Updated: 2026-07-10
Regardless of age or corvid species (with the exception of the raven!) here comes a well-balanced recipe for all birds in crow family (jackdaw, crow, rook, magpie, etc.)
NOTE: If you have no experience at all, here are some important things to keep in mind:
Important things to consider before you start cooking:
– Birds that have not eaten for a long time must not be fed at all. They need water mixed with Dextrose or “Dextro Energy Classic” (available at the pharmacy) until it starts to become very lively again. You know if a bird hasn’t eaten at all, if it doesn’t poop at all or if it has real black tar-like feces.
“Refeeding syndrome” is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when severely malnourished individuals, including birds, are refed too quickly. It is characterized by changes in electrolyte levels, especially phosphate, potassium and magnesium, as well as fluid imbalance in the body. When the body transitions from being starved to being nourished too quickly, it can overload the metabolic and regulatory systems, which can lead to heart, lung and neurological complications.
If it’s an emergency or bad timing, you can take water mixed with honey as an emergency solution. However, it is not recommended to do so!
– Birds have a hole (round/oval) directly on the back of the tongue. You may NOT put food in there. If you do that, it goes to the airways and it looks really bad for the bird. The hole where the food goes in is behind the hole that opens and closes. If in doubt about this, please contact a knowledgeable person. You don’t want to make it worse for the bird.
– Never give white bread or earthworms or snails to birds in crow family. Worms and slugs crawl over the ground and through feces and parasites. Therefore, they have worm eggs and parasites on and in their bodies (yes, a worm can have a worm!), which you don’t want to feed one corvid with.
White bread contains no nutrition, so it should not be given to a bird that is already in trouble.
– If you have bird vitamins in drop form, read the packaging VERY carefully. You should never overdose on them. It could be really bad. Especially when it comes to a sick bird. The thought “I take a little extra, just in case” does not count here!
– Do not invent other food without understanding if it is the right food.
– Do everything to get professional help. Many vets and wildlife rehabilitator don’t have time, you can’t get hold of them,…. It can be difficult to get help!
Ingredients:
-Cat food (dry cat food, not canned!). The brand is not that important. Avoid cat food that contains excessive amounts of animal by-products, fillers or artificial additives. You can compare ingredients in the store
-1 Egg (please buy an egg that has a number starting with “0” on the egg. It’s the chicken that has had the best)
-1 Sepia Shell or “Calci-Lux”. Both can be easily found online or in a slightly larger pet store (can be skipped if it is an emergency)
– 1 drop of bird vitamins (can be skipped if it is about urgent concerns that cannot wait)
Cooking Instructions:
Put the cat food in a plastic bowl and add about the same amount of water. Leave it exposed for an hour until it has absorbed all the water.
After an hour, mix it with only the egg yolk until it is completely mixed. If this is about sick or very young birds, it is good to add an egg (yolk only!)
In case you have sepia skin:
Take a knife and take the cuttlefish shell and tear off the powder with the help of a knife. It comes off easily. If it doesn’t come off easily, you need to take the other side. Sepia shells have a hard and a softer side. Mix and take enough until you see that there is a little white everywhere.
In case you have Calci-Lux
Take it instead of sepia shell. On the packaging it says how to do it.
In case you don’t have sepia shell or Calci-Lux
If you haven’t received the products yet, but you want to do your best, crushed eggshells are also fine. Make sure it has really turned into a powder. If you don’t do that, there may be sharp edges and that’s not good of course.