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AIBU?

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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:
Thread gallery
5
SparklyGlitterballs · 26/05/2025 08:00

We have the most brilliant wildlife rescuers near us and they're always inundated at this time of year, mostly with fox cubs and injured or weaning birds who have fallen out of the nest. They're also seeing a rise in injuries from catapults which makes my blood boil.

Because of their demand, they try not to collect fledglings due to space. As has been said, they're generally resting. It can take several days from leaving the nest for them to find their wings properly. Mostly the parents will be nearby helping them, but they'll be scared off if they see humans moving about. The wildlife people recommend giving the bird plenty of space and keeping in (as much as possible) any cats or dogs so that they're not frightened. I hope your crow friend takes flight soon. Any supermarket sells dried mealworms in their pet section if he should stick around longer. Make sure to soak them first.

Geronim · 26/05/2025 08:02

It could be anything from bird flu to overeating Check out APHA for bird flu symptoms and don’t feed. Most wild birds will get better without our intervention. The RSPB will give you good advice.

HappySheldon · 26/05/2025 08:07

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.

I like the sound of your dad very much!

OP crows are so intelligent and if you do put some food out and it's parents are nearby you will have made friends for life. And apparently they pass info down the generations as well so you will be very well regarded by your local murder for years yet.

I'm quite jealous!

NooNakedJacuzziness · 26/05/2025 08:11

Missing the point entirely but can we see a pic of Dramatic Moo?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 26/05/2025 08:14

I have no advice but I'm shameless marking my place so that I can find out what happens. Really hope that your little bird enjoys a good meal, flies off without any problems and remembers your kindness for life!

Talapia · 26/05/2025 08:20

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.

This is so lovely. Even though your dad's ill health means he can't rescue anymore, he can still give advice.

The power of the kind and caring 😊

Looks like a fledgling to me. Good luck OP.

Createausername1970 · 26/05/2025 08:26

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 26/05/2025 08:14

I have no advice but I'm shameless marking my place so that I can find out what happens. Really hope that your little bird enjoys a good meal, flies off without any problems and remembers your kindness for life!

So am I 😁

Hopefully it's just having a bit of mootime.

Frequency · 26/05/2025 08:26

Moo is still in bed with DD who has all the good pics, but these are some she has sent me in the past.

To not know how to deal with a sick/injured crow on my garden table?
To not know how to deal with a sick/injured crow on my garden table?
NooNakedJacuzziness · 26/05/2025 08:39

Thanks @Frequency- v cute. I guess a dramatic chihuahua wouldn’t be an early riser!

Original poster
TickTickTock · 26/05/2025 11:03

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.

You can let him know he was exactly right! After the young bird had eaten the seed and drank, it managed to hop off the table, spent some time hopping around the plant pots looking injured, then after 10 mins flew away!
I was fascinated to watch the bird put the seed in the water and then eat it, like it was soaking it first? I'm so so glad it wasn't injured and was just being dramatic.
(Also very glad I didn't take @Smoronic 's advice and wring it's neck! 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ Not that I would have done anyway. I could never do that)

Thank you all for advice xxx

To not know how to deal with a sick/injured crow on my garden table?
OP posts:
DarkForces · 26/05/2025 11:04

That's a lovely update. Well done @TickTickTock

Iwrotethelyricstoaxlf · 26/05/2025 11:24

You now have a pet crow. Congratulations.

He’ll remember the kindness (as will all future generations)

Original poster
TickTickTock · 26/05/2025 11:35

Createausername1970 · 26/05/2025 08:26

So am I 😁

Hopefully it's just having a bit of mootime.

Show quote history

I think 'mootime' is going to become part of vocabulary from now on! Yes indeed, the bird was seemingly just being dramatic and having some mootime. It did a very good job of looking injured and wobbly on its legs, before eventually flying off. Little hustler!

OP posts:
MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 26/05/2025 12:05

So glad that he was OK, OP. A happy ending!

Sloelydoesit · 26/05/2025 12:10

SparklyGlitterballs · 26/05/2025 08:00

We have the most brilliant wildlife rescuers near us and they're always inundated at this time of year, mostly with fox cubs and injured or weaning birds who have fallen out of the nest. They're also seeing a rise in injuries from catapults which makes my blood boil.

Because of their demand, they try not to collect fledglings due to space. As has been said, they're generally resting. It can take several days from leaving the nest for them to find their wings properly. Mostly the parents will be nearby helping them, but they'll be scared off if they see humans moving about. The wildlife people recommend giving the bird plenty of space and keeping in (as much as possible) any cats or dogs so that they're not frightened. I hope your crow friend takes flight soon. Any supermarket sells dried mealworms in their pet section if he should stick around longer. Make sure to soak them first.

Greenwich Wildlife Network?

They are indeed the most fab bunch of people

shellyleppard · 26/05/2025 12:13

@Frequency your dad sounds wonderful.

shellyleppard · 26/05/2025 12:16

@TickTickTock thats fantastic news, so glad your friend has recovered x

wouldratherbeinthegarden · 26/05/2025 15:26

Excellent news!!

BellissimoGecko · 26/05/2025 16:00

Do you have a wildlife rescue near you? Ring them. Say you can’t pick it up, if you really can’t, and they should send someone out.

The RSPB don’t deal with sick or injured birds. That’s not their job. They deal with conservation.

BellissimoGecko · 26/05/2025 16:02

Should have read the update! Glad it’s all sorted.

HeyYouTheRockSteadyCrew · 26/05/2025 17:20

It might have flown down because it thought your table was some water!

IzzyHandsIsMySpiritAnimal · 26/05/2025 17:27

I'd have loved to look after it, I'm a huge crow fan. So glad it sorted itself out.

vintageskills · 26/05/2025 17:36

I he a crow like this a couple of years ago, just hopping around looking injured. So I fed it and suddenly after a day it just flew away. And….returned every day after that! A year later he/she returned with two babies, one of them is basically live here and is half tame. It gives me presents and is absolutely huge. If I don’t feed it, it will sit at the window looking in at me until I get up and get food.

jennylamb1 · 26/05/2025 17:42

TickTickTock · 26/05/2025 11:03

You can let him know he was exactly right! After the young bird had eaten the seed and drank, it managed to hop off the table, spent some time hopping around the plant pots looking injured, then after 10 mins flew away!
I was fascinated to watch the bird put the seed in the water and then eat it, like it was soaking it first? I'm so so glad it wasn't injured and was just being dramatic.
(Also very glad I didn't take @Smoronic 's advice and wring it's neck! 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ Not that I would have done anyway. I could never do that)

Thank you all for advice xxx

Show quote history

So fascinating. I put pasta out for my foxes since we had some left over and apparently they can eat it. There was some left over in the morning and a crow obviously wanted to eat it however it had dried up, so it carefully dipped it in the water bowl before wolfing it down.