Baby magpies mainly eat worms and insects, which are fed to them by their parents. If you need to feed a baby magpie, here are some guidelines:
-
Hatchling/nestling magpies: Keep them a little cooler than other chicks at 29.4-32.2°C. Feed them every 30 minutes from 7.00am - 9.00pm. House chicks in a margarine container lined with toilet or tissue paper. When pin feathers appear, feed chicks every 30-45 minutes from 8.00am - 8.00pm.
-
Pre-fledgling & fledgling magpies: Feed pre-fledgling magpies every 45 minutes and fledgling magpies every 2 hours. House older chicks in a cardboard box with a plastic screen window. Line the box with a towel and a pillowcase over it. Use a towel rolled into a donut shape as a nest. Place the box near a window, so that the chicks can see other birds. Place natural perches like small branches in the box. When the chicks can perch and sample food, progress to a pre-flight cage (larger parrot sized cage). Chicks should be self-feeding before going to an aviary.
-
Young magpie diet: According to the South Island Wildlife Hospital, a young magpie diet can be made from the following ingredients: 1 cup Hills Science Diet Canine Growth kibble soaked in 1 cup of cold water, 1 4oz (112g) baby banana or 4oz ripe banana, 1 peeled hard boiled egg, 1 teaspoon of bird vitamins, 1 teaspoon (approximately 1,800mg) ground calcium carbonate, ⅙ cup of green vegetables e.g. zucchini and/or cucumber, and ⅙ cup of yellow or orange vegetables e.g. carrots and/or squash. Mash the soaked kibble. In a food processor, pulse chop egg, fruit and vegetables until they are coarsely chopped. Mix all the ingredients together. This can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Its important to note that feeding magpies inappropriate food such as bread and plain mince can actually cause more harm than good. Additionally, some foods like dairy products may possibly harm a magpie’s health.
