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Being my 1st yr with Bluebirds and having this happening is so sad. . . . .
The 1st bunch all came out ok, but this second of only 2 eggs has been so sad watching the Mom trying every day to stay inside a box that is around anywhere from 100 to 110 degrees heat index here out side the box and it the 16th day for the 1st egg and the 15th day for the second egg. I even have been putting up an umbrella every morning to help keep the sun off, but my guess is (after no Mom this morning but Dad sitting on top of the box, which I haven’t seen him in at least 4 days, just the Mom always inside head hanging out like the photo below trying to breath) these eggs are not going to hatch?1st photo of what she has been looking like every day when she is in the box.
2nd photo is this morning No mom bird, just the absent for days Dad sitting on top of the box for at least 15 minutes with eggs still inside.
Being the 15th and 16th days since she laid them do I just quit with the umbrella and hope the Mom also gives up or do I keep trying with our weather forecast being the same for at least the next week.That is just so sad. I wish I knew the answer but I would leave the umbrella to give mom some protection until she gives up.
The rule of thumb is that they will hatch 12 – 14 days after the last egg is laid. So you really are only one day later than that. Or am I misunderstanding something? So definitely do not give up at this point.
Tammy
I just feel for that poor mama. But you’ve truly done all you can. And you really can’t take her eggs away as much as we know they won’t make it. Our Blues are strong and persistent!
It’s upper 80’s here and really humid but praying my 14 day olds make it!Praying for your sweet mama blue. Been thinking a lot about her and if you took down the umbrella she probably still wouldn’t give up and would be even hotter. Sad all around :(
Thanks for all your help.
HELP
Today is the 4th of July and eggs were in nest #1 on the 15th of June #2 on the 16th and we still have eggs in the nest, Ho baby’s.
I have been putting up the umbrella every day because of the horrible heat and Mom and Dad keep coming off and on checking in then leaving? Today a male (I don’t know if the original Dad or not) came to the box and was chasing off 2 different kinds of birds hanging on our fence, then he left and brought back a female who looked inside the nest (also went in) then left and the male looked in the hole then chased off some more birds hanging around then he left?
My question do I keep leaving the nest alone and putting up the umbrella? There are more than one female and male around I think and how do I know if it is the original ones or a new pair trying to find a place to nest???????
It has been 18 days since the first egg was in the nest and 19 since the second egg was in the nest and they are still there and this is confusing to me as to how to do this with what is happening with the birds… HELP!!!!! How long do I leave the nest like it is now?????PS Mom bird (I think it is the original Mom?) just keeps checking every once in a while and not spending hours in the box anymore.
Dene, please leave the eggs alone. You can’t know at this point which bird is which. When you see ABSOLUTELY no activity for several days, and by this I mean NOBODY going in and out, it is safe to remove the eggs. To be really sure at that point, wedge a piece of grass or straw in the hole. If it is moved within 24 hours, that means somebody is entering and you missed seeing it.
The thing is it’s cruel to remove eggs that a female is still tending, however sporadically.
There is no hurry about removing eggs EVER. If a new pair wants the box this late in the season, they will remove the eggs or build over them.
Gin
Atlanta, GAAnd you really don’t want to encourage another attempt this late. Another good reason to just let them be….I’m leaving my box open after this fledge. They should be long gone by now. It’s too hot…
Texas just North of Houston.
Both birds still coming and going mostly the male now? Heat still in the high 90’s with Heat Index over 105.
I quit putting up the Umbrella but leaving the box alone till they quit coming?? if ever?“NEWS”
I have never put the umbrella back up all week and Female and Male have been in and out all week, But Female has not been sitting in the house for hours like before. And the NEWS IS – Today was going to weed eat around the pole and remove the contraption that was placed around the bottom so snakes etc. couldn’t crawl up the pole. I decided to have a look inside to see if the birds were still checking on the eggs that never hatched and to my surprise the eggs are gone or under the new nest they have put in the box on top of them? , so now leaving the pole bottom alone and going to check every day to see if they lay more eggs again? My question being should I put the umbrella back up and down every day again or wait and see if she lays more eggs?You can be done with the umbrella until she lays an egg.
What kind of contraption around the bottom are you talking about?
Gin
Atlanta, GA
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