How To Help A Crow That Can’t Fly [With A Broken Wing]

Have you ever encountered a crow that can’t fly? If so, then the crow might not have been able to fly due to injuries, like broken wings or broken legs that would help make a small hop to take off the ground. In fact, you’re not allowed to take care of such a crow.

So, how to help a crow that can’t fly? The best practice is to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to determine what to do and what not to do. Before one arrives, put the crow in a cozy, warm box in a safe location. If the crow is not injured, leave it alone. It will soon fly on its own.

Apart from that, there are a lot to do to help a crow that can’t fly. In this post, we’re going to talk about all that. Once finished reading this article, here is another article for you: weight carrying capacity of crows while flying.

Read Also: Why Do Crows Copulate With Corpses? [Click here]

#Strategy – 1: Observe First, Act Second

Once you found a crow on the ground, make sure that it needs help. Oftentimes, fledgling crows, unable to fly, leave the nest and remain on the ground. The parents might be nearby and still caring for the baby. Observe the bird if the parents return or not.

1. Check the Age

If the parents don’t come to the baby crow to take care of it for a long time, it’s time to help it. First of all, check the age of the crow. Look at its eyes. If you see blue or bluish-grey eyes, it’s definitely a fledgling crow. Don’t determine it by its size.

2. Look for Wounds

Another thing you need to do is to look for wounds. Check for blood. If the crow is bleeding or you see dried blood on its body, it needs help. The crow might have a wing broken, hanging lower than the healthy one or dragging on the ground. Observe if can flap both wings.

3. Check If It Moves Or Not

Finally, you have to check whether the crow moves or not. If the crow cannot comfortably stand or fly, it needs serious help. Apart from having broken wings, the crow might have fractured, traumatized, or paralyzed legs.

#Strategy – 2: Get Professional Help

Once you have identified the condition of the crow, the best practice would be to get professional help. You can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If not found, contact your local veterinarian. Besides, you can take a license to take care of wildlife.

1. Contact a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator

If you found the crow injured, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator ASAP. It’s really important because wildlife rehabilitators know how to care for an animal. Most rehabilitators are volunteers who do this job in their free time. So, it may take time to reach one.

Find local rehabilitators on local and statewide government wildlife websites.

Name of the States	Find a Wildlife Rehabilitator
Alabama	Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Alaska	Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Arizona	Arizona Game and Fish Department
Arkansas	Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
California	California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Colorado	Colorado Parks and Wildlife [PDF]
Connecticut	Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Delaware	Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
Florida	Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission [PDF]
Georgia	N/A
Hawaii	Local Division of Forestry and Wildlife office
Idaho	Idaho Fish and Game Regional Office
Illinois	Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Rehabilitation [PDF]
Indiana	N/A
Iowa	Iowa Department of Natural Resources [PDF]
Kansas	Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
Kentucky	Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Louisiana	Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Maine	Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife [PDF]
Maryland	The Maryland Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
Massachusetts	Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Association of Massachusetts
Michigan	Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota	Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Mississippi	Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.
Missouri	Missouri Department of Conservation Regional Office
Montana	N/A
Nebraska	Nebraska Wildlife Rehab
Nevada	Nevada Department of Wildlife [PDF]
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
New Jersey	New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife [PDF]
New Mexico	Animal Protection of New Mexico’s
New York	New York Department of Environmental Conservation
North Carolina	N/A
North Dakota	North Dakota Game and Fish District Office
Ohio	N/A
Oklahoma	N/A
Oregon	Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
South Dakota	Game, Fish & Parks Wildlife Division office
Tennessee	Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Texas	Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Utah	Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Vermont	Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Wildlife Rehabilitator [PDF]
Virginia	Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Washington	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
West Virginia	Department of Natural Resources District Office
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources [PDF]
Wyoming	Game & Fish Department Regional Office

For further information, have a look at the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association.

2. Contact a Local Veterinarian

If you don’t find a wildlife rehabilitator, you can get help from your local veterinarian. The vet will tell you what to do and what not to do with the crow. You may find some vets who offer free help. Check this website to find a local vet near you.

3. Obtain a License

Do you know you’re not allowed to care for a wild bird without a license? This is because birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918. If you insist on taking care of an injured bird, you will need a license.

#Strategy – 3: Help The Crow

If you don’t find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or you have a license to care for the crow, there are a lot to do to help the crow fly. If the crow is not injured, it’s a fledgling and might be learning to fly. You can help it by moving it as little as possible.

1. Move the Bird as Little as Possible

Once you’re going to help the crow, move it as little as possible. With your help, the crow will learn how to fly. However, the bird has a broken wing (or any other injury), it cannot move. Here are some tips to help the crow to fly.

2. Put the Bird in a Box in a Warm, Safe Place

If the crow is injured, put it in a cardboard box with holes for ventilation. Place a soft towel in the bottom. You’ll need another towel to cover the box. Finally, place the box in a warm, quiet, safe place. Don’t allow any potential predators.

3. Give Food

Crows are omnivores, which means they will eat almost anything you offer. However, the following food items you can especially offer the crow:

• Oatmeal
• Ground Beef Heart
• Hard-Boiled Egg Yolk
• Unsalted Peanuts
• Sunflower Seeds
• Corn
• Fresh Fruit
• Mealworms
• Crickets
• High-Protein Dog Food or Puppy Chow
• Avian Vitamin Supplement
• Turkey Starter

Warnings:

• Don’t feed the crow too many mealworms.
• Don’t feed a baby crow milk.

Most importantly, put out a shallow pan of water so that the crow can always be hydrated. If the crow cannot drink by itself, use a syringe and directly put water into its mouth.

#Strategy – 4: Follow Proper Safety Measures

While handling the crow, you need to follow proper safety measures in order to protect yourself from avian diseases. We would recommend wearing gloves. You can wear glasses to protect your eyes from sudden attacks.

1. Wear Protective Gloves

As we have mentioned above, birds can carry many diseases. So, when you’re going to help a crow, don’t pick up the bird with bare hands. Make sure to wear protective gloves made of thick canvas or cloth to protect you from the crow’s claws and beaks.

2. Don’t Become Too Close To the Crow

When you’re handling a crow on the ground, keep your face away from it. Otherwise, it may harm you with its sharp claws and beaks. In this regard, you can wear a pair of sunglasses and a face mask. (The links take you to Amazon)

3. Wash Your Hands

Once you have your job done, it’s necessary to wash your hands and arms thoroughly to protect yourself from diseases and bacteria. We suggest washing your hands and arms with handwash. You can also use hand sanitizer.

Summary

In spring and summer, many baby crows who are unable to fly prematurely leave the nest. You may identify them as injured crows, but they’re alright. Observe such a crow for a few hours. If it can walk and flap its wings, leave it alone.

In fall, winter, and early spring, the crows on the ground are probably injured birds. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to care for it. If you don’t find one, help it as much as possible. Follow proper safety measures while handling the crow.

---

Image credit:

• flickr.com
• stock.adobe.com
• iStockphoto.com
• commons.wikimedia.org