that box of wine...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I'm sorry the little coot didn't make it. You tried your best to help it. Lots of people wouldn't bother. You deserve a box of wine for your efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 what a shame, at least you tried xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 So sad, but bless you for trying. No kind effort is ever wasted. The poor thing is no longer suffering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
