What is this? A grebe?

[Tamsin1983]

Hey I found what I think is a very young Grebe. I spotted it struggling in our lane when driving home. I drove past and parked up the road away from it and watched to see if a mum or dad came.... Nothing except two local cats. When they went for the baby I intervened. I have rung round vets and various charities and no one wants to take it on so I am now stuck with it. Our local vet told me to kill it!!!! So I am after some advise as to how best to care for it. I have been told to feed it wet cat food and it has eaten three times already. Do I need to keep it warmer then a bed of hay in a box could supply?
Dunno f the picture will upload. Looks like a ball of fluff.

 

[HugHess]

Hey I found what I think is a very young Grebe. I spotted it struggling in our lane when driving home. I drove past and parked up the road away from it and watched to see if a mum or dad came.... Nothing except two local cats. When they went for the baby I intervened. I have rung round vets and various charities and no one wants to take it on so I am now stuck with it. Our local vet told me to kill it!!!! So I am after some advise as to how best to care for it. I have been told to feed it wet cat food and it has eaten three times already. Do I need to keep it warmer then a bed of hay in a box could supply?
Dunno f the picture will upload. Looks like a ball of fluff.

Here is what I found via the net....

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...niques/UKBHusbIndTech/HR_Av_Grebes_Divers.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2057888_feed-orphaned-baby-bird.html

http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2014/06/patient-of-the-week-baby-pied-billed-grebe/

https://video.search.yahoo.com/sear...V8x?p=How+to+care+for+an+orphaned+grebe+chick

Sorry if I put too much...he's looks too sweet not to go a little 'nuts'.
Bless you and best wishes for a speedy positive outcome!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am not sure what breed of bird this is. But if you think it is a grebe, you might get it on a diet of fish. Grebes are fish eaters. They also eat insects too. If you do raise this bird, you will not be able to release it to the wild as it will have bonded with you and won't know how to find food in the wild. That is the trouble with taking in wild birds.

The best thing you can do is do a lot of research on how these birds live and take care of him appropriately. You may need to build a duck type coop with a water pond for him to hang out in. They are water birds.

Here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Western Grebe page that might help you learn more about this bird...http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_grebe/lifehistory

Good luck with this bird! I hope he thrives and lives a wonderful life with you!

 

[Tamsin1983]

Thank you both, you were a great help. I am also in contact with local charities about how to Handle this bird. We are all puzzled as to how this hatchling came to be so far from water and on a road. He is still eating fine and has had a swim tonight. Did a lot of preening so he looked happy.
Hoping one of the local charities can take him on and rehabilitate him to go back to the wild. If not we are willing to dig a pond and dedicate a good bit of land to his life.
Bedded down in a box with plenty of hay and a little tray of water. Thank you both again.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.

Sorry, but I don't know what to do if you have a Grebe!

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

Good luck with your grebe hatchling!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with the baby.

 

[drumstick diva]

Now that the curiosity is aroused about grebe- hope the little fellow does well. You are very kind to take him in. Maybe someone" grebe napped "him elsewhere, decided he'd be too much trouble and dumped him on your road. People do things like that all the time.

 

[LIChickens]

Welcome to BYC!

You will find a lot of good information here. Keep on asking questions and you will get many good answers.

You may also want to read the FAQ below.