Understanding Nutrition and finding help

[Ephy]

Hey - sorry a bit long

I am reaching out desperately to anyone that can help me track down some well qualified individuals that know or have experience with providing or researching nutritional needs for House Sparrows.

I am concerned because I have a 6 year old male house sparrow I have raised since a baby and there is so little information regarding what proper nutrition they need.

In some parts of the worldf, their numbers are actually suffering and there are people trying to protect and save them. I am hoping to find anyone that has been researching these birds and knows what they need to survive well.

I have been advised NOT to take him to a vet, because there are laws where I live that do not allow House Sparrows to be kept as pets.

So, I stress daily that I am not providing the best nutrition he needs because I have no idea, and cant get him vet tested for problems.

Heres what I offer him, and alot of which he only eats what he likes

Hagens budgie seed
Living world premium parakeet seed
Daily - fresh grocery organic mixed salad, peas
Once a week or more, if I have it, fresh cucumber, organic celery, zucchini, corn,
Once a week usually - hard boiled eggs, egg shells
Treats - 1-2 days every 2 weeks or so - fruit - could be grapes, cherries, apples,
Random - could be daily for a few days in a row, then weekly breaks, drinking tea, calendula tea, most recently neem tea, also thingsforwings instant mash varieties

Nightly, - 1-2 dried mealworms for bedtime snack which he has refused to eat in the last 2 months. Just doesnt seem interested

he is no longer as hormonal as he use to be, which meant all day long toilet paper ripping, toy shredding and aggression....but now he just wants to nap...constantly.

Let him out at 7am, he wants to be sleepy in his cage for the first 30mins at least.
Lunch breaks, wants to chill and snuggle (15mins out of cage around 11am)
after work (3-5:30) lot of napping, next to you, in his own space, complains about noise
Bedtime(demands lights out) 6:00pm wants to go to bed, happy to sleep all night, gets very excited to be covered/darkness

Im just worried, why does he want to sleep so much.
He always loved sleeping, but it just seems unnatural for normally wild birds to always want to sleep so much..?

 

[SailBoat]

Very likely that any laws that exist are 'general' Wild Life laws that restrict individuals from taking in Wild Life as pets. Specific 'creatures' are restricted based on their 'Endangered' status.

I'm an Amazon snob, hence my knowledge tends to be heavily weighted towards Amazon Parrots. That said, understanding what is available within the Natural Range of any Bird will help one define what a natural diet would consist of and /or vary around during any normal year. That said, different types of 'food' will naturally be available at different times of a typical year.

A common North American House Sparrow exists over very large areas and their diet will vary widely based on the huge natural range they inhabit. As a result, they will be comfortable with a like wide range of dry food types like seeds, grains and even crumbled nuts. A like wide range of fresh veggies and as you noted, meal worms would be common.

Complete a search for lists of natural seeds common to your area. You will find that the list is very lengthily. Same is true for various grains. Size will be a factor.

I'm not be big believer in providing liquids beyond natural water. Some types of tea maybe okay and but others are toxic. So, I would avoid such products as they are not found within their natural range.

I would recommend that you also look at the natural life span of a House Sparrow as it is likely that your's maybe defined as a senior and as a result will be naturally slowing down.

 

[noodles123]

There was a girl on here who had one for a pet. It passed away due to an egg-laying situation but she cared for him for a few years I believe.

Her username is ConureCrazy.

The mods might be able to put you in touch with her if you ask them to-- I know you haven't posted enough to send private messages, but they may be able to reach out on your behalf.

 

[bonita]

Dear Ephy, I am a wild bird watcher 6 yrs. in the wild is nearing the end of life for a house sparrow. In the wild he would likely live 6 yrs. at most.I can't say if being cared for will extend his life it might.He is definitely a senior bird. You have cared for him well it sounds like.

 

[Terry57]

I found this website, perhaps something here would be helpful:

https://www.housesparrowsinmyhouse.org/

 

[Ephy]

I'm sorry I havent had a chance to thank you for all the wonderfull replies.

I have visited the site mentioned, but I also can't accept that my handsome Prince Kiwi, could be in his senior years already.

I will keep searching for answers and I do appreciate your support.

 

[noodles123]

I'm sorry I havent had a chance to thank you for all the wonderfull replies.

I have visited the site mentioned, but I also can't accept that my handsome Prince Kiwi, could be in his senior years already.

I will keep searching for answers and I do appreciate your support.

Did you try ConureCrazy?

 

[wrench13]

Instead of meal worms, try trout worms, which are very small earthworms. You should be able to get them at any bait shop or even online. They are more like what sparrows find, especially after a heavy rain. They go crazy for them down here. Good luck!