VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

THE PASSERINE GROUP 

The passerine group of birds are born in a warm nest, either naked or with a covering of down, they should be housed in their own nest or replica of it with a thick pad of cotton covering them. If possible two or more nestling should be kept together. When the pad is removed the nestling gape reflexively for food. After feeding, they usually elevate their cloacal regions to the edge of the nest to defecate; the dropping is contained in a thin membrane and should be removed with a teaspoon. Young birds grow quickly. Chicks are fed until they stop gaping. As growth occurs, feeding intervals are lengthened and large food items given. Once young bird begin to eat without aid, they can be introduced to water. A large stone placed in a shallow dish of water gives the birds some security, prevents spillage and enables them to bathe. Dried egg based food with cereal and dried insect added food can be given. It is important to add as much live insect food as possible. Hard boiled egg and or scraped raw liver in small quantities can be given if no dried food is available. When the birds grow older, the diet should be more closely approximate the adult diet (e.g. more cereal for seed-eating birds)