HELP!!!

I have a 2 day old blue tit nestling. I have been feeding him mince beef every hour ( he won't take it any sooner) and he has been thriving. BUT tonight iv noticed his abdomen is looking VERY black??? With a sort of yellow bit in it... I hatched him from an egg as my neighbour destroyed his nest. By mistake of course. Anyway it was irreparable and the only whole egg was still warm! I set my radiator to 38 degrees and 48 hours later he was pipping! Al be honest I did not expect it to even work! But he's here!! His belly was a little black at hatching but I'm sure it's not ment to be as bad as it is.... I can't find any info on this anywhere so this is our last plea for help... 

  • I'd be inclined to check www.helpwildlife.co.uk and see if there is a rescue centre nearby (not a vet).

  • I have rang the local charities and because of the covid 19 they won't collect him and I can't drive and deliver him anywhere... This is his only hope
  • Is the BT processing the food? Is it still passing stools? If it is, I should continue with the feeding during the day and keep it warm at night. Can't any of these charities offer you some advice? I don't know where you are located, but try calling East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service when they are open tomorrow (or message them on Facebook) and see if they can either offer advice or maybe they could contact a rescue that is close to you and seek their help. I can't suggest anything else really.
  • He passed a small stool 3/4 hours ago but it never popped out I ended up wiping it from his bottom. I hand rear orphan parakeets and parrots for breeders when I'm needed but this is a totally different kettle of fish. The lady I spoke to have me advice, told me to keep him between 37/38 degrees and feed him maggot sized bits of mince dipped in water. After some research I have also found and given mushed up aphids and a spider abdomen this evening in the hope it may hydrate him if he needs it and maybe loosen him up if he's struggling... He's still taking food readily. His stomach just looks so unhealthy and I can't seem to find any pics of a young BT abdomen to compare it too

    Thanks for the reply
  • He's asleep now hopefully he's still with us in the morning xx
  • The mince should really be a very temporary thing. Blue Tits eat insects. He won't be able to process that much mince. Look on line and see if you can order some live wax worms or mealworms from Livefoodsdirect. Ideally he needs to be at a proper rescue centre. I rescue pigeons and know what to do with them, but when it comes to song birds I have only looked after them for two or three days until I can get them to a rescue centre. I feed them live insects, I cut the wax worms or remove the heads from the mealworms, so they can be digested. Otherwise they pass straight through the system.
    The BT really does need specialist care though. I can't stress that enough. It also needs to be with its own kind.
    Good luck to you both. Hope you can get him to a rescue centre. Try calling WRAS as soon as they are open.