We were out doing the chores at the barn where my daughter, Emily rides as usual tonight. We were almost done when we heard the barn cats up in the hay loft running around and raising a ruckus. Then we saw a little bird fall from the hay loft and hit the ground. I scooped him up before the cats came pouncing down. I believe he's a barn swallow - he has some feathers - but cannot fly at all. We didn't see any visible nest and with the cats watching our every move with him - didn't feel it was safe to leave him there. We've got him in a small aquarium with a heat lamp on 1 side of it. I did some online search (there were some good links here on past threads) made him some food and he just ate and is sleeping in the corner of the aquarium. He's pretty young looking and I fear he's not going to make it. I don't see any visible wounds etc. from the cats - but not sure - and who knows if he has internal injuries from the fall. The closest Wildlife rehab. I could find listed online is a little over 2 hours away. Anything else anyone can think of we should be doing or trying? How often should we try to feed him? I did send an email to Arty, but don't know if he got it.

(my dad said it was fate - we would have been done and gone - but we had a flat tire out at the barn and my husband had to put the spare on before we could leave.)

Arty has an uncanny sense for these things. He'll be on soon!

sounds like you are doing the correct thing so far........ if the little one hit the ground he may have had the wind knocked out of him..... and may need tha t meal and a good warm night to just pick him up... *he also may have some injuries within internally* but hopefully not....... will be thinking of him......... through the night........

Steph, I don't have any advice but just wanted to say thanks for giving the little one a chance and I hope he improves.

I recieved and responded to your e-mail Steph, you are doing all you can do.
Canned cat food will provide the nutrients needed, a small amount on the end of a tooth pick dropped into the little ones mouth will help.
Pictures will help to determine the little ones age...
Canned dog food will also help depending on what you have on hand, or earth worms smashed up, maybe even meal worms.
Thank you very much for helping this little one, hopefully you will be able to help this little one live...
Keep us posted.
Arty

Hard to say about the feedings, depending on the age the little one may need to be fed every 3 hrs, as stated above this little one will need high protein, if you could offer meal worms and or earth worms mashed up and dip into water to help re-hydrate.
The nest could be anywhere directly above where the fall occured, there's a 24 hrs time frame where the little one can be re-placed into the nest.
Canned dog food or cat food will work, small amounts provided onto the end of a toothpick and or something small...
Very hard to say if there are internal injuries, but if the cat did get ahold of the little one "not to discourage you", but the cat saliva will be a serious factor.
Keep doing what you are doing, do your best to provide high protien feed as mentioned above, there's moisture in the canned food however dipping into water will help much more..
Keep in mind, you can help, but you can only do so much, follow what has been mentioned and keep your hopes up.
Peace
Arty

Thanks Arty - I just sent you an email. We made it through the night. I just fed him, he doesn't seem any worse than last night - but not sure he seems any better either. After doing some research last night I realized there were lots of nests in the barn - I just didn't recognize them as such. (I thought they were big mud dauber's nests! I guess I need to get better acquainted with wildlife!) Unfortunately - they're all so high up - I don't see how we could possibly reach them. I'll get some pictures taken later this morning.

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this is what I FOUND when I Lived in the country..... it took them 3 days to finish....... they are red in color........... we did have a little one fall out but i had no way of getting him back i didnt know the things i know now. from being here.

The little one is still doing well. His feeding response has really picked up. He's actually begging for food now, which is nice so we don't have to "force" feed. It's also nice because this way we don't have to handle him as much. Emily wants to - but I told her we saved him so we could release him once he's better and can fly. We didn't save him to try and tame him and keep him for a pet. It's just the right thing to do (besides the fact I'm pretty sure it's illegal to keep them as pets!). We've been having trouble with our electricity going on and off all day. We're ready to head out now for the Open House at the kids' schools. But I'll post some pics tonight (as long as we have electricity then!)

We were back at the barn today and there were several dead babies that had been blown from their nests last night. (we had 60 mph winds and lots of tree limbs down, etc.) I can't help but feel for some reason, this baby was meant to live. Corny, I know, but still ......

Bless you Stephanie, for doing all you can for this little one. I know we all will be pulling for him!