Green Heron help?

[RandomChick23]

Ok, well the story behind us finding this little guy is that my Aunt was driving home when she spotted this little birdy being harassed by neighborhood cats. She watched him as he tried to fly but he couldn't as he is not yet of flying age. My Aunt could not sit their any longer and she quickly jumped out of her car and caught him in a blanket. She brought him to her house till she could figure out what to do with him. As you can tell from his pictures he isn't a very young baby, but to young to be out on his own. He is well fed with a nice diet of small fish currently. When he first came home he was very scared and ran from us every chance he got. We tossed him fish which he ate quickly. The next morning though he I have a feeling he figured out where the food was coming from and it was as if he had became domesticated over night! He was letting us pet him, was climbing on our fingers, following us around the house, and eating from our hands! He has a nice warm blanket and is currently staying in a large dog crate. My Aunt would love to train him and keep him as a pet as he grows but when we researched his type they said that he can reach up to a Foot and a half long. The question that we wanted to know is that can we train him to become a pet? He has a very nice attitude and a great personality Also, how much does he need to eat per day? Like how many fish per day? Currently he eats about 15-25 small rosy minnows a day. Any tips/help regarding his type or just on raising him would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read this

 

[Karigan]

Wow! I don't see why not, unless there are legal restrictions on his species in your area. Make sure you know everything there is to know about him, his diet, expenses, etc...

 

[RandomChick23]

He is not illegal for us to have His type is actually a bother to people... His kind has a bad reputation for stealing high quality koi fish and other small fish from ponds hehe... I cannot figure out what the exact amount is to give him per day though. :-/

 

[Triplemoon]

Possibly call and ask your local zoo vet?

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a CUTIE PIE!!!!!

I would allow him as much freedom as you can, if possible. I don't know how many fish he eats a day, but I would think quite a few. And as he grows, he'll need more fish. He will let you know when he's had enough.

 

[Kalidasa]

He's awfully cute, but he's a wild animal and it would be a crime against nature to keep him past fully fledging. I agree with greys advice above. It's extremely cruel to keep him past rehabilitation in any cage, and he will most likely die. Please do the right thing.

 

[MissTaz]

Wow what a cool looking little guy!

 

[RandomChick23]

So it's not good to try an train him as pet? We went down to town hall to figure out if any laws prohibit us from being able to have him. He is perfectly legal :3 Also I have searched far and wide to find an answer to my fish issue and cannot find an answer but this bird will eat and eat and eat LOL If he wanted to I bet he could go through 50 fish in one sitting! I'm currently just going by what amount his parents would be feeding him. Or at least close to what they would be feeding him. But that is the only thing he will eat o.o What I also realized is he will only eat either from our hands or if the fish is in his water bowl. What if I leash trained him with a good bird leash for exercise? My Aunts main concern is that when it comes time to let him go that he wont be able to hunt for himself .-.

 

[aliray]

The town hall is not the place to go to see if he is legal. I agree with Grey's advice. It is illegal to keep native birds in the USA unless you are a registered wildlife rehabilatator It would be better for the bird to be released back to the wild after being rehabed. What state do you live in? the Migratory Bird Act is a federal law

 

[RandomChick23]

I live in California And oh, sorry then my mistake I thought you guys ment local laws x3

 

[RandomChick23]

Update on Baby Roger

He is doing well! We added waxworms to his diet so currently he gets about 15-20 fish and 2-5 waxworms throughout the day He has became very social and is quiet an intelligent little fella! We are making him catch his food by setting alive fish in a baby pool filled with water. He can catch them easily, and enjoys it. Making very good progress Still unable to fly though... He is getting there :3

Him in the morning enjoying the sun for his morning air time ^ ^ ^

He has became finger trained :3 Or hand trained I should say xD Hes feet are to big for our fingers. He is a very intelligence little guy

I shall update more on his progress throughout the weeks

(Sorry for how large the picture are)

 

[Karigan]

Cool, can't wait for updates!

 

[mimi88]

What a darling he is. If you keep him, where do you plan on keeping him as he gets older and larger? Just curious. If he is so adapted to human contact and feeding it will be harder to release him, as he has learnt to become dependent on you.

 

[RandomChick23]

Well we are just going to allow him to leave when he wishes I guess? We are not going to keep him in a cage though We allow him to roam free during the day and he hunts in the grass for bugs. He knows how to catch food for himself we just give him the fish to practice with. When it is time for him to eat we put some fish in a small baby pool with water that goes right above his little feet and he hunts the fish During the night he sleeps in his large crate because of the cats that come out :3 We are slowly getting there to let him free

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I really insist that you find a wild life reserve who will be able to care for him properly. It is not legal to own a heron of any type. Although he may seem tame and is adorable nothing good will come from him bein in your care. It would be very selfish to keep him when you will never be able to give him the proper care and he will most surely dye at a very premature age. Even if he is unable to be returned to the wild he proper facilities will she capable of giving him a amazing environment to live in that will replicate the natural one.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Well we are just going to allow him to leave when he wishes I guess? We are not going to keep him in a cage though We allow him to roam free during the day and he hunts in the grass for bugs. He knows how to catch food for himself we just give him the fish to practice with. When it is time for him to eat we put some fish in a small baby pool with water that goes right above his little feet and he hunts the fish During the night he sleeps in his large crate because of the cats that come out :3 We are slowly getting there to let him free

That's good you plan to let him free at some point, but still contact he fish and game and tell them your situation as well as ask to advice. They should know a ornithologist who can talk to you and tell you what the heron needs. It's for the better of the bird.

 

[RandomChick23]

Oh goodness So it is illegal for us to have him? Oh gosh D: I will try to find a wild life rehab sanctuary... It won't be easy as I don't even have an avian vet near me :-/

 

[RandomChick23]

UPDATE: Roger was givin to a Professional wild life rescue It was actually quiet funny when the man came to pick him up because he was all suited up in heavy gloves and a mask and was carefully trying to pick him up. Then my Aunt was all "Roger come here" and he jumped on her hand and she set him in the box. It was a very sad goodbye because we actually became very attached to the little bird It was the best for him though. We are going to miss him <3 He has been returned to the wild. Or shall be once he has became "Untame"

 

[BillsBirds]

Having been a Wildlife Rehabber myself, with proper permits & training, I know that you meant well. But, wildlife needs are very different than an average household can provide. You did many right things by him, but, it really is best that he is now in a facility that can fully provide for his natural needs & instincts. I commend you for your efforts, and this is the best solution. Many wild creatures fostered by well meaning people suffer in the long run. You have helped him along his way, and he will be better suited to a natural life now. I've been following this thread with great interest, and am very happy with this outcome. Thanks for what you've done.

 

[Betrisher]

Good on you for doing the right thing by this little bloke. Hopefully, he'll eventually be returned to the wild, where he'll have babies and take his rightful place in the scheme of things!