How long is too long to leave wren guard up?

[Lisa]

Mine are 10 days old and I know conventional wisdom is to remove wren guard but parents aren’t bothered by it at all and it seems to provide some shade.
Sialis says 4-7 days.
Any opinions?

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

You can safely take it off now, Lisa. It does make feeding the bigger babies easier with the guard off, as they can feed them from the hole easier. Plus, you will want it down a few days before fledging date so they can “peek” at this big world! You say it provides some shade – does your box face the west or something? Good luck with the fledging. P.S. I’m sure glad mine are out of the box and in the trees now!

[Lisa]

Thanks Carol! I did exactly that. I figured they needed to get used to daylight. So far so good!!

[Lisa]

Box faces North. I am like you, I will be SO relieved when these guys are out! Fingers crossed daily! That would be a total of 10 new additions to the world after 4 nestings…A good year despite some heartache early on…

[dogsandbirds]

Ten days is my rule, Lisa. They are big enough at that point. I don’t see how 4 days does any good at all. We all have to do what we have to do, but I would NEVER take off a guard at 4 days. EVER.

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[Lisa]

Thanks Gin! I thought I remembered you saying that before but I couldn’t find it! THey do seem to be cruising in and out easier now!

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