Nest too small

[evie]

I have three babies hatched approximately May 21. The parents are attentive. However the nest that was built, was quite shallow especially in the front. I don’t have an extra nest and I realized today that one of the nestlings is pressed against the door of this Peterson style house rather than the nest. I assume I can no longer monitor, as it looks like one of the nestlings could easily plop out.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

[dogsandbirds]

As of today, they are 10 days old. This little guy is able to move around and will work his way back to the cup. Considering your description of the nest, I use the word “cup” quite loosely!

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[Lisa]

My last nest consisted of exactly 11 pieces of pine straw and all made it. But my box is the side opening with the plexiglass. I love it. Just stick my camera over the plexiglass to monitor and no danger of falling out or injuring one.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Evie, this is strange because my current box of 5 babies has a very shallow nest. When I looked the day they were born, they were so deep in the “cup” (like Gin says ‘loosely put’)I could hardly see them. Tomorrow they will be 4 days old and I plan to peek again, if it is not raining.
I was a little worried because parents began feeding those babies meal worms the very next day after they were born. I had read that newborns do not digest them properly, so I was thinking that may have been the trouble with the 1st nestlings which died at 7 days old. I blamed it on the cold, damp weather, but it got me to thinking because they began feeding them worms right away also. Right now everything seems to be okay, so I will think positive and believe the parents know what they are doing!

[Lisa]

I wonder if that was part of my problem last time Carol. I know I had HOWR take eggs but the two survivors died about a week later with bloated bellies. Maybe I should wait a few days after this new batch hatches before feeding mealworms?

[Author]

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