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RE: Anyone have experience with Seagulls as pets? page 5

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Phil D.:

[nq:2]Full cream milk is bad for all birds!!! That is reallybad. I am an experienced wildlife carer and I think this is really horrible.[/nq]
[nq:1]The gulls who hang around the dumpster behind the Stop&Shop 35 miles from the ocean don't know that. They eat overripe vegetables, yogurt, offal, and more we don't want to know about.[/nq]
I once saw a gull eat half a pound of rancid margarine out of someone's rubbish bag without turning a hair (or a feather in this case). There was also an occasion where, down at the local docks, there was a large pallet of sheep hides that'd been left outside in the hot sun for a few days and positively stank of death. The gulls were swarming all over it like it was their new god... Emotion: smile

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Bob Blaylock:

[nq:1]I am an experienced wildlife carer...[/nq]
If that were true, then I think you'd be able to spell it.

I hate spam, but that isn't really part of my email address. Remove the string "HatesSpam" from this email address before you use it: (Email Removed)

Ever wonder what it'd be like to be a blood-sucking parasite?

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Gloria Carr:

[nq:2]Full cream milk is bad for all birds!!! That is reallybad. I am an experienced wildlife carer and I think this is really horrible.[/nq]
[nq:1]My gulls seemed to do fine on it - they grew from chicks to large, well-muscled, strong-boned gull-sized gulls without ... their young, but the system works - the gulls thrive on the stuff! I saw no need to change it.[/nq]
Milk isn't toxic to birds. While they can't digest lactose it doesn't hurt them either, lactose just passes through their digestive system undigested. At worse it might give them gas. And gulls are scavengers, fully capable of eating rotten carrion and not coming to harm.
There is a big difference between the types of food that a captive bird should be fed, and the foods that we can feed a wild one. For example feeding a diet of lard and sunflower seeds to a pet finch would be very wrong,the finch would likely become sick and die within months on such a diet. For a wild finch suet and sunflower seeds are an excelent way to see them up close, and do no harm. This is because a wild bird needs more energy then a captive one and won't get fat (unless that's what they need to do), and wild birds are able to eat other foods and thus balance their diet.

I guess my point is that in a way you both are correct. Gulls can and do eat everything in the wild and come to no harm, but captive birds should not be fed anything and everything. They should be fed only healthy foods. What that is for a gull I can't really say, since I have no experience with them, but I imagin that it would be a diet of mostly small marine fish (most likely whatever local baitfish, as well as fresh herrings and sardines), as well as some veggies and fruits, and possibly soaked monkey biscuit.

Gloria

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Akira:

[nq:1]I found a seagull with a broken wing and took him to the vet's. The wing was badly mangled and ... now have a pet seagull, like it or not. He's my responsibility and I fully intend to look after him.[/nq]
Katie,
FYI, I found this very informative web site:
http://britishwildlifehelpline.com/index.html
(The earlier listing of British rehab centers was actually part of this website.)
It has some specific instructions as to what to feed gulls on an emergency basis when they aren't eating. (Fishy canned cat food, if necessary diluted with water and tube-fed, is what they suggest.) Also it has a list of some rehab-related reference books that you might want to look into.

Although the site doesn't have any other gull-specific info, it does say:

"If you want any other information please contact: (Email Removed) "
So I wonder if this could be another potential source of info for you, along with the previously mentioned list of rehab facilities.

Also, aside from all of the above, one thing I would consider doing, if I were you, is weighing the bird periodically. Keeping a record of this and monitoring weight trend should help you judge its current health status.

For example if it is maintaining or gaining weight and looks alert and responsive, probably things are going okay. On the other hand if it starts to lose weight, it may be time to consult a vet to see what might be going on, etc. Just a suggestion.
Hope this helps.
-Akira (in California, USA)
"Still learning gull ID after all these years"

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Grygon's:

taking in a wild animal, no matter your good attentions is never a good idea unless you are experienced with animal rescue or are prepared to do a good amount of research, and i don't mean by just asking newsgroups. contact your local animal wild life rescue center or zoo and they can set you up either with some one who already knows what they are doing, or with someone who can teach you what to do. it seems to me you have no experience in this sort of thing, and the animal will suffer for it. Emotion: sad

another thing to consider: it might be illegal in your state to have this bird! i've hand-rescued many baby birds before, one time i found a baby starling (biggest damn "beak targets" i've ever seen) and the wildlife rescue center told me despite my experience in wildlife rescue it was a good thing i brought it in cause it was illegal in my state to keep, no matter the reason, migratory birds such as the starling.
please get help for this bird, it's nothing to take lightly! even if you keep it, DO YOUR RESEARCH!

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pammyT :

[nq:1]taking in a wild animal, no matter your good attentions is never a goodidea unless you are experienced with animal ... know many Americans seem to think we are another American state but we are not, nor will we ever be.[/nq]
It is not illegal to keep an injured gull in the U.K.
[nq:1]i've hand-rescued many baby birds before, one time i found a baby starling (biggest damn "beak targets" i've ever seen) ... :0) please get help for this bird, it's nothing to take lightly! even if you keep it, DO YOUR RESEARCH![/nq]
The last bit I agree with.

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Gloria Carr:

I'm still trying to figure out which state it is that is illegal to keep starlings 'because they are a migratory species'. Starlings are non-native, are not classified as a migratory species because they are non-native, and are legal to keep in every single state I've looked up the law on. Mind you, I haven't checked out all fifty states. As far as I am aware starlings are actually illegal to RELEASE for any reason.
Gloria

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dlg:

Check with Rush Limbaugh, he loves them.

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maz:

I actually rescued a Silver Gull today. It had a fish hook peirced through its tongue. Poor thing. After both my daughters help we managed to get this hook out after having to peirce the hook through even more to get the point out before cutting the hook with wire cutters and pulling the rest of it out. After a dose of Metacam for the pain, the Silver Gull is resting comfortably. I am hoping to release it in a couple of days after a feed of white bait. Tonight though it is minced beef(uncooked) with some insectivore mixed in and some glucose and water. It was so badly dehydrated poor thing. He is standing up tonight..so i am hoping for a full recovery.

Maz

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