Magpies eat eggs and young ones of other birds during their breeding seasons. However, they also eat arthropods and cereal seeds whenever they can't get eggs.
Their varied diet does however have a darker side. In spring many smaller birds are nesting and magpies will, if given the chance, take bird eggs and also chicks from the nest.
Eggs and eggshells
It might seem strange to feed them eggs, but cooked eggs are a highly nutritious and wholesome meal for many wild birds. They also love crushed eggshells, so you could even cook and crush up your boiled egg leftovers to feed to the garden birds!
While it may be tempting to feed magpies your kitchen scraps, it's best to stick to their natural diet. This includes insects, worms and bugs. You can either source these from your garden, or purchase them from your local pet store.
Bread, mince, cheese, dog biscuits and other foods are. not a suitable replacement for a normal magpie diet of. invertebrates and other small animals.
Bread does not contain the necessary protein and fat birds need from their diet, and so it can act as an empty filler. Although bread isn't harmful to birds, try not to offer it in large quantities, since its nutritional value is relatively low.
It is very clear that feeding human and dog food such as mince to wild birds often leads to nutritional imbalances, increases the risk of disease and causes birds to become undernourished and more susceptible to disease.
"If you have to feed them, the best things are dry and wet cat and dog food." Nature provides the best food source of course, but our love of green pastures and manicured lawns has proven to be a win for the birds.
Magpies luckily possess sizable, sturdy feet that are full of scales. They often employ these feet in times of eating, as they're capable of tightly seizing food. They have tough limbs in general, and as a result are efficient at jumping.
Magpies love nyjer birdseed because it is so small it makes it incredibly easy to eat and digest, is full of high-impact energy nutrients, and is fully consumable.
Can Birds Eat Scrambled Eggs? Leftover scrambled eggs can also be left out as an occasional healthy treat for birds. However, it is important not to offer eggs that have been salted, seasoned, or have other ingredients.
As far as for a pet, eggs can be fed as an occasional treat as long as the eggs are fully cooked. I would avoid offering eggs to a non-breeding female, because they are a potential hormone trigger. In fact breeding birds that are not being fed a good diet will often eat their own eggs.
Bring water to a boil over high heat. Let the water rapidly boil for 30 seconds, cover and remove from heat. Let sit 4-12 minutes. 4 minutes for jammy eggs or 12 minutes for fully hard boiled eggs and 8 or 10 minutes for somewhere in between.
Magpies eat eggs and young ones of other birds during their breeding seasons.
The female Australian Magpie lays between 1 - 5 eggs, which she incubates (keeps warm) for around 3 weeks. Once the eggs hatch the young remain in the nest for about 4 weeks whilst being fed by the mother. During this time the nest is defended by the male.
Interesting fact: It's true, magpies remember your face. They have excellent recall for faces and very long memories. So, if you've been swooped before, or even if you just look like someone they swooped last year, you're likely to get the same treatment again.
When magpies have formed an attachment they will often show their trust, for example, by formally introducing their offspring. They may allow their chicks to play near people, not fly away when a resident human is approaching, and actually approach or roost near a human.
Deterrents for magpies
Half-full plastic bottles or CDs hung up in trees to scare the predators away. Magpies don't like the way light reflects from the surface. GuardnEyes scarecrow balloon, available from Dazer UK. It may be possible to deter them by playing a tape of a crow or rook distress call.
Some of the best foods for gut-loading insects include fresh fruits and vegetables, such as leafy greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes. These foods are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will help support the overall health of the insects and the magpies that consume them.
Any dry breakfast cereal makes for useful bird food, although you need to be careful only to put out small amounts at a time. And make sure there's a supply of drinking water nearby, since it quickly turns into pulp once wet. Uncooked porridge oats are also fine for a number of birds.
The bird may then develop protein deficiencies as well as vitamin and mineral imbalances. Sunflower seeds are the fast food of the bird world, they really shouldn't make up any major portion of their diet and should only be offered as a treat to your bird – not a mainstay in their diet.
“The main things people will feed them is mince or dog kibble but both are not good for magpies. Mince is too high in different nutrient levels - often too much fat – as in the wild, they are feeding on leaner foods.”
What do magpies drink? Magpies drink water and only water. While they'll get some water from food, especially during summer, magpies will frequently drink from garden birdbaths and ponds. So make sure your birdbath is regularly topped up with fresh, clean water - this is one of the best ways to support garden birds!
Pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious for birds, particularly in fall when the birds need more energy to fuel migration, molt into winter plumage, and store fat to resist the cold. Pumpkin seeds are high in calories, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, as well as being a good source of protein.