Starlings, Song Thrushes & Blackbirds

Hatchling/Nestling starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds

• 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.

Fledgling starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds

• Fed every 45 minutes for 12-14 hours per day.
• As soon as chicks are perching and moving around their cage offer solid food as well.

Weaning starlings, song thrushes & blackbirds

• 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.

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.