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How to Calm Down a Bird With a Broken Wing

Birds may break their wings by flying into objects or by a close encounter with a cat or other predator. A bird with a broken wing in the wild will die, but it is possible to catch it and to take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center so that it can be healed. Calming the bird and catching it are the highest priorities when you want to help a bird with a broken wing.

Things You'll Need

Net
Awl
Cardboard box with lid
Towel or newspaper

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the bird closely. Fledgling birds who are not proficient at flying are often mistaken for birds with broken wings. If you notice that the bird is hopping unimpeded and it is being fed by other birds, it is a fledgling and requires no help. When a bird has a broken wing, one wing will droop much lower than the other.
- 2
  Punch several holes in a cardboard box. The cardboard box should have a lid so that the bird can sit in the dark. While the container should not be so small that the bird cannot move, a restrained space calms the bird and stops it from injuring itself.
- 3
  Line the bottom of the box with newspaper or towels.
- 4
  Catch the bird in your hands or use a net. A bird with a broken wing is easy to catch, as it will be dazed. If necessary, chase the bird into a corner before picking it up to ensure that it will not flutter away and hurt itself further when you pick it up.
- 5
  Place the bird in a cardboard box or another small container and close the lid. At this point, the bird can be transported to a wildlife rehabilitation center or a veterinarian's office.

Animals & Science