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has anyone else seen this behavior? Talk about odd behavior, My blues have completely shunned me. I’ve been feeding dried mealworms steady for weeks now. I would whistle and out she would come and eat and even the male would eat when he was around. But now I believe the eggs have hatched, I whistle she comes out and flies away and even the male is just avoiding the feeder. I have to wonder if now they perceive me as a threat or they just want to feed the young something different. really odd and what stinks is I ordered live mealworms “which they freaked out over last year” so they would enjoy the extra real food and so far they won’t touch them. So i’m just going to stop feeding for a few days and see what happens. Maybe when the chicks start demanding more food they will come back for them.
I don’t believe you are being ignored – the parents are just feeding the natural wild food that the babies need. Also, I believe the babies are not fed much the day they hatch, and then usually the parents don’t bring worms until the 2nd or 3rd day I find. Our feeding mealworms does help them out, especially in cold or rainy weather or for a single parent, but they are meant to be fed as a treat only. They know what is best. as far as them not liking the live mealworms, that is a 1st – it does take them a little while to get used to them, but I don’t believe there is any bluebird anywhere that would not love the worms once they taste them!!!!!! P.S. You said you believe the babies have hatched – have you looked in the box so you will know the date?
When chicks first hatch, they are only fed small soft things. Think small spiders and moths. Mealworms, when they do choose to feed them, are first killed by the adults and then fed to the chicks. Later they can handle the live ones but not at first. EABL all LOVE mealworms and they will come back to them when the time is right. Dried worms are also too much for the chicks to handle right now if they are very young.
Gin
Atlanta, GA
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