From: " Chris Lloyd" <>
Date: 10 December 2007 3:36:53 PM
To: "Russell Woodford" <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Magpie Chick
Just a couple of quick points on magpie husbandry:
Diet should be premium mince steak and either Vetafarm's Insectapro
or Wombaroo Insectivore (most large pet shop should stock one of
these) in a ration of 60:40. Add some calcium at about 1% of the
weight of the other two. The bird should get at least 3+ hour
sunlight per day. Usually they are fed on demand which will depend
on development stage. Feeding is done by placing a ball of the
above mix on the end of skewer dipping it in water and pushing it
over the tongue and down the gaping throat. The ball size should be
about 3/4 of the width of the gape. 2-3 balls each feed and allow
it to sleep. Feeding is between roughly an hour or so after sunrise
and up until an hour or so before sunset. It will eventually need
transition to live food but this may be assisted by behavioural
exposure.
Housing: This will depend on development stage. If it is fully
feathered and perching it should be reared outside and exposed to
all elements with some basic shelter. It is important that the
substrate not be abrasive (concrete or similar) but rather leaf
litter, and that any perches are greater in diameter than it digits
when closed. If not perching then it should be inside at night
while in plastic ice-cream sized tub with kitchen paper on the
bottom. If the bird is not fuly feathered it is not
thermoregulating and will require some thermal support through a
heat pad or similar particularly at night.
Behaviour: The bird will need consistent exposure to other magpies.
This may mean some agonistic behaviour but this is to be expected
in a territorial species. If the bird is not caged and is
consistently attack just protect it in a cage but contimue to allow
some interaction or at least sight of adult magpies. This is
critical to a successful release otherwise it will become
excessively humanised.
Disease: "Bumblefoot" a bacterial infection of the soles of the
feet can be an issues if inappropriate substrate or perches are used.
Many ground foraging chicks can present with "Gape worm" this
nematode will appear as white threads or nodules in the mouth and
throat. This needs to be treated with "Ivermectin" (sheep strength)
or similar.
Avian Pox is possible if mosquitos are active and will present as
reddish white lumps on the exposed skin of the legs, feet and face.
Protect the bird from mosquito strike and apply some betadine or
saline wash to the lumps to reduce the secondary infection risk.
Please feel free to get in touch if we can be of use. Ciao
Chris Lloyd
Training Officer
WIRES
PO Box 260
Forestville NSW 2087
