Making Egg Food for Goldfinches
Breeding goldfinches is a very sensitive issue because in many countries it is considered a protected bird and the capture, possession and reproduction of females of this species is prohibited outside of certified centers. Depending on your country's laws you can only enjoy breeding goldfinches if you have the papers confirming their birth in a breeding centre approved by an institution.
If you are thinking about raising goldfinch chicks by hand, it is very important to offer them a quality diet that fulfills this species' particular nutritional requirements. Stay with us at AnimalWised and discover all about making egg food for goldfinches step by step:
Steps to follow:
Before you start preparing the egg food, you should know that goldfinches require a very varied diet. Otherwise, your nestlings will probably develop significant deficiencies that will directly affect their health and lifespan.
In order to make egg food for goldfinches you will need the following ingredients:
- Egg
- Cuttlefish bone
- Powdered cereal
- Rusk (baked wheat flour)
- Olive oil
- Beer yeast
- Fruit, like apple or pear
- Insect paste
In addition, we recommend adding:
- Yogurt
- Honey
- Canola (rapeseed)
- Omega-3 and omega-6 oils
- Powdered minerals
- Powdered vitamins
- Negrillo
- White chips
- Dandelion
You can also add a small teaspoon of garlic powder and parsley, which are excellent natural antiparasitics. This is very important for preventing the occurrence of intestinal parasites that can cause goldfinch chicks to die.
You should also assess the importance of chopping up the egg food more or less depending on whether it will be the mother who feeds the chicks, or whether it will be you who providing the food with a syringe.
Egg will provide your young goldfinch protein, just like the insect paste, which is essential for these birds. Meanwhile, the egg shell and cuttlefish bone provide enough calcium to strengthen their bones.
Fruit is rich in vitamins; you can vary the fruit you give your goldfinch beyond the apple and pear we mentioned before. Goldfinches can also eat fresh sprouts, broccoli, peas, figs and even dandelions, which is something they love in the wild.
Different types of oils are very beneficial for the development and quality of their feathers. They also provide healthy and beneficial fats.
Getting the goldfinch chick used to eating seeds will be very useful for when they are adults, and they won't have any problems adapting. Extra vitamins and minerals are appropriate if you want to enjoy a healthy and energetic adult bird.
This step by step guide to making egg food for goldfinches is really simple and easy to follow. Take note:
- Bring water to the boil and add 2 to 3 eggs. Wait for about 10 minutes until they are completely hard.
- In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together: Powdered cereal, rusk, beer yeast, seeds of your choice and insect paste.
- Grate some cuttlefish bone and some fruit using a fine grater and add it to the already prepared mixture in the bowl.
- Once the egg is hard, mash it along with the shell, which is rich in calcium.
- Finally add the yogurt, honey, oil and anything else you want to add.
- Let it stand until it is cool. Done!
Ideally, the mother herself should feed the goldfinch chicks, but you can also feed them yourself using small syringes that squeeze the mixture out. You must take into account that if you decide to feed them yourself the mother will reject them and then you will have no choice but to continue feeding them on a regular basis.
This task involves responsibility, perseverance and being present virtually 24 hours a day. The youngest chicks should be fed approximately every 2 hours. As they grow, you should leave more and more time between feeds.
At first it may take the young goldfinches some time to realize that you will be feeding them now, so at first they may not open their beak to receive the new food easily. You can try to trick them whistling like an adult goldfinch.
You have to be quick to deliver the food using a syringe without the tip. Take care not to dirty their feathers or leave residue on the bird's beak. Clean the chicks if necessary with a cotton swab and water.
Do you love goldfinches? You can learn more about caring for these birds in the following articles:
If you want to read similar articles to Making Egg Food for Goldfinches, we recommend you visit our Lactation category.
