please help- young bird with injured leg

[hollyrocker]

Someone just came with a young bird with an injured leg. Im not sure what type of bird it is, but I know it's not newly hatched! It's other leg is strong, and he's trying to stand but it's poorly leg just isn't working. There are no visible signs of injury, but I was wondering what could I do to strengthen this leg?
He is currently sleeping after a feed, he has let me know when he wants food which I take to be a good thing.
Any advice would be appreciated
Thank you

 

[happyhens1972]

When you say the poorly leg 'isn't working', do you mean it hangs limp? Does it have a grip reflex if you put your finger into its 'palm'? Does it have a pain reflex? (if you pinch it gently, does the bird pull it away?) Can it weight-bear at all?

Is the bird fully or partly feathered? What are you feeding it? Most garden birds need a high protein diet so it needs lots of insects (mealworms are great!) or feed it on cat food with water added until it is the consistency of thick porridge.

It may be a fledgling that has hurt itself when fluttering from the nest and with any luck, a few days rest will cure it BUT if the leg is completely disfunctional, it may need to be looked after permanently or culled.

 

[YlurIcelandic]

One thing that I have heard can help is building a sling, if the bird can't stand very well. You can use a cardboard box or wood as a frame, and rig soft netting or towels to keep his/her legs off of the ground. You can keep the food and water within easy reach of the bird. I don't know if this is helpful or not, but I hope the bird pulls through!

 

[hollyrocker]

The leg hangs limp, doesn't grip like the other one and I have to physically manoeuvre it underneath his body when he is put down, otherwise it's just hanging out the back. Can't weight bear at all, the other leg is strong, but not strong enough for him to stand.
He is fully feathered, looking at pictures im thinking it could be a black bird. Have given him cat food and mealworm, but he mostly wants to sleep.
He's also just pooped on me, which is a good sign. Im just worried he will be lonely when I am at work. He's opening his mouth when he wants feeding, so mum will be ok feeding him, but she has a phobia of birds so won't touch him.
The sling seems like a good iDEA, I also read about mini splints, but I wonder if this will be effective if he can't weight bear?

 

[hollyrocker]

 

[YlurIcelandic]

If he can't bear weight or, apparently, feel his leg, a splint might not work, if he can't move it anyway. I'd go with the sling, since they can be easily made at home, and might help his leg get better. Send updates! Good luck!

 

[hollyrocker]

Woke up at dawn to give my little friend a good feed, but found she'd died :-( with her only problem being the leg, I dont understand why this has happened :'( by the look of her, she not been dead long and her eyes are open. Breaks my heart knowing she didn't die in her sleep.
I didn't feed her during the night because her mother wouldn't have. I really am devastated and wonder why this has happened :'(
Thank you all for your quick advice when I needed it x

 

[YlurIcelandic]

Sorry about the bird -- you did all you could.

 

[happyhens1972]

Chances are she had more going on than just an injured leg. If she hurt her leg falling from her nest then she may well have had internal injuries too x