What To Feed A Baby Mockingbird? 3 Inexpensive Foods

Have you recently retrieved a baby mockingbird from the garden, lawn, or street? Congratulations because you have just saved one of the most amazing and beautiful birds in nature.

Oh wait, did you save it?

Well, not 100% unless you feed the baby mockingbird with the right food to help it get the nutrients it needs. Thus, you might be wondering what to feed a baby mockingbird.

Thankfully, feeding a baby mockingbird is easier than you think because of its omnivorous nature. You can feed the baby mockingbird with wet cat foods, mealworms, and eggs. Also, as the bird grows (mockingbird babies grow rapidly), you can start mixing the food items more.

What to Feed a Baby Mockingbird?

In nature, a baby mockingbird will eat anything its parents bring. When you, however, bring the mockingbird baby home, you need to take special care of it. Consequently, you must feed it with the right food to help it grow properly.

As Pets on Mom suggests, you can feed the baby bird with a mixture of food. They suggest mixing 20% eggs, 40% kitten chow, 20% mealworms, and 20% other items. It will provide the baby with the right amount of nutrients.

Nonetheless, you must consider the growth stage of the mockingbird baby. As the baby grows bigger, you need to change its food menu slightly.

Otherwise, the mockingbird will fail to get the right nutrients for proper growth.

Foods For A Baby Mockingbird
source: Unsplash

There is three main growth stage of the baby mockingbird. These are:

Growth StagePhysical attributesPossible food items
Stage 1It’s a hitching stage. The baby will appear fuzzy, and its eyes will remain closed.Wet cat food and mealworms
Stage 2It’s the nestling stage, and the baby will have eyes open. The bird will still be fuzzy. However, it will start growing feathers.Cat food, mealworms, eggs, and other insects.
Stage 3This stage is referred to as fledgling. The feather will grow fully, and the baby will start exploring outside its nest.Mealworms, eggs, different insects, and vegetable items.

As you see, the food chart for the baby mockingbird will depend on the growth stage. So, let’s see what you can feed the baby in reality.

Read More: What To Feed Baby Birds that Fell Out of Nest (5 food ideas)

Can Baby Birds Eat Cat Food?

Although it may appear surprising to you, cat food is one of the primary foods for baby mockingbirds at home.

Nonetheless, you can’t feed the baby bird with hard cat food. It would be best if you softened it, so you should soak it overnight.

You can try wet cat food rich in nutrients. Since cat food is made to offer a high-nutrient to a cat, it also meets the growth requirement of the mockingbird baby.

Also, you probably need to feed the baby with a syringe as it has an incredibly tiny mouth.

Hold the baby mockingbird softly when you have filled the syringe with the overnight-soaked cat food. Then, slowly feed it by pushing the syringe as carefully as possible.

Ensure that you don’t hurt the bird. Also, allow the baby to swallow the food. Lastly, feed him clean drinking water similarly.

When you choose cat food for the baby, you should choose famous brands. It ensures better quality and nutrients. I recommend you choose Whiskas, Purina, or Applaws. Also, after feeding the baby bird, remove any traces of the cat food from near the baby.

It is crucial so that the cat doesn’t get the smell of their favorite food to reach the baby. Or else its life will be at stake.

Can Baby Birds Eat Mealworms?

Different insects are high in protein and a great nutritional source for babies. Mealworm is the best choice out of all the suitable insects to feed the mockingbird baby. So, it contains almost 50% of the daily protein requirements of the baby bird.

Technically, you need to feed the baby mockingbird with the baby worms.

The ideal size of these worms is 1/3rd the average size of the fully grown mealworms. If you can’t find this preferred size, you can crush the adult mealworms.

Then mix them with water to make it easier for the mockingbird to swallow them. Also, in many shops, you may find mealworms. It will be a great option.

You can pick the mealworm with tweezers to help the baby bird engulf it. When you feed the mealworm to the baby bird with tweezers, ensure that you don’t hurt it.

Also, a couple of crushed mealworms should be enough for the baby to grow appropriately.

Can Baby Birds Eat Eggs and Vegetables?

You can also feed the baby mockingbird with eggs, vegetables, and food items. You can easily feed the baby bird with crushed leaves, fruit, and vegetable items such as apples, cauliflower, etc.

Also, boiled and crushed peas and corn can be an excellent alternative.

Tips for the Right Feeding Technique for Baby Mockingbird

As the baby grows up and reaches the fledgling stage, you can introduce it to the crickets.

When you feed it with the cricket, ensure that it is weak. And slowly, you may introduce other insects and food items to the baby mockingbird.

Read More: Can Baby Birds Eat Cooked Rice

Tips for the Right Feeding Technique for Baby Mockingbird:

  • Always ensure that the food item is small and moist. It should fit inside the mouth of the baby bird easily.
  • The food item should be at room temperature. Feeding the bird with too hot or cold items can cause sickness.
  • Since you soak the food items in water to soften them, the baby won’t need much water. You can feed it the required water with the syringe. Usually, a few grams of water daily will be enough for the mockingbird baby.
  • Never include kitchen waste or contaminated food in the list. The food must be cleaned properly before you soak and feed it to the bird.
  • Always be careful not to hurt the baby bird when you feed it.

Conclusion

Feeding the baby mockingbird isn’t as challenging as you imagine. You can easily feed the baby bird with mealworms, eggs, and wet cat foods to provide it with the right nutrients. You need to continue feeding the baby bird for 4 to 5 weeks.

After that, the mockingbird can start flying and eating on its own. Also, as it grows up, you can introduce all kinds of food items to it due to its omnivorous nature.

FAQ

How do you befriend mockingbirds?

Mockingbirds are intelligent and curious birds that can be quite social. Here are some tips on how to befriend mockingbirds:
– Put out a bird feeder filled with high-quality bird seed and a water source, such as a birdbath or shallow dish.
– Plant shrubs and trees that provide shelter and nesting sites for mockingbirds.
– Leave dead leaves and twigs in your yard, as mockingbirds use these materials to build their nests.

Can baby birds eat eggs?

No, baby birds cannot eat eggs. Their digestive systems are not developed enough to handle the hard-boiled protein of an egg. Additionally, the shell of an egg can be difficult for a baby bird to break open.

What makes mockingbirds intelligent?

Mockingbirds are considered to be intelligent birds due to their ability to learn and adapt. They are able to mimic the sounds of other birds, as well as human sounds such as car alarms and doorbells. Mockingbirds are also able to solve complex problems, such as how to open containers to get to food.

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