Help! 5 bluebird eggs and non have hatched

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Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 89 total)
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  • #5238
    tamsea
    Moderator

      Whitney, your box has become a fast food stop now so you’ll want to change it over to a slick metal pole with a predator guard soon. There’s a decent chance your birds might try one more nesting. Whatever got them knows that box means food now.

      Tammy

      #5244
      dogsandbirds
      Moderator

        Whitney, the guard you have at the hole is a Noel guard and, as you found out, not effective most of the time. You do need the pole with a wobbling stovepipe type baffle, sized for a raccoon. The squirrel size just won’t get it even though some people have tried that.

        Gin
        Atlanta, GA

        #5251
        Lisa
        Participant

          I’m not even sure what a Noel guard would protect against with the tons of predators I deal with. I know they market them heavily on the bird websites but just wont do against the losses I’ve had so far…snakes and house wrens. And though not yet I have a Rocky Raccoon who has moved in. Trying to keep his belly full in the front yard and greased the metal pole to bits. 3 more days til fledge. But they are really scary days as far as snakes because they go by smell. I’m afraid a raccoon guard would help the snakes bypass the Krueger trap.

          #5252
          Lisa
          Participant

            Gin, I have tons of grey squirrels and never have a problem with them? Do others?

            #5260
            Meg
            Participant

              Does the wobbling stovepipe keep snakes out?

              #5261
              tamsea
              Moderator

                Most of the time, Meg. But some Purple martin landlords in the south that have rat snakes have found that they are so long that they can breach a guard so some people use netting around their pole too. But I’d say it’s effective most of the time.

                Tammy

                #5266
                dogsandbirds
                Moderator

                  Lisa, squirrels are not usually a problem. Guards sized for squirrels are good for poles used for feeders. That small size won’t stop anything else.

                  Gin
                  Atlanta, GA

                  #5276
                  Lisa
                  Participant

                    I have rat snakes so I have the Krueger guard up. I bought a big metal raccoon guard but I’m afraid the rat snakes which are about 5 feet long would use it as a ledge to climb over the Krueger. All we can do is our best. These rat snakes can definitely climb the baffle. So next year I plan on a stovepipe with the Krueger on top. My POA will love it!!
                    Must say the metal pole with Krueger have been awesome for snakes. Then I got HOWR>
                    It’s always something!!!
                    At least I fledged 5 with hopefully 3 more in the next day or so…

                    #5326
                    Whitney Gregge
                    Participant

                      So good news: the bluebirds are trying again. I returned home today from vacation and found a nest in both boxes and one of them had one egg. Bad news: now I’m terrified the raccoon will be back to eat these eggs. Is there anything I can make to put on the wooden fence post that may stop him? I have a bunch of wood and tools, my moms a wood worker so I may be able to make something.

                      #5339
                      dogsandbirds
                      Moderator

                        Wood won’t help you. You could try barbed wire spaced very closely or a really big piece of sheet metal wrapped tightly around the post. The wire would hurt those little coon feet and the sheet metal would be almost impossible to climb. What you really need is a pole with a wobbling stovepipe baffle.

                        Gin
                        Atlanta, GA

                        #5348
                        tamsea
                        Moderator

                          Yep, Whitney. See about moving that box now. We’ll walk you through it if you get the materials and make what you need.
                          Here’s directions. http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/topic/5934/How-I-install-a-nest-box#.WV0x42jyuUk

                          Tammy

                          #5351
                          Lisa
                          Participant

                            I think you will be fine moving the box with the egg in it. The predators always come back.
                            Last year the rat snake that ate 5 babies ready to fledge had the nerve to come back to the empty birdhouse the very next day in broad daylight “just in case.”
                            Much to his regret.

                            #5367
                            Whitney Gregge
                            Participant

                              I don’t have anywhere to move the box to. I plan on getting metal fence posts and all the guards next year since this breeding season is coming to an end. I set a trap for the raccoon not too far from the feeder he’s been at and the birdhouse so I’m hoping to catch him. I can try putting barbed wire around the post as well. Another question, do y’all think the same two bluebirds made a nest in the same box and also a nest in my
                              Other box? Because both boxes now have a nest but only one has an egg. I’ve seen more than 2 bluebirds around so I’m wondering if it isn’t another pair.

                              #5368
                              dogsandbirds
                              Moderator

                                Without those little nametags which they refuse to wear, it’s hard to tell. We’ll just have to wait and see.

                                Honestly, I don’t know anybody who has succeeded with the barbed wire thing. I just sit here and problem solve and that came to me. If you do this, that wire is going to have to be spaced REALLY closely. You don’t want anywhere on that post for him to put his feet. Bear in mind raccoons can also jump, almost as well as cats.

                                I really encourage you to move the box to a pole ASAP. If you don’t want to tackle making the baffle, you can order poles and raccoon baffles online or buy them in any wild bird store.

                                Gin
                                Atlanta, GA

                                #5371
                                Whitney Gregge
                                Participant

                                  I have a ton of barbed wire just laying around so it doesn’t hurt to try it. I’m afraid by the time I order poles and baffled it may be too late. I’m hoping to catch him in my traps.

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