HAND REARING NESTLINGS & FLEDGLINGS
Please contact Hessilhead for advice before attempting to rear
any young birds for the first time. Mistakes are easily made, and can be
difficult to rectify.
Always remember to was your hands before hand feeding.
Dip food in water before feeding.
Allow chicks to swallow food properly before offering more.
Don't overfeed.
Change bedding after each meal.
In the case of nestlings, replace lid/cover after each
meal. This will help conserve energy and heat.
Never offer food that is going stale.
Monitor small chicks - are they getting enough food? are they
getting crushed?
Aim to maintain a constant temperature. On hot days chicks
on a heat pad may need more bedding beneath them in order to reduce temperature. On colder
nights they may need covering with lightweight bedding.
Chicks that can perch should be moved to a cage. The cage
may need to be covered with a towel to prevent them from flapping against the bars.
Offer food and water in shallow dishes but continue hand feeding. Gradually
reduce the frequency of feeds.
Chicks that are reluctant or difficult to feed may need
antibiotics or probiotics - seek veterinary advice.
Who Eats What ?
Finches/sparrows (Cherry red inside mouth)
EMP, fed from fine artists paintbrushes, plus some mealworms and fresh
vegetation.
Blackbirds, thrushes, robins, starlings (Yellow inside mouth)
Glop made from tinned cat food, insectivorous bird food, vitamin and mineral
supplements.
Dunnocks (Orangey red inside mouth)
Glop, mealworms, mince.
Tits (Yellow inside mouth)
Mince with
supplements, mealworms.
Swallows/House Martins (Yellow inside mouth - wide gape)
Mince, mealworms.
Crow family
Glop, raw meat
Owls/Raptors
Raw meat, day old chick with
supplements.
ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE
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