Bird Diets


Feeding birds in captivity until release can be a tricky job. Here are two highly recommended diets that produce good results.

Suggested diet for Omnivores and Ground-Feeding Insectivore Nestlings (Adapted from Schimmel)

Robins, sparrows, starlings, grackles, jays, etc.

1 - 1 1/2 cups Eukanuba high protein puppy chow ("small bites") pre-soaked in 2 cups of hot water (makes 3 cups of soaked chow)

1 cup wheat germ

2 hard boiled eggs

1 - 8 oz. jar carrot baby food

1/2 tsp calcium powder

1/2 tsp avian vitamin powder

1/2 tsp bee pollen

1/4 tsp bene-bac or orni-bac

Have additional water or apple juice available as needed to achieve desired consistency. This ration can be frozen and thawed as needed for use. Important note: bene-bac must be added to thawed formula, as the helpful bacteria do not survive freezing. Feed with 1 cc syringe, as the formula will not go through a feeding needle.

Suggested diet for Aerial Insectivore Nestlings (Adapted from "The Brain Diet of Wildlife Rescue", Palo Alto, CA)

Phoebes, swallows and swifts

1 cup Science Diet Feline Growth pre-soaked in 1 1/2 cups of hot water (makes 3 cups of soaked chow)

1 (2 1/2 oz) jar chicken baby food

1/4 tsp calcium powder

1/4 tsp avian vitamin powder

1/2 tsp bee pollen

1/4 tsp bene-bac or orni-bac

Blend in food processor, adding more water if necessary. This formula will keep several days if refrigerated or can be frozen and thawed as needed. Important note: bene-bac must be added to thawed formula, as the helpful bacteria do not survive freezing.

The copyright of the article Bird Diets in Wildlife Rehabilitation is owned by Clayton Howe. Permission to republish Bird Diets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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