[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

The only time I moved (replaced) a nest is when one of my boxes got very wet and the baby birds’ poop wasn’t being removed – it was a horrible, horrible mess. With the help of others on this site I successfully moved these babies to a clean box. But I wouldn’t recommend this unless truly necessary. I had my hubby help me with this and we got the babies into a new box on the same pole within 5 minutes.
As far as size of the boxes, I started out with the normal recommended 4 x 4 inch (16 square inches) and learned over the years that with anything over 4 babies that is a little small, so we began making new Gilwood boxes with a 17 sq. inch floor space and these worked much better – not a lot more bigger (which they do not like) but just enough to help out with 5 babies.
Hope you come out with a good decision and outcome. All we can do is our best.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Beautiful David – congrats. Your pics are always a welcome sight – thanks.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Yes, I am still taking out the sticks and the “birdbrain” wren keeps putting more in – this has been one of my specialities for a long time – after finding broken eggs on the ground a few times – this got me very upset but I know there are a protected species (and they really are cute things). Oh, by the way there are now 4 eggs and mama is incubating as of today. I saw her come out to eat this morning and feed worms to the fledglings but she went right back into the box (early this morning). It’s possible there are 5 eggs but I don’t believe so because they usually lay the eggs later in the mid-morning to around noon.
By the way congrats on your BB hatches and hope the fledging goes well!

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Welcome to this forum, Clangley – I agree with Dana that your best bet is to move the box – you don’t want to be responsible for any tragedies. Good luck.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

This 2nd nesting now has four eggs in it – don’t know if mama will have another egg tomorrow or not – but don’t believe she was incubating today. I still have the wren gatherine up sticks at a different box – I keep taking out part of the nest so he will keep busy putting more in.
Still need some help from anyone whose had trouble with a young mama BB which has never gpne under a guard before – I am hoping after a few days of incubation I can put down the lid on the wren guard and she will be so committed to the eggs that she will find her way into the hole. ????

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Wow, that is a lot of eggs for a 4×5 box – this is a tricky situation. Surely mama bird is incubating the 6 eggs by now and moving them may be a problem. I have had 5 eggs is a 4×4 box but do believe it was too small – don’t remember the outcome – was several years ago. Sometimes I believe it is best to leave nature alone – but this is truly one for the books – can anyone help Madelyn out.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Well, I went ahead and lifted up the wren guard top (it is on a hinge) and this left the sides of the guard still on. I watched closely for several hours this morning – papa was going in and out of the box waving for the female – I left and did not check until just a little after noon. Low and behold there was a 3rd egg in it – Halalulia! The wren I have been hearing is busy putting in new sticks at a different box – I will keep it busy with this task.

I’ve got to figure out how to get this fairly new mama bird to accept the spooker for future nestings, this year and next.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Robbe, welcome – sorry you are having such a bad start, but sounds like you are doing everything right, especially about cleaning out the box. Keep trying and read everything you can about bluebirding, especially http://www.sialis.org. which is what most here consider our “bible”.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Yes, Julie, you can personal message someone if you want. Down at the right bottom of our page is something called “Your Cafe mailbox” – this is where you would do this. I can’t direct you through the directions very well, but someone else might – maybe Tammy, one of our moderators. I have used this but it’s been a long time ago. That area will also notify you if you have a personal message.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Thanks everyone – my blues already have a really nice nest with good cup for next time – glad she hasn’t laid any eggs, as it is terrible weather, cold and rainly all this week. But I expect to see one as soon as the weather cooperates. David, glad yours finally got with it!

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Julie’s right on track – yes, they do take short breaks during incubation period. I believe 10-15 minutes is average for the breaks, not more.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Blues almost always lay one egg each day until their clutch is done, 4-5 eggs usually. My pair this year started very early and the eggs (and then babies) made it through two different freezing temps.
I bet yours will get on target today. They are now in the trees learning how to survive and hunt.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Thanks for informing us, Cher. Hope everything goes smoothly.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Julie, I had forgoten about the grass in the hole trick – thanks for reminding us.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Robbe, do you see the male around with Mamma? Don’t give up yet – maybe they just “wern’t in the mood” yet. . . Unusual things do happen, as I have witnessed this past few days when 2 of my 3 babies fledged, and the last one only fledged after 3 days! Wow, was I sweating thinking something was wrong with the bird. The whole family are now in the trees playing and learning.

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