Help, I think my little Grosbeak is sick

[CaGoatLady]

He's been sitting on the bottom of his cage, fluffing his body up, and not eating regularly anymore. I know the bottom of the cage thing is bad, and that the fluffing might be something, but I don't know what to do. It's been hot here and the air has been on with a ceiling fan, so he could be cold, but that room doesn't have any air ducts in it, so it's not that cool in there. Since it's illegal to own a wild bird, I'm sort of stuck now. When I first rescued this little guy, I first called the wildlife people and they said I'm doing everthing right and I expected to release him, but he's too tame, so I can't. Any ideas?

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Try turning the ceiling fan off. Drafts, be hot or cold, like to get to birds, it's weird.

Also, what are you feeding it?

May need to look at turning it over to an experience wildlife rehabber. Wild animals just have a tough time in captivity, you see the lengths that zoos and rescues have to go through to make the animals comfortable.

-Kim

 

[CaGoatLady]

I'm feeding it soaked high quality cat food, hard boiled egg, and baby bird food all pureed through a syringe, but he also has seeds, an apple, suet, and water in his cage that he had been eating until lately.
I've had him over a month, so I would assume it's something here that's bothering him rather than something that he would have from when he was found outside.

 

[thebritt]

Quote:
I agree. I don't think it may be "too tame", as it's not a species that needs to learn how to hunt, etc. I would (once it's healthy) put it in an outdoor cage, hanging in the shade, to allow it to acclimate and hear and see wild birds. A lot of their behavior is innate ("hard-wired" in their brains). If you can start feeding it foods that it would eat in the wild, I think you would have a good chance of successfully introducing it to the wild, so it can go forth and multiply! If they're year-round residents where you live, you may even end up with a permanent resident. If not, you would want it to be able to join a flock to travel with.
As fo the illness, could it be (in addition to being drafty from the fan) a nutritional deficiency? That's where a rehabber would come in handy.
Good Luck!

 

[thebritt]

How's the little bird doing?

 

[chickbea]

I agree with the advice above. To my knowledge (which granted is limited), grosbeaks are strictly seed eaters, aren't they? He may be either deficient in something or he may be eating things he shouldn't be.
Here in Vermont we have a state-wide organization (VINS) that rehabs raptors and songbirds as well as independent rehabbers who specialize in songbirds. I'm sure California has something similar - check with your vet.
As with any wildlife rehabbing, be sure you are staying away and keeping hands off as much as possible. It's tempting when they are young and cute to cuddle them and pet them, but the less human interaction they have the better in the long run.
Good luck - I hope the little guy recovers!

 

[CaGoatLady]

I added some extra calcium to his diet and crushed up some bugs and mixed it into his food; he's back to normal now and fluttering and taking his little baths. I also have a baby goat living in the house and the bird know the routine of how I give the goat his bottle and then feed him, so while I'm feeding the goat, the bird gets excited with anticipation.

 

[thebritt]

They also eat fruit. I checked on a site called "All Birds". I would imagine now is a good time of year to find berries etc to add to it's diet.
Glad it's feeling better!