Helping to build strong shells and bones

Helping to build strong shells and bones

Calcium is really important during the nesting season as it helps to build strong eggshells and skeletons, while keeping the female bird’s own bones healthy when she has finished laying.

Here are a few simple ways to give our garden birds a flying start when it comes to remaining hale and hearty during this hard-working season.

1 – Provide calcium-rich food such as calciworms and mealworms.

Females use a massive amount of calcium to make eggshells and a lack of calcium can lead to thin or soft shells, which often fail.

Oyster shell grit widely used in poultry keeping, can be beneficial to garden birds during the nesting season. It aids digestion of feeds such as seeds in the gizzard and provides crucial calcium so that female birds can produce strong eggshells.

Cuttlebone is a safe and natural source of calcium. In fact, it is around 85% calcium carbonate, and a fantastic aid to preventing calcium deficiency, while maintaining strong bones and beak health. Break it into small pieces for birds to peck.

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2 – Make protein important too.

High-energy feeds are essential fuel for the breeding season, so make sure you also provide food that is rich in protein, fat and minerals. Suet with insects, mealworms, sunflower hearts and peanut granules are ideal.

Quality seed blends are really helpful too. Make sure they are full of the good stuff rather than cheap wheat fillers.

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3 – Encourage natural food sources.

Many birds rely heavily on insects for raising chicks, so let parts of the garden grow a little wild, avoid pesticides, keep a small compost or log pile and plant insect-friendly flowers.

4 – Provide fresh water daily.

Water is crucial for both hydration and shell formation. A shallow bird bath is perfect.

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What to avoid

Do not give milk. It might be rich in calcium, but our garden birds cannot digest it.

Avoid large, hard foods during chick-rearing as it can cause choking.

Go steady on the peanuts – use them in moderation and always put them in a peanut feeder rather than loose.

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