I think I might have to adopt another baby...blackbird this time.Argh!

[thndrdancr]

Here we go again..
Well, we have some small blackbirds (perhaps grackles?) in the tree above the chicken pen. Two days ago, sis and I were out talkin to the chickens, and sis said..those blackbirds must have a nest up there, cuz they sure are scolding us alot. I said somethin like it sure was late to have babies in a nest, they must be late ones.

Well, today...sure enuff, guess what? One of the blackbird babies fell out of her nest, right next to our chicken pen. The chickens are watching all this and are very concerned becuz I left some food out for the mother, but big mistake, I put it in a bowl (which I should have just left on the ground) but its in a bowl I used to leave for THEM! So...now THEY are mad.

The chickie keeps moving closer and closer to the chicken pen, cuz I think he is reassured by other birds. But he is so small, he cant fly at all, he is not even a fledgling like the robins I found, he definitely "fell out". He is not even afraid of me, and is wayyyyy too young to live on the ground for the next week or two or whatever he needs to start fledgling out.

So, I guess I need suggestions...momma is still trying to feed him right now, he has some feathering but a lot of down anyhow, but all he does is just crawl with his lil feet right now, and he flaps a lot when she feeds him but he doesnt get anywhere flapping. So he is quite small. Mainly he looks like he is just "trudging" thru the grass. It took him about an hour to go 6 foot.

I have some canned cat food, and an eye dropped I could use in an emergency if I clean the bottle I have it out, I suppose. Also some high protein game starter. Thats what I put in the bowl for momma, mixed with watermelon juice, but she is afraid of the bowl. Couldnt get lil bit to eat any, I didnt touch him, just got close and looked him over and put some of the mash close to his beak, but I am not the right "shape". lol

Jill

 

[Mulemom]

If you can put him back in the nest he'll be fine.

That thing about not touching them and the parents leaving the nest if it smells like humans is not true. Birds have no sense of smell. I have picked many a baby bird up and popped him back into the nest. The parents go right on with their business of finding groceries and bringing them home.

 

[rufus]

I know it sounds heartless, but it is not a good idea to let wild birds mix with your poultry. They carry parasites and diseases. That is the downside of free ranging.

Rufus

 

[thndrdancr]

They are in a magnolia tree and I dont even SEE the nest. I know its there SOMEWHERE, but cant see it.

And if I ask dear hubby to climb a tree again for a baby bird after the last robin incident where he climbed 15 times and the others kept bailing when they saw him....(it was comical, but he got ALL scraped and scratched up) he would probably kill me.

I MITE be able to climb this tree, but the momma and poppa keep dive bombing me, and I cant do it at nite, since I dont know where exactly the nest is. I think its their only babe tho... sigh....

Jill

 

[Shannon]

I had something VERY similar to this happen today! I went to check on our chickens and found a little blue bird about to drown in our rooster's water. I quick grabbed it out so it wouldn't drown but I didn't know what to do with it. (can't take it inside because of dog and cat). I put it on top of our riding lawn mower for a minute but it flew off and started walking along the ground. I didn't know what to do so I ended up leaving it there and hoping that it will make it. It was big enough to fly, but still a baby. I didn't see a nest anywhere near where I found it so I'm not sure how it got in the water, but I was just thankful that the rooster didn't find it and kill it. I'm going to check in the morning to see if it made it. I'm hoping that it does though.

 

[thndrdancr]

Well, the update on the blackbird...Shannon at least yours was big enuff to fly some, that makes it easier.

Well, they were all makin such a fuss dh decided he didnt wanna hear another minute of it. So he climbed the tree and put it back in. Dear sweet hubby. We finally found the nest, he braved the momma divebombing him and the nest was clear out on the branch. Scared me, a stupid baby bird is not worth dh's neck!

Then...just like with the robins, darnit...an hour later, there it was again, on the ground chirruping. It was going to hide under the truck in the driveway for the night, and I didnt have the heart to leave it there for the momma possum an babes we have runnin around, so I put it in a box, sprinkled de on it, fed it some wild game mix I have. It was so funny, it ate from the eye dropper but scrinched up its face like "YUK, mom never made me eat anything like THAT!!" Its already the ugliest thing I have ever seen, no redeeming features whatsoever. sigh...

And I know not to mix it with my chickens, I was a lil perturbed that they nested in the tree above my pen but what could I do? NOW one wants to LIVE with me? ARghhhh!