Raising a baby thrush
Hand-rearing a thrush
Finding a thrush and basic care
If you find a young thrush, first put it in a cardboard box or a spacious aviary with soft bedding. Provide comfortable housing at a temperature of 28–30°C using heaters or bottles of warm water wrapped in fabric.
- Veterinary check-up: See a vet to get a proper diagnosis and advice on caring for the young thrush.
Stage one: from 0 to 10 days
Thrushes are omnivores, but their diet should include high-quality protein and a variety of foods that simulate their natural menu.
- Food:
- Meat: Finely chopped chicken or turkey (raw, with no fat).
- Insects: Mealworm larvae, crickets, grasshoppers, corn rootworm beetles.
- Fruit: Finely chopped fruit such as apples, bananas and peaches.
- Supplements: Adding calcium powder and vitamin supplements for birds.
- Amount of food per feed: 1–2 small insects or 5–10 grams of meat and fruit per feed.
- Feeding schedule: Every 2–3 hours, including night feeds.
- How do you know it is full?: The bird calms down and stops actively begging for food, the beak stays closed and activity decreases.
Stage Two: From 10 Days to 3 Weeks
Food:
- Insects: Crickets, grasshoppers, mealworm larvae.
- Fruit and vegetables: Chopped apple, pear, peach, plums, and vegetables such as carrot.
- Smaller prey: Newborn rodents or small birds.
Amount of food per feed: 3–4 insects or one small piece of prey, plus 15–20 grams of fruit.
Feeding schedule: Every 4 hours, no night feeds.
Stage three: from 3 weeks until release into the wild
- Food:
- Live prey: Grasshoppers, crickets, mealworm larvae, superworms.
- Fruit and vegetables: Always include fruit (e.g. blueberries, strawberries) and vegetables.
- Amount of food per feed: 4–5 insects or one smaller prey item, plus 20–30 grams of fruit.
- Feeding schedule: 3 times a day.
Preparing the Thrush for Foraging and Independent Life
Socialisation and flight training
- Aviary: Move the thrush to a spacious aviary as soon as it starts growing feathers and becoming able to fly.
- Flight exercises: Add branches, small obstacles and flight space so the bird can build the muscles and strength it needs to fly.
Training it to find food on its own
Preparation Stage in Controlled Conditions
- Placing food: Hide insects under leaves, stones or in the corners of the aviary so the thrush develops its instinct to search for food.
- Live prey: Release grasshoppers and crickets into the aviary so the thrush has to catch them itself.
Adapting to the natural environment
Place the thrush in surroundings that mimic natural conditions (shrubs, branches and similar obstacles). This helps the bird learn to recognise natural food sources and develop its hunting skills.
Releasing the Thrush into the Wild
- Choosing a location: Choose areas with plenty of food, such as woodland, orchards and grassland.
- Gradual release: Open the aviary and let the thrush gradually get used to natural conditions. Over time the bird will become independent and start looking for food outside the aviary.
- Monitoring behaviour: If possible, keep an eye on the bird for a few days to make sure it is able to survive in the wild.
Conclusion
A proper diet and avoiding rickets are key to the healthy development of young thrushes. With careful feeding plans, gradually teaching it to find food in nature and preparing it for release, you can make sure your thrush is ready to return to nature and live in the wild.