How do you take care of a hummingbird with a broken wing?

What should you do if you find a hummingbird with a broken wing?

If you find a hummingbird with an injured or broken wing, here are some steps you can take to help:

1. Assess the situation

Carefully observe the hummingbird from a distance first. Note if it is able to fly or perch at all or if the wing is dangling or looks obviously broken. A broken wing will prevent the bird from being able to fly properly. Look for any other injuries as well, like bleeding or damaged feet.

2. Capture the hummingbird safely

Hummingbirds are very fragile, so you need to capture them gently. Wear thick gloves so the bird cannot stab you with its beak or scratch you. Approach slowly and try to loosely cover the bird with a lightweight towel or small net to restrict its movement. Scoop up the bundle and transfer to a cardboard box or ventilated plastic container. Avoid handling the bird directly to prevent further injury.

3. Provide a quiet, dark, and warm space

Place the box in a warm, dark, and quiet space to help calm the stressed bird. You can drape the box with a lightweight cloth. Provide a perch made from a stick, pinecone, or small branch sprayed with water to give the bird a place to rest its feet. Do not give food or water yet.

4. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator

Seek expert help as soon as possible. Look up wildlife rehabilitation centers in your area and contact them to make arrangements for bringing in the injured hummingbird. Time is critical for the bird’s recovery, so do this step promptly. Provide details about how and where you found the bird.

Trained rehabilitators will be able to properly assess the wing damage, set broken bones if needed, provide adequate nutrition, and monitor the bird’s recovery in the critical days and weeks ahead. Most will splint and wrap the wing to stabilize it.

5. Follow care instructions

Follow any at-home care instructions provided by the rehab center while you wait to bring the bird in. This may include placing a sugar water feeder made with 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water near its perch. Don’t try to force feed. Keep the hummingbird in a quiet space away from children and pets until transportation can be arranged. Minimize unnecessary noise and activity around it.

What are a hummingbird’s chances of surviving a broken wing?

A hummingbird’s chances of surviving a broken wing depend on how severe the injury is and how quickly it can be treated by a wildlife rehabilitator. Here are some factors that affect the prognosis:

• Location of the break – Fractures close to the shoulder joint are more difficult to treat than those on the outer wing.
• Complete vs incomplete fracture – Complete breaks that separate the wing into two pieces have a poorer prognosis than incomplete cracks.
• Soft tissue damage – Extensive bruising, torn ligaments or tendons will complicate recovery.
• Age of the bird – Younger hummingbirds have better bone healing ability.
• Other injuries – Concurrent head trauma, internal bleeding, or spinal damage will decrease survival odds.
• Time to treatment – The sooner the wing is professionally stabilized, the higher the chance of healing properly.

With quick transport to a rehab facility and proper veterinary care, many hummingbirds fully recover from a fractured wing and can be successfully released back to the wild. However, the rehabilitation process takes patience, as it may require up to 6-8 weeks in captivity.

How should you splint a hummingbird’s broken wing?

Here are some tips for properly splinting a hummingbird’s injured wing if a vet or rehabilitator instructs you to do so:

• Use small, smooth wooden craft sticks or popsicle sticks. Wrap with cotton padding.
• Align and straighten the wing bones gently into normal anatomical position.
• Place one stick above and one stick below the fracture site.
• Use removable first aid or medical tape to securely hold the splints around the injured wing.
• Take care not to wrap the tape too tight or it can restrict blood flow.
• Check the splint every few days. Realign if needed as swelling goes down.
• Keep the splint on for 3-4 weeks until the bone has healed.
• Prevent the bird from getting the splint wet by covering with plastic during bathing.

Proper wing splinting will immobilize the break to allow the bone to fuse and regenerate tissue. This gives the hummingbird the best chance of regaining normal flight ability again after the splint can be removed.

What do you feed a hummingbird while its wing is healing?

While a hummingbird recovers from a broken wing, it’s important to provide adequate nutrition:

• Nectar – Give a specialized hummingbird nectar mix of 1 part white granulated sugar dissolved in 4 parts water. Do not use honey, which can harbor bacteria harmful to hummingbirds. Change nectar daily.
• Insects – Offer fruit flies, small mealworms, or other tiny insects to provide essential protein. This helps support tissue repair.
• Fruit – Occasionally supplement with minced fruit like melon, banana, grapes or strawberries for carbohydrates and nutrients like vitamin C.
• Calcium – Dust insects with calcium carbonate powder to aid bone healing. Or soak raisins in calcium lactate solution.
• Feeders – Use very narrow, specialized hummingbird feeders that allow the bird to access nectar while keeping its splint dry. Avoid wider dishes that require landing or perching.

Provide small amounts of food multiple times a day. Clean the beak and face if needed between feedings. Place feeders near an accessible perch inside the recovery housing. Adequate nutrition will help the hummingbird maintain muscle tone and energy levels while its activity is restricted during wing healing.

What are some common complications from a broken wing?

Some potential complications that may arise from a broken wing in hummingbirds include:

• Improper healing – If the fracture is not properly stabilized, the bones may heal in an abnormal position and impair flight.
• Joint stiffness – Immobility during recovery can cause the shoulder joint to stiffen, limiting range of motion.
• Muscle atrophy – Disuse of the wing muscles can cause significant loss of strength and mass.
• Necrotic tissue – Compromised blood supply from swelling or splinting too tightly results in tissue death.
• Infection – Open wounds are vulnerable to bacteria; antibiotics may be prescribed.
• Feather damage – Molting issues, clipping, or loss of waterproofing can prevent flight.
• Chronic pain – If not set properly, bone spurs or arthritis may cause lingering discomfort.

To avoid complications, professional avian veterinary care from an experienced rehabilitator is highly recommended for any significant hummingbird wing injury. With proper treatment, most young hummingbirds recover well and regain full flight capability.

How can you tell when the wing is healed and ready for release?

Here are some signs that indicate a hummingbird’s injured wing has healed and it may be ready for release back to the wild:

• Full range of motion – The bird can fully extend and flap the wing without difficulty.
• Sustained flight – It is able to continuously fly and hover for several minutes inside its enclosure.
• Symmetrical wings – Both wings appear equal in strength, flexibility, and span.
• Waterproof feathers – The plumage re-grows intact with healthy water-repellent coating.
• Normal behavior – The hummingbird is alert, feeding, and exhibits typical territorial instincts.
• No swelling – The joint and bone have healed with no residual inflammation.
• X-rays – Radiographs confirm the fracture has closed and remodeled normally.
• Vet approval – A final veterinary exam gives medical clearance for release.

Full recovery time is usually 4-8 weeks but depends on the severity of the initial injury. Closely monitor for any lingering weakness, stiffness, or abnormal flight before approving release. The bones must be given sufficient time to completely heal to prevent re-injury.

What is the release process for a rehabilitated hummingbird?

When the vet confirms a rehabilitated hummingbird is ready for release after its wing has healed, follow these tips for a successful return to the wild:

• Choose a suitable habitat – Release in an appropriate flowering meadow or wooded area that supports wild hummingbirds.
• Select good weather – Pick a mild, calm day without rain or high winds.
• Transport securely – Place the bird in a small box or cage, limiting excessive movement during transport.
• Open the carrier – Do this near flowers, feeders, or perches so the bird can easily access food.
• Stand back – Move away quickly so the hummingbird exits and flies off on its own.
• Boost energy – Provide nectar in the release area to help restore fat reserves.
• Wait and watch – Observe from a distance to ensure the bird is flying well and feeding normally before leaving.
• Avoid handling – Any handling should only be done by trained experts wearing protective gear.

With proper rehabilitation and an appropriate release protocol, a hummingbird can make a full recovery from a broken wing and thrive again in the wild. Pay close attention for any signs of struggle or impaired flight immediately after release.

Conclusion

Caring for an injured hummingbird and nursing it back to health requires specialized knowledge and dedicated effort. But with prompt action, proper emergency care, veterinary treatment, adequate nutrition, and sufficient recovery time, even a broken wing can often be healed and flight restored. While the rehabilitation process demands significant time and commitment, it gives the tiny bird a second chance to be successfully returned to its natural habitat. With some basic understanding of hummingbird anatomy, first aid, handling techniques, nutrition, and release procedures, an attentive rescuer can make all the difference in saving a hummingbird’s life.