01/07/2025
Not dog related but very important for our maggies
🍞 Feeding Magpies in Your Garden: A Kind Gesture That Can Go Wrong 🍞
Magpies are some of Australia’s most beloved backyard birds, known for their sweet songs and playful antics. But while feeding them seems like a kind act, feeding them the wrong food can lead to serious health problems like Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), beak disfigurement, and other deformities.
💔 What can go wrong when you feed magpies the wrong food?
❌ Bread and processed foods: High in salt and low in nutrients, it can cause MBD, which weakens their bones, causes deformities, and can lead to death.
❌ Dairy (including milk): Magpies are lactose intolerant and dairy can upset their digestion, causing health problems.
❌ Mince (and other meat products): Feeding magpies mince can lead to nutritional imbalances, attract predators, and put them at risk. It’s also not part of their natural diet and can cause beak disfigurement and starvation.
🔄 How to help magpies naturally:
✅ Create a worm farm: Worms are a magpie’s favourite food! A worm farm will provide fresh, natural food and help your garden thrive.
✅ Grow an insect-friendly garden: Planting native plants that attract insects—like flowers, shrubs, and grasses—will draw magpies to your yard, providing them with a natural food source.
✅ Fresh water: Always provide clean, fresh water in a shallow bowl for hydration.
⚠️ If you must feed magpies:
The safest food option is mealworms or insects from the pet shop. These options mimic their natural diet and are far healthier than bread, meat, or other processed foods.
⚠️ Important Reminder:
Feeding wildlife should always be done responsibly. It's best to allow birds to forage for their natural food, as it's far healthier for them in the long run. And it’s kinder on our rescuers and carers too!
Let’s help our magpies stay healthy and thrive naturally in our gardens! 🎶💚
