I must admit I even forgot we were playing and did not look until after 5 at the result, as predicted. So today I was clearing up a lot of hazel brush wood from trimming the hedge a few months ago. My wife suddenly finds a nest and a couple of chick's on the grass. We popped the chick's back in the nest, but don't think mum has been back. So I am now feeding this chick's every two hours, started with milk and bread, now moved to porridge oats soaked in milk. Have moved them into yhe shed. As i get a lot of nosy cats in the garden.Not sure which breed they are, probably crows that will nick my strawberries.!!!! If anyone has any advice, as I kind of want them to make it now
To be honest the best advice would be to leave them in or close to the nest. Was the nest in the hedge or in the loose cuttings that were lying on the ground? It's unlikely to be crows in either of those situations. Do they have feathers yet?
Yep they have feathers and are hungry buggers. Will look to give them a last feed just before dark. I thought they may have been sparrows, but look a bit bigger
Parent birds will usually find their chicks if they are left alone. Is the nest still in place or have you cleared it away? If you've cleared it all away and they are big enough to perch on a branch, I'd be inclined to put them in the hedge for the parent birds to find them. If you've ever watched birds feeding their young, the parents are back and forth every few minutes from dawn to dusk. If you've got the time to do that then they may have a chance but if the parents can't find them (in the shed) I think their chances are slim. Also they will get a varied diet from the parents such as insects as well as small seeds. I'm not sure if porridge is acceptable.
We popped them close to the hedge in a trailer and watched for a couple of hours and there was no sign of the parents. Then saw a cat in the garden, so wanted to keep them out of the cats way. Unfortunately, we had disturbed the nest, but put them back in it. Difficult to know. A mate of mine is dropping over some meal worms tomorrow, so their diet will hopefully improve
Wet cat food is good, any live food you can find. They'll primarily be insect eaters as that's what the parents will bring them. Dried mealworms will want softening a bit first. The magpie I'm rearing at the moment is still high maintenance even though it's 2 months old and can fly but it'll be satisfying when it sods off to do wild magpie stuff. Am teaching it how to find insects and suchlike so that I don't need to feed it as often, and it'll gradually become more self reliant
I left a coin on a coffee table on the decking and she flew over and brought it over to me on the patio. Just need her to start doing that with gold now...
My son is a veterinary nurse. He was the one who brought the fledgling home and he knows a fair bit about raising birds. He's fledged seagulls, other magpies, a crow and several robins so it's his project really. Except the bird likes me more than him so I've had to take over
You need to get another one SC. A Magpie on it's own gets sad but they are a lot happier when there's two.
Can we make this a permanent thread ? Missed the old Covid photo thread where people posted landscapes and wildlife. As a birdwatcher, i am not too good in things like insects so find it of practical benefit. There is alot of knowledge in here. The old thread was excellent. We need a wildlife thread again. Does anyone else do the weekly BTO garden birdwatch survey !
They are all feeding like troopers at the moment. I feed them every 2 to 3 hours during the day. Thank God I retired at end of last year. Hoping they make and fly away in a week or two
