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saskii · Sunday 12th August 2012, 23:51

Okay so I found an adult chaffinch on the side of the road. he had been hit by a car as far as I can tell and only had one eye. I thought he'd die but I tamed him and have kept him alive for about a month now. I have become very attached . BUT
today i took him out to let him sit on my finger and under his damaged closed up eye i saw this deep hole. like i could stick a pencil in it (i wont but thats how big) I dont know what this is or what to do!!!??

Please help?!

Kits · Monday 13th August 2012, 11:23

Welcome to BirdForum.

Can you take the bird to a vets? It is a shame you have tamed him and become attached to him as he is a wild bird.

saskii · Monday 13th August 2012, 11:57

the vets will just put him down because he is old.

well i believe in giving him a second life and he's a happy little thing. And he would have had a brutal death otherwise. He sits on my finger and flies around the house and has plenty of space. Just wondering if anyone could tell me what is wrong with him? Because a hole in his head isn't exactly normal.

bongofury · Monday 13th August 2012, 18:58

I can only echo the advice above and urge you to take the bird to a vet or perhaps a local wildlife centre that might be able to help you. Please read the advice from the RSPB at the link below:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpin...uredbirds.aspx

Socar MYLES · Friday 17th August 2012, 22:59

Don't be so quick to decide a vet would put him down just because he's old and damaged: vets don't just euthanise animals willy-nilly, especially if their owners aren't on board with that idea. Try to find a vet who specialises in birds--I think you'd be surprised at how compassionate and knowledgeable these people can be.

The hole may not be as bad as you think: you'd be surprised at how much of a bird's apparent size is made up of feathers, and how little bird there is under all that plumage. But ANY break in the skin can get infected, so you do need to get the poor little thing some medical attention, or you could put him at risk of a much worse death than being put down.

grobble · Saturday 25th August 2012, 12:29

I would say the OP has done the best thing for the bird. He has taken so readily to his current environment and that suggests, to me, that he would not have lived for long in the wild, and he has somehow sensed that.

Birds are very quick to attack and kill other birds that display abnormalities.

Sunday 12th August 2012, 23:51	#1
saskii Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: northants Posts: 2	Please Help Okay so I found an adult chaffinch on the side of the road. he had been hit by a car as far as I can tell and only had one eye. I thought he'd die but I tamed him and have kept him alive for about a month now. I have become very attached . BUT today i took him out to let him sit on my finger and under his damaged closed up eye i saw this deep hole. like i could stick a pencil in it (i wont but thats how big) I dont know what this is or what to do!!!?? Please help?! Attached Thumbnails

Monday 13th August 2012, 11:23	#2
Kits sos Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hampshire Posts: 56,039	Welcome to BirdForum. Can you take the bird to a vets? It is a shame you have tamed him and become attached to him as he is a wild bird. __________________ Kits "Sail away from safe harbor. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Monday 13th August 2012, 11:57	#3
saskii Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: northants Posts: 2	I'm glad i tamed him the vets will just put him down because he is old. well i believe in giving him a second life and he's a happy little thing. And he would have had a brutal death otherwise. He sits on my finger and flies around the house and has plenty of space. Just wondering if anyone could tell me what is wrong with him? Because a hole in his head isn't exactly normal.

Monday 13th August 2012, 18:58	#4
bongofury Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hamilton, Scotland Posts: 1,787	I can only echo the advice above and urge you to take the bird to a vet or perhaps a local wildlife centre that might be able to help you. Please read the advice from the RSPB at the link below: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpin...uredbirds.aspx __________________ Latest UK: Water Pipit (191) Woodcock (192) Little Gull (193) Redstart (194) Yellow Wagtail (195) Latest Garden: Woodcock (45) Nuthatch (46)

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Friday 17th August 2012, 22:59	#5
Socar MYLES Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 108	Don't be so quick to decide a vet would put him down just because he's old and damaged: vets don't just euthanise animals willy-nilly, especially if their owners aren't on board with that idea. Try to find a vet who specialises in birds--I think you'd be surprised at how compassionate and knowledgeable these people can be. The hole may not be as bad as you think: you'd be surprised at how much of a bird's apparent size is made up of feathers, and how little bird there is under all that plumage. But ANY break in the skin can get infected, so you do need to get the poor little thing some medical attention, or you could put him at risk of a much worse death than being put down.

Saturday 25th August 2012, 12:29	#6
grobble Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SE Essex Posts: 43	I would say the OP has done the best thing for the bird. He has taken so readily to his current environment and that suggests, to me, that he would not have lived for long in the wild, and he has somehow sensed that. Birds are very quick to attack and kill other birds that display abnormalities.

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