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Original poster

To not know how to deal with a sick/injured crow on my garden table?

53 replies

TickTickTock · 26/05/2025 06:42

I was putting the laundry out this morning and noticed my dog go up to the table outside. I was taken aback to see a crow (I think) just sitting on the table, hardly moving apart from the odd head movement. Obviously I knew something was wrong because it wasn't flying away. It's still there now and I've checked the RSPCA website which really doesn't help. I wonder if my dog caught it possibly and injured it when I wasn't looking. I'm really not sure what to do. I'm too scared to try and put it into a box.

It's just started moving more it's standing up now and attending to its wings with its beak... Argh. I really don't know what to do. There's only me at home! Does anyone have any advice please? I may end up asking my neighbour for help I think. I don't want my kids to see an injured bird when they get home from their dad's 😔

OP posts:
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Original poster
TickTickTock · 26/05/2025 06:44

I'm really hoping he/she will recover somehow

To not know how to deal with a sick/injured crow on my garden table?
OP posts:
AmazingBouncingFerret · 26/05/2025 06:47

Try and leave some dog biscuits and some water for it to hopefully build its strength up? I wouldn’t have a clue either. Clever birds though so treat it with kindness and it won’t ever forget.

verycloakanddaggers · 26/05/2025 06:47

RSPB have advice on their website. Good luck!

Smoronic · 26/05/2025 06:47

If it shows signs of being clearly injured then I'd pop a bag over it and wring it's neck, short and sharp. But then I'm a country girl and think these things are far kinder than hauling it to the rspca and vets for it to just die of shock a few days later.

Purpleturtle43 · 26/05/2025 06:47

Do you have an RSPB near you that you could phone. There are a few local wildlife rescue centres near us that would take it, do you have anything like that? You could ask on your local FB page if anyone knows if anywhere?

Movinondown · 26/05/2025 06:50

I had this once and thought it was dead, it lay there all day while I figured out what to do but eyes open and slight movements, then it just randomly got up shook and flew off! Apparently it's a thing they do! Google crow 'feigning death" it's a tactic to evade predators!

LakieLady · 26/05/2025 06:51

I'm bird phobic. I'd have to get a neighbour to deal with it! Luckily, my neighbour is very understanding...

Frequency · 26/05/2025 06:52

I'd offer wet cat food rather than dog food, it is higher in protein. Facebook or Nextdoor will probably know of local rescue groups. My dad used to nurse sick birds, and he was always contacted via Facebook.

shellyleppard · 26/05/2025 06:52

As previous posters have said it could just be resting up?? Try and put some food and water near it. Hope its better soon. Google local wildlife rescue near you??

ArtTheClown · 26/05/2025 06:53

It might just be a daft fledgeling.
If not, I've had both the RSPCA and the SSPCA come out for injured birds when I've phoned them.

Frequency · 26/05/2025 06:54

The RSPCA will either not turn up or will euthanise it. A local rescuer or wildlife group would be a better call.

Crisisorchangeofheart · 26/05/2025 06:54

It’s a baby. Maybe put some food and water nearby

ShiftySquirrel · 26/05/2025 06:58

I'd leave it some water and food.
A quick Google says they eat lots of different things and are omnivores.
Thinking about what you might have at home, maybe apple sliced in half, nuts (unsalted). Actually it might have a go at raw egg too.
Then see what happens.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 26/05/2025 06:58

I think it's a younger bird too still in its 'no fear of humans' phase.

wouldratherbeinthegarden · 26/05/2025 06:59

Are you sure it's injured? It looks like a baby to me. It's parents may be near-by keeping an eye on it and feeding it. Do you have tall trees nearby as it may have fallen out of its nest. I would keep your dog inside and watch from afar to see if this is the case. If it is indeed injured, I would suggest you contact a local wildlife rescue. Best of luck.

Original poster
TickTickTock · 26/05/2025 07:17

wouldratherbeinthegarden · 26/05/2025 06:59

Are you sure it's injured? It looks like a baby to me. It's parents may be near-by keeping an eye on it and feeding it. Do you have tall trees nearby as it may have fallen out of its nest. I would keep your dog inside and watch from afar to see if this is the case. If it is indeed injured, I would suggest you contact a local wildlife rescue. Best of luck.

Thank you. No, no tall trees really. It was so eerie when it didn't fly away. I've put some seed and some water out for it. I'll check Facebook groups too, thank you.

Thank you ladies. This is stressful today!

OP posts:
ArtTheClown · 26/05/2025 07:19

If it's a fledgeling then yes they do tend to just look at you instead of flying off, they've not learned to be cautious yet.

DarkForces · 26/05/2025 07:21

My mum popped a similar crow in a box, kept it fed and watered and it recovered and became her friend, following her to school and coming back to say hi regularly. They're very intelligent so if you could always just try caring for it and seeing what happens

Frequency · 26/05/2025 07:24

My dad was online so I've forwarded him a screenshot of the bird he says;

"That's a youngun. Its mam and dad will be about somewhere. Tell her it'll fly off soon. If she wants to help give give it some egg food or dried mealworm soaked in hot water but it'll probs just fly off. It'll be pulling a Moo or just sitting."

When I pointed out that normal people do not have stocks of egg food (special weaning food for baby birds) or dried mealworms, he suggested cat or dog food, tinned fish, or scrambled eggs. If you have a blender, grind up the egg shells to a powder and add them to the eggs. It will help, apparently.

He also said no rescuer who knows what they are doing will come out for it before teatime (dinner time to non-Northerners). You can message one at dinnertime (lunch) to be on stand-by, but they shouldn't come until it starts getting dark.

He also said if you have a garden you should have egg food and mealworms, especially at this time of year when all the "younguns" are about, and at the start of winter.

NB: Moo is our chihuahua. She is dramatic AF and is frequently rushed to the vet on the brink of death, only to miraculously recover hundreds of pounds later.

dontcomeatme · 26/05/2025 07:26

Crows love peanuts. I would just offer it some peanuts and water and watch and wait ?

Original poster
TickTickTock · 26/05/2025 07:27

Frequency · 26/05/2025 07:24

My dad was online so I've forwarded him a screenshot of the bird he says;

"That's a youngun. Its mam and dad will be about somewhere. Tell her it'll fly off soon. If she wants to help give give it some egg food or dried mealworm soaked in hot water but it'll probs just fly off. It'll be pulling a Moo or just sitting."

When I pointed out that normal people do not have stocks of egg food (special weaning food for baby birds) or dried mealworms, he suggested cat or dog food, tinned fish, or scrambled eggs. If you have a blender, grind up the egg shells to a powder and add them to the eggs. It will help, apparently.

He also said no rescuer who knows what they are doing will come out for it before teatime (dinner time to non-Northerners). You can message one at dinnertime (lunch) to be on stand-by, but they shouldn't come until it starts getting dark.

He also said if you have a garden you should have egg food and mealworms, especially at this time of year when all the "younguns" are about, and at the start of winter.

NB: Moo is our chihuahua. She is dramatic AF and is frequently rushed to the vet on the brink of death, only to miraculously recover hundreds of pounds later.

Oh thank you so much for this. I feel reassured and much more hopeful now! I can't see any parent birds around but it's eaten some of the bird seed and some water now. Your Dad sounds lovely! I only have dry dog food, but could make scrambled egg if needs be. I just want it to be ok.

Thanks so much for this response. Everything crossed it will get better. Xxx

OP posts:
twinklystar23 · 26/05/2025 07:32

I would take a look at this thread OP before you do anything! Good luck 😂

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4974597-to-be-scared-that-im-still-marked-by-the-crows?page=17&reply=131958235

angelinawasrobbed · 26/05/2025 07:46

Frequency’s Dad needs his own tv programme. Possibly with Moo in it

Gatekeeper · 26/05/2025 07:52

angelinawasrobbed · 26/05/2025 07:46

Frequency’s Dad needs his own tv programme. Possibly with Moo in it

I agree
...he sounds fab!

Frequency · 26/05/2025 07:57

He said wild bird seed will be OK if it is managing it but you can also make porridge from dried dog food by soaking it in hot water if it happens again.

He's very passionate about his birds, but he's had to give them up due to ill health. He still has a starling that thinks it is a parakeet that he rescued a couple of years ago, and a cockatiel he rescued from Facebook that had no feathers and thinks it can't fly. We did try to release the starling in my garden last year. I have a flock of starlings that visit every year, but when they arrived, his starling hid under my garden table. He used to rehab wild birds and breed parakeets.

He's always moaning at me about not having enough bird food in my garden. He thinks if you have crows nesting nearby, you should get a nesting box for next year and leave mealworms and wild bird seed out to encourage them into your garden to nest. Dishes of egg food should be left out in early spring and winter to help nesting birds and fatten them up for winter.