Spring care for birds

Aviary bird care in spring

Spring has sprung, and bird breeding season is upon us. Create a cosy spot for your birds to nest with our nesting collection - you'll find nest boxes, nests, nesting material, nest liners and nest pans.

Spring is a great time to worm your birds to ensure they are in great health before breeding, or just as maintenance. We recommend Moxidectin - remember to dose your birds twice, 10 days apart.

Quality Bird & Pet Supplies own brand QBPS Soft Food Vitamin and Mineral Enriched + Probiotic is great for not only new chicks, but also their parents, as the probiotic helps birds maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in their gut, and a good gut microbiome can improve digestive health, nutrient absorption, and overall immune function.

Canunda Shells are a great grit and the shell grit provides an easy way of adding extra calcium into your birds diet.

Here's a housekeeping tip for your birds perches, because not only do birds stand on perches with possibly grubby feet, but birds also use them for wiping their beaks - so it's worth keeping them clean. Give your perches a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth in hot water each time you change your seed or water, and use Steri Gene, which comes both ready to use or in concentrate, for a deep clean.

Supporting wild birds in spring

You’ll be noticing a lot more action in the garden with the arrival of warmer weather and new growth. Springtime certainly creates a more welcoming environment for wild birds.

It’s this time of year when birds really knuckle down to work. Breeding, nest-building and feeding young chicks takes a lot of extra energy though so a little help from us goes a long way to helping New Zealand birds will thrive during the chaotic weather patterns of spring.

Post-winter food may still be scarce for some birds, so top up your bird feeders regularly with Wild Bird Seed Mix. Supplement this with energy food, particularly if you live in a spot prone to spring frosts, as these essential fats will help boost them up.

Hand out the mealworms. Insect-eating birds love these in spring, the beetle larvae being an excellent source of protein for growing birds. If you haven’t got one already a nectar feeder will attract key species to your backyard.

Insect eaters like the Piwakawaka and the Welcome swallow will be attracted to mealworm offerings. Once they’ve found it, the local Tūi and Korimako (Bellbird) will be all over your nectar feeder. The vegetable-fat, seeds (and energy cakes, pellets and logs) will lure in the Silvereyes, Finches and other smaller birds.

Spring is also a good time for long term planning with your planting. Check out DoC’s tips to check which flora will suit your local fauna.

Last but not least, make sure there’s a steady supply of fresh water and that any feeding area is cleaned regularly. This helps prevent the spread of any disease.