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.
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Use a plastic berry container as a nest. Line it with toilet or tissue paper.
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Weigh regularly
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Fed 5% of a chick's body weight every 20-30 minutes for 12-14 hours per day.
Fledgling starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds
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Feed every 45-60 minutes for 12-14 hours per day.
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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.
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Use natural perches, e.g. wooden sticks and branches.
Weaning starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds
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Start weaning when fledglings are starting to self-feed.
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Their weight will continue to increase overtime. There may be little decreases overnight, but then the weight will increase during the day.
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Feedings should be slowly decreased over a period of days.
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Use a larger cage, cockatiel sized.
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When self-feeding use an aviary (or similar large enclosure) to build-up flight muscles.
Food in the wild
Starlings
Starlings mainly eat invertebrates, some grains, food scraps from humans, fruit and occasionally nectar.
Blackbirds
Blackbirds mainly feed on invertebrates and some berries.
