Roadrunner Baby is Sick. What do I do?

[Happry Buzzard]

Hi, I hope you can advise me what to do for this poor little guy! The closest wildlife rehab is 4+ hours away. I was not sure the little guy would make it and did not want to drive all that way to deliver a dead bird. Day 1: it ate pretty good though it would gag and spit out any piece of meat that was larger than 1/8 teaspoon size.
Day 2: Did not eat well in the morning-early afternoon. Only a coupe of little pieces at a time. Then it began to pick up. It ate very well before I tucked it up for the night.
This morning, it looks super sleepy and lethargic. It will only take one tiny piece and then sleeps. It sounds like there is a tiny "tick" when it exhales.
Is there anything I can do at this point?
Thank you.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Honestly, aside from maybe offering an electrolyte supplement I don't know

Wild versions of animals just don't typically do well in domesticated settings. Could you call the rehab place, explain his progress and condition and ask them what they would be doing for him?

Good luck, either way

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What is the back story on this little guy? How did you end up with it? How long have you had it? Where did you find it, etc.? Thank you for trying to care for it, I hope you succeed!

 

[Happry Buzzard]

What is the back story on this little guy? How did you end up with it? How long have you had it? Where did you find it, etc.? Thank you for trying to care for it, I hope you succeed!

A friend found it under his truck during a dust storm 3 days ago. Hi called me over to his house and asked me what he/me/we should do. We hunted and hunted for the nest but could not find it. Road runner nests are pretty big, so we should have found it. We went back to the little thing and ants had found it and we're biting it, eating it alive. I decided then to take it home and see if I could save it. Maybe it was kicked out of the nest because the parents knew it was not healthy and cannot afford to waste energy feeding it. It was just starting to get feathers.

 

[Happry Buzzard]

What is the back story on this little guy? How did you end up with it? How long have you had it? Where did you find it, etc.? Thank you for trying to care for it, I hope you succeed!

A friend found it under his truck during a dust storm 3 days ago. Hi called me over to his house and asked me what he/me/we should do. We hunted and hunted for the nest but could not find it. Road runner nests are pretty big, so we should have found it. We went back to the little thing and ants had found it and we're biting it, eating it alive. I decided then to take it home and see if I could save it. Maybe it was kicked out of the nest because the parents knew it was not healthy and cannot afford to waste energy feeding it. It was just starting to get feathers. View attachment 1810471 View attachment 1810471

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Have you called your local Dept. Of Wildlife to see what it needs in terms of diet, warmth, etc.? Or possibly the local Extension agent? Hmm. Trying to think who else might be helpful.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

There is a Wildlife Rescue in Albuquerque, their number is 505-334-2500. They may be able to guide you as to how to help the little guy! Good luck!

 

[Happry Buzzard]

I did not call the department of wildlife or any government agency because to keep a roadrunner of any age is very illegal. I did not need a legal complication on top of everything else! I do not want to keep it, I just didn't want to let nature take it's course in such a horrible way for the chick but it looks like nature will have it's way, one way or the other.

I did get a couple of drops of Save a Chick probiotics and electrolytes into it. Fingers crossed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They eat cactus, fruit, and insects. When it gets bigger it will eat lizards and small mammals. You might try canned cat or dog food?

 

[Happry Buzzard]

There is a Wildlife Rescue in Albuquerque, their number is 505-334-2500. They may be able to guide you as to how to help the little guy! Good luck!

Good idea, at least it is not of state. Are roadrunners protected federally? That could be problematic for me.