Housing Nestling Altricial Chicks - General Guidelines

Create a nest from a small plastic berry container (or similar). Chicks like to defecate over the side, which makes it easier to keep them clean. Line the container with toilet or tissue paper. Avoid materials that can wrap around chicks toes and feet.

Avoid using old nests, they're not clean enough and they're hard to keep clean.

Place your makeshift nest within another box that's high enough so that they can't escape.

Keep the nest warm. Refer to the following species recommendations:

• Magpies
• Sparrows & Finches
• Starlings, Song Thrushes & Blackbirds

Weigh chicks regularly on kitchen scales. The first sign of a problem may be weigh loss and/or not gaining enough weight.