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How to Feed Raven Fledglings

Ravens are one of the largest members of the corvidae family of birds. Like most corvids, ravens are omnivorous and consume a variety of foods in the wild. Adult ravens hunt and scavenge for most of their food. Fledgling ravens -- feathered juveniles too old for the nest, but who haven't yet learned to fly -- remain dependent on their parents for the first 2 1/2 months of life. Fledglings have very different dietary needs than adults: They require a specialized high-protein diet that should be mixed and fed only by licensed professionals.

Things You'll Need

Container
Enclosure with perches
Towels
Turkey starter
High protein dog chow
Protein powder
Unflavored gelatin powder
Boiled eggs with mashed-up shells
Mealworms
Crickets
Raw beef kidney
Mice
Day-old chicks

Instructions

- 1
  Before feeding can begin, make sure the raven fledgling is well cared for. Very young fledglings should be kept in a container filled with crumpled towels with a constant temperature of around 75 degrees (room temperature). Make sure the bottom of the container has surfaces for the fledgling to grip; a bottom without these may cause spraddle leg. Older fledglings should be kept in a larger enclosure with perches placed at different levels and a box of crumpled towels at the bottom. Limit human contact with the fledgling raven -- the more it thinks of itself as a raven, the better its chances of survival in the wild will be.
- 2
  Acquire a container of turkey starter, which is a nutrient-dense, carefully balanced diet for raising turkeys until 9 to 10 weeks of age. High-protein dog chow will also work, and may be easier to obtain. Since the turkey starter/dog chow consists of only 27 percent protein, this will need to be supplemented. You can supplement the protein content by adding protein powder or unflavored gelatin powder. Mix together and store in the refrigerator. This mixture will become the basic diet for the fledgling. Feed the mixture with a syringe.
- 3
  Supplement the basic diet with calcium and extra protein. Mash up a boiled egg -- with the yolk and shell -- and add to the basic mixture. Egg shells are an important way to provide calcium, an essential part of a fledgling's diet; you can also do this by adding calcium powder. Another option is to add 1 cup of high-protein baby food for every 2 cups of the mixture.
- 4
  Add variety by adding crickets, mealworms and raw beef kidney to the blended food mixture. Crickets and mealworms can usually be purchased at local pet stores; beef kidney can be found at any butcher counter. Make sure not to add too many mealworms to the mixture because they are high in chitin; too many can cause blockages in the digestive system.
- 5
  Once the fledgling is old enough to work its food, you can start offering mice or day-old chicks (from a pet store or farm supply store).

Animals & Science