Update on Amigo the owl

Amigo the white-faced owl is still not eating on his own, so I have to push food into his mouth every evening.  He eats a mixture of minced beef, kapenta fish and pieces of mouse that I cut up for him.  I have not managed to get him to swallow a whole one.  Perhaps they are too big for him.

 Feeding time

 Trying to keep cool

On 26^th October Amigo managed to remove his cardboard wing splint.  I found it lying in the cage.  So the next day I had my sister come and check on his wing.  After examination she said the bone seemed to be healing, so she suggested leaving the splint off.

Meanwhile, his injured left eye has begun to shrink, so he may not recover his sight in that eye as I had hoped.

Amigo's story continued

Amigo the White-faced Owl is still alive, amazingly, after being hit by a car a week ago.  He has been rather inactive, probably still suffering from concussion.  One day I found him covered in ants because he had just been sitting still the whole day.

I almost thought he was completely blind because he hardly responded to any movement, only sound and touch.  But the next day he was responding, though slowly.  I just hope he does not have permanent brain damage.

Doesn't he look cute here, sitting on my hand (which, luckily for me, was protected with an oven glove at the time!)

I started him on kapenta (small fish), which he seems to like.  I alternate this with minced beef.  He is not feeding by himself yet, I have to push the food into his mouth and then he swallows willingly.  He is eating a good amount – the equivalent of one or two mice a day, which is a good sign.

Yesterday he came out of his box for the first time and was looking much livelier.

Amigo's Story

Three days ago I acquired a white-faced owl.  It had been hit by a car the night before and ended up on the bonnet, rather dazed.  On examination it was found to have an injured left eye and a broken wing. 

It did not eat anything the first night.  I called it Amigo, after the Amigo Crisps box that it came in.  Amigo happens to mean "friend" in Spanish, which is a nice name for my new friend.

The following day my sister helped to put a cardboard splint on its broken wing.  That night I force-fed it with mincemeat.

Managed to force-feed Amigo again last night.  He is not looking too happy, but is still alive, and did manage to eat a fair amount, which is a hopeful sign.  I have no idea if he has any internal injuries from the accident.  Only time will tell.