How to feed a swift at home? Everything is quite simple, swifts are insectivorous, nutrition of both adults and chicks is the same. When feeding a haircut in captivity, you do not need a variety of food; forage crickets and cockroaches, which are constantly available in large pet stores, are ideal. Unlike songbirds, swifts are not able to assimilate vegetables, egg and grain feed, ready-made mixtures. To better represent how to feed a swift at home, let's figure out what swifts eat in their natural habitat.
How swifts feed in nature
In nature, swifts feed exclusively on air plankton, consisting of flying insects and small and medium-sized spiders raised in the air. They mostly feed at an altitude of about 50-100 meters, but sometimes weather conditions cause them to sink closer to the ground. Air currents can contribute food and much higher, then the birds follow it up to a kilometer from the surface.
Swifts are selective in what they eat and tend to catch the largest prey they can swallow. Birds avoid stinging insects, however, they do so in ways that do not take into account their bright warning coloration, which allows them to expand their diet, for example, including hoverflies.
While the swift is hunting, insects gather in the back of the throat in a special food "bag" (goiter) and bind together with saliva into a ball. called a bolus. The swift periodically eats it or takes it to the nest. These food balls can contain thousands of insects.
In bad weather, a large number of swifts feed above the water, it is easier to catch prey there. Birds mostly avoid areas of low pressure and bad weather. They fly with the wind in search of better conditions, flying around areas of rain, so swifts can travel up to 800 kilometers per day.
Swifts drink by catching raindrops or sliding their beaks over the surface of the water in low flight.
How to feed the swift so as not to harm the bird?
At home, it is best to feed swifts with brownies and banana crickets, they are easy to find in pet stores and they are cheap. Also, marble and Turkmen cockroaches are regularly eaten, which are distinguished by a high content of nutrients, are well absorbed and have a positive effect on the quality of the chick's plumage. In crickets and cockroaches, the hard chitinous parts are removed, leaving the abdomens.
It is very useful to feed the swifts with ant pupae, which contain a large amount of the vitamins they need. Ant pupae can be found in the forest or vegetable garden. It is allowed to feed the bird with wild mosquitoes, flies, moths. As an addition, you can give finely chopped washed maggots, but not more than one teaspoon per day, excessive feeding of this fatty food puts a strain on the swift liver. In no case should you feed the swift with earthworms, as they contain helminths and are dangerous for haircuts!
As a top dressing, a zoopus or mealworm grown on pure raw materials, in the amount of 1-3 pieces per day, is suitable. Zoophobus and mealworm must be "pressed down" to avoid damage to the esophagus. All due to the fact that these beetle larvae have strong jaws. Therefore, before feeding the swift, the heads of the larvae must be crushed or cut off.
There is no need to water the chicks of swifts, they get all the moisture from insects.
How to feed a swift when there are no insects?
Unfortunately, you can only feed swifts with insects... Any other product, such as a boiled egg, causes irreparable damage to their bodies. No cereals, ready-made feed mixtures, mash-ups are not only incapable of replacing natural nutrition, but also cause slow death.
How to feed the swift if there are no insects at hand? There is a one-time feeding option in order to support the livelihood of the haircut for the next few hours until they are found. We need high-quality low-fat cottage cheese and dry gammarus. This can be fed no more than 1-2 times.
Be sure to visit your nearest pet store specializing in birds. Buy a supply of insects, do not overuse the exception.
How often should swifts be fed?
Weakened and small sheepsheads are fed every hour from 6:00 to 22:00 in small portions from grated beetles, but they are fed every two or three. It is important to feed the chick tightly, giving it the maximum amount of food and completely filling the goiter.
The goiter is a part of the esophagus of most birds, which can expand to perform the following functions: to accumulate food, store it and, in some birds, even digest it, and it helps swifts not to be distracted from hunting. The full crop of a swift is a small pea-sized ball that can be felt on the bird's neck. A typical meal is, for example, 10 medium-sized crickets or 5 cockroaches.
Swift feeding technique
A healthy and strong haircutter actively asks for food, pouncing on his hand with food. It is more convenient to feed swift chicks with tweezers.
Swift chick fed with tweezers
It is much more difficult to feed weak chicks, even very hungry swifts do not open their mouths. An important condition is that weak swifts are fed with soft gruel from crickets or small forage cockroaches. It is allowed to feed both from a syringe and from a finger. For this, the haircut must first of all be well fixed with a "shawarma" type napkin.
Usually, even severely weakened chicks begin to swallow the nutritious gruel from the cricket. After feeding, you can drop a couple of drops of warm water on the root of the tongue, as the weakened shearling is very dehydrated. The weakened chick is fed in small portions every 30-40 minutes.
What to do if an adult emaciated swift comes to you? Such a swift should be fed with semi-liquid soft food from insects, like a chick, opening its beak from the side.
We will tell you about what to feed the swift in this article. If you find a sick bird on the street, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. He will also tell you the diet. If the selected individual is healthy, you have a “homeless” chick in your hands - the feeding menu is given below. But remember that these birds are wayward: leaving will require patience and time. They are picky about food, do not tolerate restrictions in freedom, do not tolerate bondage. Be responsible, because the life of a pet depends only on you.
There is an opinion among people that the peculiarities of the character of swifts do not allow them to be kept at home. This is the first myth. Care and maintenance of these birds at home is troublesome, but not hopeless. If the chick has fallen out of the nest, but it is impossible to return it, it is possible to leave it.
Never give the swifts you find to the zoo: they will become food for birds of prey.
If a swift chick has broken a wing, it is useless to nurse it. This is the second myth. It is believed that they cannot live without the sky, they fade quickly. Of course, the inability to fly is a great stress for the birds. But they will survive it if they are cared for.
If you are in doubt about whether it is necessary to save swifts and whether it is possible to keep them at home, most likely you are not ready for such a responsibility. Birds are great companions, but taming them is hard work. Never forget this.
Food in nature and features of its production
The lifestyle of the black swift is such that in a day in search of food it flies up to 800 km. And all due to the fact that in nature the bird feeds on air plankton: flying insects, spiders.
The standard height at which birds forage is 50-100 meters. But, depending on weather conditions, birds rise higher or descend to the ground. Feathered are finicky - they absorb the largest insects.
In the process of hunting, birds do not swallow food immediately. The captured insects enter the goiter, where they are treated with saliva. When processed, the food turns into a kind of ball, which they swallow or carry to the nest. One lump (bolus) contains several thousand bugs.
Diet for home feeding: what you can give and what will harm
The black swift is insectivorous. At home, it is better to feed the chick and the adult with crickets. They are sold at pet stores at a low price. Turkmen cockroaches, which are distinguished by a high content of nutrients and good digestibility, are also suitable.
Cockroaches are especially useful for chicks that have fallen out of the nest. If you feed babies with them, the feather cover will improve. The main thing, before feeding insects, is to remove everything that is hard and poorly digestible: paws, head, buttocks.
Ant pupae are also useful for birds. But they are not sold in the store. You will have to look for this delicacy in forests and vegetable gardens. Maggots are also suitable - the larvae of a meat fly. In order not to harm, feed the swift with larvae should be careful: no more than a teaspoon per day. They overload the liver.
You should also feed:
- mosquitoes;
- common flies;
- bloodworm.
Never give your bird earthworms. This will lead to the death of the pet. Feed it with care with zoophobes and mealworms: no more than 3 pcs. per day. Before feeding, the larvae are crushed or their heads chopped off.
Temporary measures in case of emergency
Birds will die due to improper feeding. Porridge, ready-made feed mixture, mash - all this leads to the death of birds. But what you can feed the swifts when there are no insects is fat-free cottage cheese or dry fish food (gammarus).
Eggs cause disturbances in the digestive system, so it is forbidden to feed them to the swift. Human food, suitable for many birds, meat, fish, vegetables, are destructive for these flyers. Even cottage cheese or gammarus should not be overused: 1-2 doses per day, if there are no other options.
Since the swift will die because of the wrong food, it is better to immediately give him insects, and not "trick" with the diet. When you find a bird on the street, go home to the pet store and buy some suitable food. If this is not possible, it remains to arm yourself with a butterfly net and go hunting.
Cooking nuances
Despite the fact that wayward birds feed only on insects, you still have to cook food for them. If you do not know how to do it correctly, this section is for you. Be sure to wash your hands before cooking. Dirt and microbes are dangerous to the bird's body.
Since swifts are finicky birds, they are served only freshly prepared food. Make sure that there is no sour or musty aroma from it.
Using dried insects, clean the mixture of debris:
- fragments;
- stones;
- branches.
Place the bugs in warm water for a fresh look. Pat dry before serving. The same cooking scheme works for frozen bugs.
Before serving to an adult swift, the insects are laid out on a plate. If you are nursing a chick, balls should be rolled out of the bugs. Chopped or rubbed fly larvae are suitable as a binder substrate.
Feeding frequency and technique
Little Swifts are fed about 14-16 times a day. The frequency of meals is every 40-60 minutes. The first feeding is at 6 am, the last one is at 10 pm (it is possible later). It is important that the next portion is completely filled with the goiter of the bird. You can give food with tweezers.
An adult swift is fed every 2-3 hours. If the bird is healthy, it actively asks for food, grabbing food from its hands.
If the bird is sick or weak, it is more difficult to feed it. To nurture such individuals, insects are ground into porridge. Use a syringe to give food. Be careful when handling the swift: do not damage the feathers. Better to wrap it in a napkin. Pry the beak up from the side and gently open it. Give your pet some food and see if he swallows. Weakened birds should be given water after feeding.
The first sign that the baby is in trouble is that he does not open his beak. If the chick refuses to eat, immediately contact your veterinarian for detailed instructions.
Relationship to water
In nature, swifts drink water in flight, for example, catching raindrops. Sometimes they use reservoirs to quench their thirst: they slide their beak over the surface, gliding over a pond, river, stream. Of course, you won't be able to repeat this at home.
At home, especially swift chicks, you can drink by dipping your finger into the water. Give it with food, dipping the bugs so that it does not have time to evaporate. Having decided to leave the bird at home, you can buy an autodrinker - it's convenient.
You can drink swifts from a cup, only very carefully. First, pour water on the bottom so that the bird does not drown out of ignorance. Do not leave the container unattended in the house. Keep the liquid fresh and clean.
Birds, getting used to the house and you, will treat water differently. Over time, you can leave the bowl in the cage: the swifts will use it as a bath.
Determine age, gender, type
The easiest way to confuse a swift with a swallow. The care of these birds will vary, so learn to identify who is who. The main distinguishing feature of these birds is their legs.
All toes on the legs of black swifts are directed forward. This arrangement allows you to freely adhere to steep surfaces. What is important in their lifestyle. The feet of the swallows are different: one finger looks back. This makes it easier for birds to walk on the ground or sit in trees.
Determining the age of a swift is also not difficult. This is necessary in order to know exactly how and how much to feed the birds. Adults differ from chicks in color: black feathers with a white spot on the neck. They have long wings - 3.5 cm longer than their tail.
The chicks are not covered with feathers, but with tubes that open with age. First, the body is covered with fluff. Then feathers grow back. The older the bird is, the more it resembles an adult. You can distinguish a growing swift by pink legs, a light border on the feathers and a white muzzle.
But it is impossible to determine the sex of a swift at home. They have no external signs. The only way to find out if a male or a female got to you is to do a DNA analysis. But such a need will arise only if you decide to buy a pair for a new pet.
In the comments to the article, ask questions and share your experience.
Swifts are birds with long wings that extend beyond the tail when folded. In size, these birds are similar to a sparrow. In the shape of its head, the swift resembles a bird of prey, but its menu includes only insects. Sometimes these birds are confused with swallows. Yes, the external similarity between these species of birds is great.
However, swallows, unlike swifts, have a white breast. Another difference between these birds is the location of the toes on their paws. In a swallow, three of them are directed forward, and one is directed backward. But nature gave the swift the opportunity, like a climber, to climb tree trunks and walls of buildings. He has all four fingers pointing forward.
Swifts are birds with brownish-black plumage, shining with a barely noticeable greenish tint. By the fall, this color becomes paler. It fades from the bright summer sun. But the legs and beak of the swift are always black.
Geography of distribution
Swifts can be found throughout Europe, with the exception of the tundra zones. These birds also flew over the Urals, settling the territory up to Transbaikalia. Black small birds also live in North-West Africa. You can meet them in Syria and Palestine, as well as in the Himalayas.
Swifts overwinter in Africa. During this period, they occupy all of its southern territories, starting from the equator, reaching the island of Madagascar.
Today the swift is considered an urban bird. However, some of its nesting sites are also found in rural areas. In villages, birds choose stone buildings for their settlements. They can be cowsheds and churches, as well as granaries.
But in Transbaikalia, the black swift can be found only in forests. Its brother nests in the cities. This is another type of swifts called the white-belted.
Arrival after wintering
Scientists have discovered many interesting ecological features of swifts. One of them is that after wintering these birds arrive rather late. However, their appearance guarantees the onset of stable heat.
Swifts arrive at their native nests within a certain period, lasting from 18 to 27 days. Moreover, these birds do not create a large school. They appear in small groups. Arrival time differs by one or two days.
Nesting
Swifts start building their own house 2-3 days after arrival. The cozy nest becomes fully habitable just eight days after the start of work. The female lays 2-3 eggs in it, which both parents incubate. After 11-16 days, the swifts have offspring.
With insufficient food, birds sometimes get rid of their eggs. This can be called a kind of survival instinct during a hunger period.
Nutrition in vivo
Food for swifts in nature is exclusively airy plankton, consisting of insects flying in the air and small and medium-sized spiders raised by the wind. The feeding process of these birds occurs in flight, at an altitude of 50 to 100 meters. In adverse weather conditions, swifts descend closer to the ground. However, it also happens that the air masses carry insects far up. In such cases, swifts are able to rise to a height equal to a kilometer from the surface of the earth.
The bird menu is very selective. As a rule, they catch and eat only those insects that they can swallow. That is why their production is small in size. In addition, swifts do not eat stinging insects. However, they are not distinguished by their bright warning colors, which significantly expands the swift's diet. For example, as food, he can choose a hoverfly, which looks very much like a bee.
During the hunt, the swift collects the insects caught by it in the back of the throat, where a special food bag (goiter) is located. There, flies and other animals use saliva to bind together into a ball (bolus). The swift either periodically eats the food prepared in this way, or takes it to its nest. The food balls he collects can contain thousands of insects.
When the weather turns bad, swifts rush to the water. Here it is easier for them to catch prey. It has been found that birds tend to avoid not only bad weather, but also places where there is low pressure. In search of more favorable conditions, the birds fly around the rain area in the same direction with the wind. Moreover, during the day, swifts are able to move long distances (up to 800 km). Feathered raindrops wash down their food. They can also extract liquid in low flight, sliding their black beak along the water surface.
Helping the birds
It so happens that a bird that has received any damage is right under the feet of a person. Anyone who decided to help her and take a small warm lump home must first of all determine whether it is an adult bird or not. Swift chicks are distinguished by a white edging located on the large primary feathers, as well as white specks on the head and the presence of tubes from which the feathers open.
After that, a person should inspect the bird for deviations from the norm and external violations. For this, all parts of the body are carefully examined. If the wing or leg of the swift dangles, then the feathered one should be referred to a specialist, since this condition indicates the presence of a fracture.
In the absence of external damage, lethargic and weak birds should be checked for infectious diseases. In this case, you will need to be tested for psittacosis, bird flu, helminths and protozoa.
Sedentary swifts must be warmed up. For this, incandescent lamps with a power of 40 or 60 W are suitable, as well as bottles and heating pads with hot water.
The person should also check if the swallowing reflex has the found swift. How to feed this bird at home? Her diet does not have to be varied. In the process of nursing and feeding a swift, one must remember what the bird eats in natural conditions, and not deviate from its natural diet.
Swifts brought home should never be placed in bird cages. In them, they will panic and fight, which will harm the plumage, without which it is impossible to fly. It is best to keep the swift in a half-open plastic box. For a chick, dimensions of 30x20x15 cm (length, width, height) are quite suitable. A small "nest" made of cork or wood is also placed here. If these materials are not available, a small glass vase wrapped in a cloth to create warmth will do.
It is important that the box is clean. Sheep will exercise their wings, and therefore should not get droppings on them. Place absorbent paper towels at the bottom of the box and change them every day.
Insect feeding
How to feed a swift in captivity so as not to harm it? Brownies and banana crickets are perfect for this. These insects can be purchased at pet stores for a small fee. However, not only can your swift consume them. How to feed a new pet at home? Its menu is diversified by Turkmen and marble cockroaches. These insects contain a large amount of nutrients. If you do not know what to feed the swift chick, then get these cockroaches for him. They will not only be perfectly assimilated by a young individual, but will also have a positive effect on the quality of its plumage.
For the health of swifts, it is useful to feed them with ant pupae. This poultry food contains a variety of vitamins. Where can I get ant pupae? They can be found in the vegetable garden or in the forest. Such a delicacy will be happy to eat a swift.
What else to feed this bird at home? Flies and mosquitoes will be a good help for her.
Often people caring for a feathered pet ask the question: "Can you feed a swift with a bloodworm?" Yes, the inclusion of these insects in the menu is allowed. However, it is worth remembering that bloodworms should only be fresh.
Also, the question often arises of whether it is possible to feed the swift maggots. Yes, they come as a supplement to the main food. Only maggots should be washed and finely chopped. It is worth remembering that this food is fatty and creates an unnecessary burden on the bird's liver. That is why swift maggots can be given in a minimum amount. This volume should not exceed one teaspoon per day.
How to feed an adult swift? For feeding, you can add mealworms grown on pure raw materials to its menu. During the day, their number should not exceed 3 pieces. However, it is worth remembering that you should press down a little before serving such worms. This is due to the fact that the larvae of these beetles have very strong jaws that can damage the bird's esophagus. Also, in order not to harm the swift, the heads of the mealworms can simply be cut off.
Dangerous food for haircuts is earthworms. Birds can pick up helminths from them.
Nutrition in the absence of insects
So, you have a swift. How to feed this bird at home? Unfortunately, swifts only have to feed on insects. Any other products cause irreparable damage in their bodies. Porridge, various feed mixtures or mash-ups are not only unable to replace natural nutrition, but also cause the slow death of the bird.
But sometimes a person who has found a bird that has fallen out or nests is faced with the question: "How to feed a swift chick in order to support the vital activity of its body in the coming hours, until the insects it needs are found?" In the first couple of days, the feathered pet can be regaled with meat puree for baby food, made from beef or turkey. It is given to the bird with an insulin syringe. The very young chicks are fed every hour. In this case, the volume of puree at a time should be equal to 0.3 to 0.5 ml.
Do not give grain and bread to feathered pets. Ready-made feeds intended for insectivorous birds also do not like swifts. Reviews from those who care for these birds warn against using these products, as they can cause poisoning.
Making mixtures
If the black swift has been living with you for several days, how to feed it in order to maintain the health and activity of your feathered pet? As mentioned above, insects are indispensable here. However, in addition to this, minerals and vitamins must be present in the diet. In order to enrich the food with the elements necessary for the health of the swift, special mixtures should be prepared. Some of the recipes are listed below:
- The composition of the mixture for the swift includes a finely grated boiled chicken egg, lean beef, mealworms, crumbled with scissors. Ant pupae are also added here. Instead of mealworms, the mixture can be enriched with wild-caught insects, fresh bloodworms or pre-scalded maggots.
- This recipe is distinguished by a wide variety of products, therefore it is especially good for long-term keeping of the swift. In this case, the mixture includes 20% raw lean ground beef, 25% chicken hard-boiled eggs, pre-grinded on a grater, 20% non-acidic, better boiled and squeezed cottage cheese, 20% ant pupae or mealworms, 10% finely grated carrots and 5 % infant formula.
- Another vitamin and mineral rich blend includes 30% minced beef heart, 25% chopped hard-boiled chicken eggs, 15% cottage cheese, 15% grated carrots, 10% insects, and 5% infant formula.
- For black swift chicks at the age of 3-6 weeks, the mixture includes: 2-3 house crickets, 3-4 drones, half a wax moth larva, several flies and their larvae, and one eighth of a teaspoon of crushed dried insects.
The cooked products are rolled into balls of the size of peas, and in the amount of 4-5 pieces are given per feeding. It is also important not to forget to water your feathered pet. This should be done after each feeding by instilling 4-5 drops of water into the beak from a pipette. You can go the other way. Drinking may not be given at all if the balls are soaked in water before feeding.
How to prepare food for swifts?
Before handling food for birds, wash your hands thoroughly using a disinfectant. Only freshly prepared food should be taken for each meal.
When using dried insects, they are pre-cleaned by selecting and removing foreign particles in the form of branches and stone fragments. After that, bugs or spiders are placed in warm water and then dried on a sieve. They do the same with frozen insects, bringing their temperature to room temperature.
In the next stage of cooking, all the ingredients are laid out on a plate. In this case, you should pay attention to the smell of food. Rotten insects are not suitable for swifts. When preparing the feed balls, crushed fly larvae can act as a binder.
Number of meals
How many times should a swift be fed at home? Small and weak chicks are given food every hour throughout the day from six in the morning to ten in the evening. In this case, the food should be small portions of grated bugs. Strong and already grown swifts feed less often, after two to three hours. At the same time, it is important that the bird is fed sufficiently densely. To do this, she needs to completely fill the goiter. And this can be done only by giving the maximum amount of feed.
The goiter in most birds is part of the esophagus. In this zone, food is accumulated and stored, which helps the swift not to be distracted from his hunt. They find out about the filling of the goiter by feeling a small (pea-sized) ball on the bird's neck. Typically, a typical meal is about five cockroaches or ten medium-sized crickets.
Feeding technique
A strong and healthy swift nestling eats actively. He literally pounces on the man's hand holding the food. It is most convenient to give food to such birds with tweezers.
Weakened sheepsheads, even if they are very hungry, do not open their beak themselves. They are fed either from the finger or from a syringe. But first of all, the haircut is fixed like a shawarma with a napkin. Next, they open their beak with a fingernail, where they put food. Such manipulations are successful. Even very weak chicks begin to swallow insect gruel with pleasure. After feeding, it is advisable to drop a few drops of water on the root of the bird's tongue. All described manipulations must be done carefully and gently. This is necessary in order not to bend or break the fragile tissues of the beak. Emaciated adult swifts are fed in the same way as chicks, giving them semi-liquid soft food from insects.
Probably, there is no such person in the world who would never have heard of a migratory bird called "swift", or black swift. This black bird got its name from its flight characteristics: it seems to shear clouds with its black tail, resembling scissors. This is a beautiful bird that resembles a swallow. In winter, this wonderful bird, like the swallow from Andersen's fairy tale "Thumbelina", flies to warm lands, and in spring it returns again and brings warm weather on its wings.
Swift, or black swift, is one of the fastest birds. She has unique wings that allow her to develop tremendous speed and perfectly stay in the sky in any weather. No one has such wings, only the black swift.
Swift birds: features of life
Black swifts live in small flocks. In winter, when the birds get cold and have nothing to eat, they fly away to winter in warm regions, to the south or to Asia. In early spring, birds return from wintering, and the female begins to lay eggs. Chicks very quickly get used to independent life, master the art of flying and learn to get their own food on their own.
This bird is very fond of settling in small secluded corners, preferring hard-to-reach places. Perhaps this is due to the fact that in this way the bird is trying to protect itself from predators who like to eat bird eggs, as well as from people who ruin bird nests. It should be noted that in the nineteenth century it was on the verge of extinction. Europeans believed that poultry meat had a high taste and high nutritional value, and massively destroyed the nests in order to eat or sell poultry meat.
Usually the black swift likes to settle in such places., how:
- Deep hollows of oak or other powerful and large trees;
- Minks on steep steep river banks;
- Crevices in the rocks;
- In cities or urban-type settlements, birds often live under roofs or in the crevices of wooden houses.
Features of the nature of birds swifts
In big cities Swifts do not allow a person to come close to them, but willingly fly up to the feeders and, without hesitation, take food. Those who want to arrange a feeder for these birds (in the summer, because they fly away in winter) should know well what they eat, and also understand that not all food, which is traditionally considered bird food, is useful for them. For example, it is strongly discouraged to feed the birds with fried seeds or salted nuts, because this can adversely affect the health of the birds.
In cities or urban-type settlements, it often happens that swifts have to build nests in the most inconvenient places. In this regard, small sheepsheads often fall out of the nest. Attention: if the chick falls out of the nest, you need to either take it home for nursing or not pick it up at all. If the baby is picked up and then left on the ground or put back in the nest, the mother may not recognize her chick due to the fact that it smells like a human. The unfamiliar smell will scare the bird away, and it will stop feeding its chick. If there are no intentions to take care of the bird at home, it is advisable not to pick it up at all, so as not to irritate his mother, because the birds are very worried when their children are in danger.
What do swifts eat?
Black swift by nature - insectivorous bird... Swifts on low level flight rush into the air at great speed and catch everything that moves. Most of all, swifts love the following types of animal food. If we talk about what swifts eat, then these are:
- Small bugs;
- Butterflies;
- Caterpillars and worms;
- Cockroaches;
- Crickets.
When the mother feeds the chicks, she catches the insects, crushes them in her beak and turns them into small soft lumps. She uses these lumps to feed her chicks.
The black swift is not originally a popular poultry, however, swift chicks are often in captivity. They get to a person when they fall out of the nest.... In many cities, there are special rehabilitation centers for shearling babies who have fallen out of the nest, where the chicks are nursed, gradually accustomed to the wild and then, as they grow older, are released. Feeding insectivorous birds in captivity is quite problematic. Nevertheless, it is possible to feed the chicks in captivity. The main thing is to formulate the chick's diet in such a way that most of the diet consists of protein foods of animal origin.
List of the most suitable food for black swift chicks living in captivity:
When composing a diet for a baby, it must be remembered that the chicks should never be overfed. They should be fed often and little by little, as they eat in nature. The food must be fresh to avoid infections and gastrointestinal upset. If the bird is undernourished, the remaining feed can no longer be used for the next feed.
Feeding swift in captivity, you need to pay attention to the presence in his diet and plant foods. So, chicks willingly eat carrots grated on a fine grater. Periodically, it is worth adding vitamin and mineral supplements to the feed in order to fully satisfy the growing baby's need for important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. It is advisable to consult a veterinarian for all questions regarding feeding of captive chicks.
It is advisable to feed the chick at the same time in order for the baby to improve digestion and develop a reflex to eat at a certain hour. The chick's diet should contain products of both animal and plant origin every day. Adult swifts are rarely kept in captivity, but the principle of feeding adult birds is about the same as the principle of feeding babies: feeding at the same time, often in small quantities, a balanced combination of plant and animal food.
Where does the black swift bird winter
Since the black swift is exclusively an insectivorous bird, in winter, when snow falls in Russia, it becomes difficult for birds to get food for themselves: beetles, worms, caterpillars. In this regard, in late autumn, as soon as it begins to significantly colder, birds go to winter in warmer regions, where there is no snow and you can easily get your own food.
The most common wintering grounds for Black Swifts living in the Russian climate of the Middle Lane:
- Equator;
- South Africa;
- Southeast Asia (Thailand);
- Indochina;
- Islands of Indonesia;
- Australia.
Swifts go to winter in small flocks... During the flights, the birds keep crowded, trying not to move away from each other. In warm regions, they spend about four to five months: as long as cold weather reigns in Russia and there is snow. As a rule, birds go to winter at the end of October (the specific date is different each time and depends on the weather conditions), and return when the snow begins to actively melt in Russia. As a rule, this is the first - second decade of April. Having arrived from wintering, the birds immediately begin to break up into pairs, create families and build nests. Males fight for females, care for them and defend their territory, and females lay eggs and wait for their chicks to hatch.
Swift can often be found both in the city and in the countryside. These birds willingly build their nests next to human dwellings, but at the same time they do not allow a person to come close to them. The swift is a real "orderly" of the forest and field, ridding plants of insect pests. Therefore, in no case should you destroy swifts and destroy their nests! Otherwise, the number of harmful insects will increase dramatically, and plants in the forest and in the field, in the garden and in the garden can be seriously threatened.
The black swift is a truly unique bird... She is distinguished by beautiful black and white colors, high speed of movement and extraordinary agility. You can easily meet a swift in the most unexpected places. The main thing is not to frighten this wonderful bird and not to destroy the nests, and you can also feed these glorious birds with their favorite food - worms and other insects. Swifts are especially useful in the garden and vegetable garden, destroying dangerous pests.
17.7.2017, 22:17
Strizh, lying on the asphalt on 07/15/2017. I feed only maggots and water (which are not recommended to feed swifts).
It looks 23 days old, weight 34 grams.
Is it possible to find shops in Veliky Novgorod where you can buy brownie or banana crickets, or ant pupae?
Someone will be able to take it, because it is hard to feed it in 2 hands, does not want to eat it himself.
girlfriend_foni
18.7.2017, 10:35
And if you take it to where you found it and plant it next to it on a tree branch, maybe it's just a fledgling?
18.7.2017, 11:04
Swift is an exception)
All that you can and should have already read about swifts. Swifts very rarely land on the ground, because they will not always be able to take off.
girlfriend_foni
18.7.2017, 11:43
So this is understandable, but maybe it's a fledgling that sat on a tree and fell
18.7.2017, 11:54
I suppose if you find a tree where he was found and plant on it, then at the same moment the haircut will try to jump to the ground, being injured, and on the ground he has nothing to do.
It will work out the same way with the nest.
Unless someone finds him again.
girlfriend_foni
18.7.2017, 13:20
Well, here you have to google what the haircutters are doing at this age
18.7.2017, 13:42
I have already googled everything, grow it for another ~ 20 days, after that it will be ready to fly away, but you need to feed it correctly (that is, recommended insects for swifts), otherwise feathers will fall out or even worse.
If you let go, it means letting die, and it didn't matter if you picked it up from the asphalt or not (there shouldn't be any swifts on the ground).
Now I will go around a couple more pet stores, but I’m unlikely to find the insects I need.
I wrote here with 2 questions, where to buy crickets and ant pupae.
And someone can have experience in our city in overexposure of swifts.
For with the diet that I feed the sheared women will not live long, and it is hard to feed (fix the beak), he himself does not eat.
18.7.2017, 15:39
I walked around 4 pet stores, no, and they say that I’ll hardly find it. Somewhere advised to order from Peter.
The swift has become less active and often sleeps.
girlfriend_foni
18.7.2017, 15:50
Try to ask this person, he knows everything about birds, can tell you where to get or some other way out
https://vk.com/id7337862
Another option is to buy maggots at a fishing store, grind or cut. You can also remove flies from maggots - also good food.
And in fishing shops, mealworms can be sold.
And to kill hunger - give low-fat cottage cheese for now (real only)
18.7.2017, 16:25
Thank you very much, I will ask.
I’m trying to get flies out of maggots, and it takes ~ 8 days.
Mealworms are a good option, it remains to find where to buy.
You can try to kill low-fat cottage cheese, but almost everywhere they write that only insects.
And so the swift of some maggots does not digest, so they "crawl out" (I break and kill so that they do not move in the stomach).
And at home it's cold for him, he put a warm bottle.
18.7.2017, 16:40
Still preferred as food for insectivorous birds Mealworms, flour beetle larvae (tenebrio molitor), which can be purchased at any pet store.
But I must warn you that you cannot feed these worms in large quantities and over a long period of time (more than 2-3 days). Their chitin contains substances that ultimately cause serious intoxication of the liver and kidneys. Mealworms are also poorly balanced feed, resulting in deficiency symptoms and skeletal damage.
When fed exclusively on mealworms, songbirds develop chronic eye infections that can lead to loss of vision and ulcers on the head, inflammatory swelling of the paws, especially the joints, and abscesses.
Mealworms - but only the lightest and softest, just molted - can be given to insectivorous birds as an additive in very limited quantities (i.e. no more than 4-5 per day) or in an urgent situation for a very short time, two or three days, if it is impossible to buy crickets right away.
Fly larvae sold in fishing shops as "white maggots" are completely unsuitable for feeding insectivorous birds.
The chitin of the larvae resembles hard rubber, and the bird's stomach is not able to destroy them, so they come out with excrement almost undigested.
Fly larvae are also unacceptable if they are chopped before feeding, as they have a very high fat content, which means a very unbalanced diet.
Swifts reared on fly larvae are generally extremely thin and have deficiency symptoms as well as fatal plumage defects. Usually these are small, barely noticeable areas of the fan with increased fragility (as if the fan is not completely cut by a sharp blade), the flight feather breaks in this place at the slightest load.
In short, I kill the bird with such food
18.7.2017, 16:53
Well, really, an anthill is a problem to find?
18.7.2017, 17:23
At the expense of the pupae of ants, I can see, but only on the outlets.
I watched the swifts from the balcony as they hunt ordinary mosquitoes. Maybe take a net, catch and feed them?
18.7.2017, 17:41
Mistake 3. Feed the swift maggots or bloodworms.
Swifts are insectivorous birds. But maggots and bloodworms are categorically not suitable for them, as are earthworms, beetles, wasps, spiders, crib flies, and so on.
Maggot is a worm with a very tough skin, which is not digested in the stomach of the swift, causes a blockage in the intestines, and the swift dies. Even if you cut the maggots into pieces, the risk still remains. In addition, the maggots are very greasy and will quickly plant the swift liver.
Bloodworms are low-calorie and contaminated feed. Consists of almost one water. You will never feed a swift bloodworm, if only you will feed him kilograms. And the swift will quickly pick up helminths from the bloodworm and some kind of infection. The same goes for earthworms.
Swifts have a very delicate esophagus and stomach, only soft food is absorbed. In nature, swifts eat flies, moths, mosquitoes.
Mistake 4. Feed the swift with mosquitoes and flies.
People give 4-5 flies or mosquitoes a day (how many they could catch), and think that they fed the swift.
Flies are indeed natural food for swifts, but a swift in flight eats about 300-400 flies per day. In general, birds actually eat a lot: in a day, any bird must eat food = by volume 1/3 of its own weight. That is, a swift with a weight norm of 45 grams should eat 15 grams of food per day. If the swift eats less, it begins to be exhausted, and after a week he dies.
Well, along with the flies, I am now trying to remove the mosquitoes. And I can't catch a lot of mosquitoes.
Mistake 5. Instead of insects, give swifts "substitutes": cottage cheese, eggs, beef.
All these products that are successfully used for feeding chicks of other species - corvids, passerines, etc. - are categorically not suitable for swifts. All of them cause metabolic disorders, the liver and kidneys fail over time in swifts, and calcium deposits begin in the tissues. The chicks develop crooked feathers that fall out over time. The tail of those fed with eggs and cottage cheese is overgrown, and the wings, on the contrary, are short, undergrown. Such chicks are no longer suitable for flight, and remain at home for permanent residence.
girlfriend_foni
18.7.2017, 17:42
If tomorrow we go to the dacha in the evening, I can shake the anthills, there are a lot of them, I'll bring them on Thursday morning. If the bird survives, of course ...
Interestingly, but water should be given to chicks, but adult birds drink
It is clear about the food above, but everything is better than completely starving, while there is no alternative
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