Pheasant chick

I was driving home from the shops yesterday afternoon and was waved down by a person who was pointing at something in the middle of the road. I stopped in the middle of the road and got out and there in front of my car was a little pheasant chick absolutely still ..... I reached down and grabbed it before it had time to shoot away. I would think this chick is about a day or two old. It has survived the night, is very difficult to feed but I've got a little food into it. I collected wild seeds from my garden, a bit of lettuce, parsley, clover and it has been pecking at these....also getting moisture off leaves which is good. At present it seems quite content huddled into woolly blankets on top of a heatpad and I am hopeful. Not a very good photo but shows you its size.....

Unfortunately this little chick has developed a splayed leg... I took it to vet yesterday who suggested euthanising it but I can't. It is eating very well, is completely unafraid of me and after researching on the internet and talking to my bird guru, I have 'hobbled' its wee legs.... the hobble should stay on for 2 to 3 days and then hopefully, this might correct the problem. I was stressed out doing this and the bird was also but if it works, all be fine. The vet suggested that this problem is due to a vitamin deficiency and maybe why the chick was left behind, and with this vitamin deficiency, the bird may die anyway. Not sure if she is right but time will tell and I will keep on trying. Dear little chick :)

Very sadly this little one didn't survive. I tried 'binding' her splayed leg to the good one but it did not work. Yesterday, 'Milner' was looking sad and forlorn and today I helped ease her into the next world. Very sad and I wish it could have been different. But she had had enough and I believe she was in pain. RIP dear little pheasant chick :( :(

Duckling

Friends had been watching an injured duckling for a few days and reported that it was getting weaker and weaker and couldn't keep up with Mum Duck and siblings... it had a very sore leg and they feared for its survival. Yesterday they brought the wee duckling to me and so far, it is doing well. Eating well, resting, loving tucking into a heatpad and a teddy and I'm rubbing arnica into the leg three times a day. 'Daryl' is its name or perhaps Darleen? Peter and Gill who brought the bird to me had named it and Daryl, for some unknown reason, seems to suit it.

News on birds.....

The hatchling, now a fledgling, 'Poppy', has been moved into my aviary and I am still feeding her but teaching her how to eat worms, insects and fend for herself.....

"Bubbles' is now released into my garden and visiting on and off throughout the day for food. This one is a male and getting his male plumage now. He is doing well.

Sadly, Lillebo, the badly injured blackbird, will never fly. One wing is useless due to injuries. Lillebo misses Bubbles and has not bonded with Poppy at all and it is very difficult having her in the aviary when she is still so fearful of me. She causes my other fledglings to be frightened of me and then it is difficult teaching them how to fare for themselves. So, Lillebo travels to Robert in Whangarei this afternoon...(Whangarei Bird Rescue).... Robert will take Lillebo to his home in the country where he releases other birds that are having difficulties in the wild... they can choose to use his aviary for shelter and food and have excursions outside.... this will be a better life for Lillebo that shut in my small aviary all year round.

Pav the pukeko is in spring mode this last week and keeps going walkabout. He jumps out over the fence on to the road and off I go after him.... sad that he wants a mate but I can't let him go as he wouldn't last long in the big world out there.... however, I have discovered that Rescue Remedy works a treat with him and calms him right down. If I can only get him over the next couple of weeks, hopefully, his urges will disappear. Thank goodness I have the larger aviary to plonk him in if he gets totally unruly!
He is quite content in his 'apartment'... I built him a lovely shelf that he can roost on and he sits up there on his pillow and towel, chuntering away. Such a funny bird and generally, very content..... away spring urges, away! :)

Pav, my Pukeko

News on birds....

I released the mallard duck yesterday at Moojebing Farm - lovely pond and land and a few other Mallards in residence... hopefully he will have a happy life. He certainly looked pleased to be free and out of my aviary. Whilst there I also saw Peanut and Brittle (Peanut's beau). They look absolutely fine and happy. No sign of baby quail yet but perhaps a little bit early.

The hatchling is now a fledgling and will soon go into aviary with other two blackbirds - Bubbles needs to be released very soon from the aviary and Lillebo will be company for new little fledgling 'Poppy'. Lillebo's wing still droops but she is fluttering/flying a bit. Have got my fingers crossed that with time, she may be releasable.

And a few photos from today..... the aviary is Pav's new house for the nighttime and when we are out.... he loves it!

Pavorotti, the Pukeko sunning himself....

Pav met the children from Playcentre and Dozie their puppet pet :)

Tiny hatchling

A week later!


Brought to me yesterday. Perhaps a blackbird but unsure. It has survived the night and is feeding well but is very little and fragile.

It is growing! :)