Myna is a common Ornamental birds, and one of the unique ornamental birds in China. Since ancient times, starlings have been the playthings of princes and nobles. There are many literary works and historical documents that have mentioned starlings. Nowadays, myna is very spiritual and has a very special black appearance, and is very popular among people. Myna is regarded as Petbirds are also being raised more and more. According to the "Encyclopedia of China", the average life span of male starlings is about 8 to 10 years, and the average life span of female starlings is about 10 to 12 years. Wild starlings generally live 1 to 2 years shorter than those kept in cages! According to historical records, during the Tang Dynasty, a female starling raised by a large family had extremely strong vitality and had a lifespan of 22 years.

Chinese name: Starling

Latin name: Acridotherescristatellus

Domain: Chordate

Subphylum: Vertebrate Subphylum

Class: Avian

Subphylum Class: Subclass of Modern Birds

Order: Passerines

Suborder: Songbirds

Family: Starlings

Genus: Myna

Species: Myna

Distribution area: southern Shaanxi to southern provinces of the Yangtze River, as well as Taiwan and Hainan Province.

The   myna bird is all black and looks like a crow, but it has a distinctive appearance with a crow. the difference. Starlings are superior to males with yellow bills and yellow feet, white tail feathers, white undertail coverts, black plumage and metallic luster. The top grade myna is the bolder, singer, standing breasts, bright wings, and larger myna. Starlings are much smaller than all kinds of crows (large-billed crows are 50 cm long; starlings are 25 cm long), and the beaks and feet of starlings are bright yellow.

The myna has obvious frontal feathers at the junction of the beak and the head. If you look closely at the body feathers of the head and neck, there are green metallic luster flashes in the black, and the primary coverts and primary flight feathers The bases are all white, so there are obvious white spots in the center of the two wings during the flight. Looking up from below, the two white spots are in the shape of "eight", which is also the source of the name of the starling. The two white spots and the black body feathers form a distinct Contrast is also an important distinguishing feature of the myna; the tail feathers are white at the tips.

The sub-adult frontal feathers of the myna bird are not developed, and the color of the body feathers is not as dark as that of the adult bird. Orange.

Black starlings are all black and look like crows, but they are significantly different from crows. First of all, starlings are much smaller than all kinds of crows (large-billed crows are 50 cm long; myna 25 cm long), followed by bright yellow feet and white bills. This species has obvious frontal feathers at the junction of the beak and head. If you look closely at the body feathers of the head and neck, there are iron-black metallic luster flashes in the black. The bases of the primary coverts and primary flight feathers are all white, so During the flight, there are obvious white spots in the center of the two wings. Looking up from below, the two white spots are in the shape of "eight", which is also the source of the name of the starling. The sharp contrast between the two white spots and the black body feathers is also an important part of the starling. Distinguishing features; tip of tail feathers white.

The sub-adults of this species have underdeveloped frontal feathers, and the body feathers are not as dark and mature as adults, slightly brown or iron and gray. The iris of myna juveniles is blue-gray. Or light green, gradually turning orange to reddish orange after about 45 days.

Inhabiting plain villages, pastoral fields and the edge of mountain forests, sexually gregarious, often Buffaloes stand on their backs, or gather on big trees, or stand in rows on the roof ridges. Every evening, they often dance in large groups in the air, and perch after a moment of noise. Overnight in bamboo forests, big trees or reeds, and roost in mixed flocks with other starlings.

Wild myna eats a variety of foods, and often follows farmers and cattle to peck at earthworms, insects, worms, etc., which are unearthed by the plough. Prey like locusts, beetles, mole crickets and so on. Starling's plant food is mostly various plants and weed seeds, as well as figs, vegetable stems and leaves.

Distribution

Myna was originally distributed in southern China and the Indo-China Peninsula, and is a typical bird of the Orient. But the illegal bird trade has led to the rapid spread of myna, and now there are introduced populations in the Philippines and Borneo, and in northern China, north of the Huai River, myna has gradually become a common resident bird. Widely distributed in South China and Southwest Taiwan, Hainan Island and other regions.

Myna is a relatively easy-to-raise bird, because they are good at imitating human speech and other sounds, and are deeply loved by people. Starlings are graceful, and they can distinguish males and females by their singing. Those with beautiful and excited calls are males, and those with low and unpleasant calls are females. Wild starlings live in forests, plains, and villages, and families raising starlings should also respect their habits, otherwise sudden environmental changes will also cause starlings to feel uncomfortable.

1. Bird cage selection

Myna is a large cage bird, and the cage should be larger. Because of its miscellaneous food habits, large appetite, and a lot of defecation, the cage should have a bright bottom with a fecal support plate under it. In addition, the starling's mouth is strong, the body is healthy, and the cage should be strong. Shark fish a perch rod, a water tank and a soft food tank One, deeper, larger, and stronger than the average bird. It is worth noting that myna birds cannot tolerate coexistence with other birds, so generally myna birds are kept in separate cages to prevent fighting.

2. Breeding environment

Myna likes a quiet environment. When raising myna in cold winter, you must pay attention to keeping warm, and when you go out for a walk in winter Be sure to wear a hood. Every morning, the myna bird cage can be hung on the window or outdoors to breathe fresh air for 1-1.5 hours before returning it to the room.

Now people feedPets Birds are all intensively and meticulously raised. If there is a little abnormality, they will be very worried. Smart myna is the same for bird owners. Therefore, it is the healthiest way to prepare suitable feed according to the different growth and development periods and seasons of myna. In fact, although there are many variety feeds for birds, the method of self-prepared feed is also There are many kinds, but it boils down to the same thing. What we need to ensure is that the starling can ensure its own nutritional needs in different periods and different environments is the most important. Therefore, the feeding requirements of myna birds can be analyzed from the following nine aspects.

1. Baby myna feed [soft food]:

Description: Considering that most of the myna feed my friends are about 2, so follow the minimum configuration. After preparation, put it in the storage cabinet of the refrigerator and feed it within a week.

Half a catty of chick feed, 4 eggs (about half a catty), and 5 pieces of yeast flakes (crushed). If you add fish powder, beef and mutton powder, eggs should be reduced accordingly. Make into porridge.

Feeding: (1) In the initial stage, according to the physiological characteristics of the bird, all the food can be excreted within two hours after eating, and it can be fed several times a day. Especially at night to be well fed. (2) After about 10 days, start adding cuttlefish bone meal [or calcium tablets].

2. Feed during the feeding period:

The feed preparation at this time is basically the same as that of young starlings, and chopped vegetables or fruits can be added to the feed [add it during feeding], It is most convenient to use ketchup, which can be mixed with eggs. The number of preparations can be higher. When preparing, pay special attention to the eggs must be mixed in more than three times, and then mix after the previous feed is dry. Adding too much at one time will cause the feed particles to loosen and become powder, which will affect the feeding of the starlings.

3. Daily feed:

1 pound of chick feed, 1 egg, 5 pieces of yeast flakes (crushed), and an appropriate amount of cuttlefish bone meal.

4. Feed during moulting period:

1. Early stage: only feed chicks and reduce the quantity. It takes 4-7 days.

2. Mid-term: Increase the proportion of eggs in the "daily feed", and use 2 to 4 eggs. Also double the cuttlefish bone meal. Add two taels of peanut flour.

3. Late stage: Gradually reduce the proportion of eggs and cuttlefish bone meal, and resume daily feeding.

Five, late autumn and winter feed:

Basically the same as the daily feed, except that one egg should be added, and an appropriate amount of vegetable oil (one or two oil per kilogram of feed) or peanuts should be added. Powder two or two.

The above feeds are considered from the most economical and practical point of view, and the nutrients contained in them can meet the growth needs of the starlings. Of course, the number of birds fed at home is limited after all, and many friends do not consider scientific breeding, and always do everything possible to improve their lives and make them fatter.

Six. Selection of fruits and vegetables:

The content of minerals and vitamins in fruits is far from comparable to that of vegetables: cabbage and radish have more vitamin C than apples and pears. , Peach is about 10 times higher; green peppers and cauliflower are 2 to 3 times higher than strawberries and citrus. The vast majority of fruits are not high in vitamin C, and other vitamins are more limited. Protein content is less than 1%, almost no essential fatty acids. And due to the longer storage time, its nutrients are degraded, and it is far less fresh than vegetables. In fact, birds are also selective. If there is only fruit in the cage, the bird has no choice.

Palatability and nutrition are different concepts. Many vegetables are slightly processed for birds, which is economical and nutritious. After all, fresh vegetables are everywhere, and fruits are harvested in season.

Seven, trace elements, minerals and other supplements:

Practice has proved that starlings are omnivorous birds, and the nutrients in the feed are sufficient to meet their growth needs. The egg shells can be crushed and put in each time the feed is prepared, and some other auxiliary materials are added in special stages. There is no need to add vitamins.

8. Insist on adding yeast flakes (mother food):

This is not only to help the bird to digest, but more importantly, the yeast flakes are rich in various feeds which are lacking in nutrition. At the same time, fat-soluble vitamins can be fully absorbed by birds.

Nine, Sand:

Always put some sand in the sand tank inside the bird cage to let the birds eat freely. The free space of the bird is small, and the digestion ability is naturally reduced. All the nutrients in the feed are absorbed by the birds, and sand is the cheapest and most practical.