Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 6/15/2006

Question
Please someone help quick, I have a fledgling crow or raven that
I found in my garden about a wek ago, near death from
dehydration among other things.  She was completely covered
with dried dirt around her eyes and mouth.  After cleaning her
up, and feeding her a high proptein diet, she still is not showing
ability to fly. I think she was injured.  I've been told to get
Vitamin D-3, if she is not in the sun, as she will get bone
deficiencies.  I'm looking for an online source for this.  Even
though I do take her out in the garden in the sun, each day, to
monitor her progress and see if she can fly yet, she's probably
not getting enough sun.  The crows in the area - her family, I
presume - are not a lot of help, meaning there's no attempt to
feed her, when she's on her own in the yard, cawing like mad at
them.  They caw back and look at her, then go on about their
business. My goal is to get her through this time, until she can
fly then let her go, but each day she seems less likely to do this.

Answer
Hi again, Loretta.  I wanted to provide a piece of information I neglected to include with my last response.  In lieu of direct sunlight, you can purchase a plant lightbulb or the long types of lightbulbs for reptiles, aquarium fish, and birds that provide the necessary UV rays the crow needs.  You can find the plant lightbulbs at most department stores like WalMart, K-Mart, etc., and the other types of lightbulbs at pet shops.  

Chrys

Hi, Loretta.  Thanks for posting.

I'm not sure I believe this fledgling needs Vitamin D3 already.  It takes time for a deficiency like this to surface and if she had already been outside before you found her, I don't think there's anything to worry about.  Caged birds often times spend years without direct sunlight and they don't suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.

The other birds outside aren't going to be much help in caring for this bird.  An injured bird, or one who can't get up and away, is a menace to a flock of birds.  In other words, an injured bird (or one who can't fly) attracts opportunistic predators to the group.  The group would rather get rid of this type of bird so as not to bring danger near the rest of the flock.  Therefore, the raising of this bird is likely going to be left up to you, unless you turn this bird over to a local humane society or wildlife rescue group.  If you think this bird is injured, you might need to take the bird to an avian veterinarian (not a dog/cat vet) for evaluation/treatment so you can eventually turn this bird loose in the wild.

Chrys