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| Proper
Diet is Critical |
| Mammals get calcium from their mothers milk during critical development, when
they are weaned they continue to get calcium that builds and strengthens
their bones. Birds are not Mammals, and don't get any value
from milk and it typically causes diarrhea, and thus dehydration
that will lead to death. The proper diet for raptors is absolutely
critical for proper development, life, and flight. Even
three days with an improper diet can doom a birds life, and
prevent them from ever flying. We have seen the
effects of well-meaning people feeding raptors peanut butter,
milk and bread, chicken liver (very common, but devastating as
it has no calcium) hot dogs, hamburger, fruit, seeds and all
sorts of things.
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| Mississippi
Kite with five fractures from improper diet.
| It is against Federal law for a person to
keep a raptor, or any other wild bird, other than a starling, pigeon
or English sparrow. If you find a Raptor, do not keep it, even for a
few days, as you may cause irreparable harm with an improper
diet. Keeping a bird in an improper enclosure can also lead to
feather damage, which will prevent flight. Turn the bird over
to a Federally permitted rehabber as soon as possible, and you
may well save the bird's life. Keeping it, no matter how well intended,
may cause it's death. | |
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