Starlings, Song Thrushes & Blackbirds

Hatchling/Nestling starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds

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• Keep hatchlings/nestlings warm at 32-35°C by using a lamp or heat pad.

• Use a plastic berry container as a nest. Line it with toilet or tissue paper.

• Weigh regularly

• Fed 5% of a chick's body weight every 20-30 minutes for 12-14 hours per day.

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Fledgling starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds

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• Feed every 45-60 minutes for 12-14 hours per day.

• House in a laundry basket with a window screen lining or use a large plastic container. You can cut a window in the container lid and put the window screen lining in.

• Use natural perches, e.g. wooden sticks and branches.

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Weaning starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds

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• Start weaning when fledglings are starting to self-feed.

• Their weight will continue to increase overtime. There may be little decreases overnight, but then the weight will increase during the day.

• Feedings should be slowly decreased over a period of days.

• Use a larger cage, cockatiel sized.

• When self-feeding use an aviary (or similar large enclosure) to build-up flight muscles.

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Food in the wild

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Starlings

Starlings mainly eat invertebrates, some grains, food scraps from humans, fruit and occasionally nectar.

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Blackbirds

Blackbirds mainly feed on invertebrates and some berries.