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Wowza…..that HOSP sent papa Blue into an uncontrollable rage! I have never seen anything like that before. So glad papa blue came out on top. Hope he keeps up the good work. He needs some kind of a bruiser name. Lol.
Judy-Michigan
You are making great progress! I do have one easy tip you could try…..find a small tree branch, stick or dowel….secure it to or through the cage. They will sit on it and figure out how to get inside to the goods. I actually have this feeder and it worked for me with other small birds. Terrific pictures! Good luck.
Judy-Michigan
That was a great idea leaving the top off. It worked! They will be old pro’s at it before you know it. Enjoyed the photos…..favorite is papa blue with the juice worm.
Judy-Michigan
You got some awesome shots‼️ Happy to see them both enjoying the mealworms……babies are next, yay! See you have your heat shield in place. Is mama blue taking worms into the babies? I think since you got them both so interested in the worms, when you move the bowl into the cage, they will go for it. Good luck.
Judy-Michigan
Awww…..I hope to see fledglings come to my feeder some day too. That would be most enjoyable. They are just so cute. Great job with HOSP control….just when you think you haven’t seem any in a while one shows up. Enjoy those sweet babies!
Judy-Michigan
Carol, thanks for informing us newbies on what to expect with delivery of live mealworms. I’m sure shaking them from newspaper is no fun! After getting the neatly packed starter worms I was not ready for the wild worms. Lol.
David, I never felt hijacked…..I always enjoy your posts and photos, so keep them coming. I want to hear if you get them to accept the caged feeder. Good luck with your upcoming order of mealworms.
Judy-Michigan
Dana……that is so sad, especially after they hatched. I hope you get a new nest soon. The weather second time around has got to be much better. Best wishes to you and your blues.
Judy-Michigan
Night and day difference in packaging of mealworms. Purchased a starter bunch from Wild Birds Unlimited, beautifully packed in fresh oatmeal base in a container, lid with air holes. Mail order was from Tractor supply, came in a small box with egg crate inside. Before opening there was a stench coming from the box. Upon opening mealworms were crawling everywhere, including between the seams of the box and attached to top and bottom of egg crate liner and awful smell. It was an unpleasant experience, to say the least. Yuck‼️ I don’t know which is typical, but I do know where not to order from.
Judy-Michigan
Thanks Carol…..great information. Worms are feeding on carrots today. Papa blue is still keeping them for himself. I hope he shapes up when it’s his turn to feed the fledglings. To date he just hangs out and feeds himself. This is only my 3rd season, but this pair seems very different from my others.
Judy-Michigan
Update….I don’t know when the mealworms I ordered are going to ship, so I went to Wild Birds Unlimited and purchased 1000 for a starter. I wanted to have them before the current hatchlings fledge . I think my papa blue might be a jerk…..he found them within the first 10 minutes. The first time he took one to the tree to eat, did the same for his second taste. The next 3 times he visited he stayed at the bowl and ate. Never once did he take one to the box or show mama what he found. I put out 70, I think he ate them all (they were on the small side). We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
Carol, I counted them out. Seventy sounds like a lot, but in the dish they barely covered the bottom. Can you give me the name of the place you mail order from? Ohio is very close to here. And I’m sure you know good quality mealworms when you see them.
David, that is a great photo! You did a nice job rigging up the worm bowl.
Thank y’all for the great advice!
Judy-Michigan
That is a great tip David. I think I will start with hanging the bowl on the shepherd’s hook day one. Day 2….hoping they recognize the dish, I will move it closer by maybe 10’ towards the porch. Each day closer until it’s from the porch. That’s my plan. This should be fun…..hope it works.
Judy-Michigan
Thanks Carol…..you are a wealth of information! When the worms arrive I will be all set to start, LOL… get the worm train rolling. When you say 10 per bird, babies get the same allotment as adults? So, if I have 2 adults and 5 hatchling, start them out with 70 each feeding?
I just checked the nest, looks like there are 4 hatchlings with maybe 1 egg left. I will know more tomorrow when I check. Super happy because they went through 4 nights of the temperatures dropping below freezing. Mama blue has been doing a great job‼️
Judy-Michigan
I like the photo of mama and papa blue on the shepherd’s hook watching over their nest. Congratulations on your new bluebird family. This spring has been crazy cold. I hope the weather starts shaping up soon.
I hope to have hatchlings today or tomorrow……they did have 4 evenings where the temps went below freezing. Mama blue seems to be very dedicated, so I’m hoping for the best.
Judy-Michigan
