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Ground
Insects – Termites, Beetles, Ants, Winged Insects – Mosquitoes,
Flies, Moths, Foliage Insects – Scale, Bugs, Aphids, Insect
Larvae, Spiders, Caterpillars, Crickets & Worms.
All these birds eat insects and bugs which contain meat
(protein), cereal and grain extracts (carbohydrates) and other
minerals. Some will eat mice and small animals / reptiles or
pick at animal carcasses.
The ratio 60% protein, 40% carbohydrate is a good balance for
their diet.
It is essential that we get the birds eating their natural
foods, so don’t forget to give them insects, bugs, and chopped
up mice as well.
Foods
1
A simple and effective food for a magpie, is Pedigree Puppy
kibble soaked in cold water for about 1 – 2 hours. The kibble
is made from rice and contains vitamins and protein which have
been found to be effective in raising birds.
Foods
2
A special magpie mix can be made from ½ cup of lean mincemeat
(no preservatives), 4 teaspoons of Insectivore mix, 4 teaspoons
of rice cereal, 2 teaspoons of bread crumbs. Mix a little water
to make a
thick paste which can be rolled up into a pellet about 2 –
2.5cm long and 1 cm in diameter. About ¼ teaspoon of calcium
powder should be added for bone and beak development.
Foods 3
1kg Minced Chicken Frames
2 Eggs (scrambled)
2 Weetbix
70gms Wombaroo Insectivore Mix
1/2 Cup Rice Cereal (optional)
1 Cup Grated Cheese
Add water if mix is too dry.
Special
note......
Some birds such as magpies, crows, hawks and owls, cannot digest
everything they eat. As a result the birds cough up a "cast" of
beetle legs, wings, mouse fur and bones which looks like a black
pellet made up of all these bits and pieces.
Murray Magpies
The same foods apply for the Magpie Lark and ½ cup apple puree
may be added to the mixture for moisture content..
Swallows
Soaked Pedigree Puppy Biscuits
Wombaroo Insectivore
High Protein Rice Cereal
Cut soaked biscuits into very tiny pieces. Dip in a mixture of
1/3 cup water, 2 teaspoons insectivore, thickened with rice
cereal to a runny custard consistency.
Offer the birds mealworms (heads removed) and any other small
insects you can find such as moths, flies, aphids. Swallows do
well if offered a wide variety of insects.
Offer extra water at each feed using an eyedropper. Swallows
need lots of fluid or they become constipated.
When swallows come in to care and are weak offer glucose and
water dribbled over the beak. Then start adding the above
ingredients to the glucose and water, as the bird becomes more
active.
Swallows need to be fed every 10-15 minutes from sun up to sun
down.
Swallows are very temperamental birds to hand rear in
captivity. A high death rate is common. These birds should only
be reared by carers that are home all day and can supply regular
feeds.
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