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Cari, I have NEVER heard of a bird removing an egg during incubation. Let’s hope it was hidden somehow. Rarely they remove an egg that doesn’t hatch and most of the time they leave it where it is.
I totally get worrying about wrens. I have a pair I am still keeping occupied by using various tactics.
Carol’s idea about wooden guards is a really good one. Some people even leave them permanently mounted on the roof and flip them down when needed.
Gin
Atlanta, GANo matter how many you feed you can do a little to fix the calcium problem. Most pet stores have calcium carbonate in the reptile section. You can dust your worms with that. It adheres better if they are a tiny bit moist. The brand I buy is Jurassi-Cal. Whatever brand you get, it should be calcium carbonate and not calcium citrate. Can’t remember why!
Gin
Atlanta, GAYep. It was kind of small.
The better news is that she laid a fourth white egg today. This pair seems pretty attentive but some slim cowbird slipped in anyway. Grrr.
Rats, Tammy. I hijacked your thread.
What’s going on with your chicks?Gin
Atlanta, GAThey absolutely will lay eggs in the afternoon and even skip a day sometimes. There are no rigid rules.
Gin
Atlanta, GAYep Tammy. A 1.25″ hole should keep them in and let the adults feed them. Good luck!
Meanwhile, I just checked the backyard box and what do I find? A cowbird in there with the white eggs. Ugh! Believe me it’s a standard 1.5″ entrance hole. Well that egg is gone now. I brought it in to scramble it a bit and it broke. Hope she doesn’t go back in checking.
Gin
Atlanta, GAThanks Tam. They all fledged also. Did I see that? Nope.
They have started another nest but the HOWR are out and about. I am trying to keep them “occupied”.
Gin
Atlanta, GAJudy, your specs sound fine on the guard. When birds have eggs in a nest they usually try not to draw too much attention to what is going on. That’s why so many of them disappear for much of the day during egg laying. What they don’t seem to get is that leave the door (literally) open for HOWR or HOSP attack.
Gin
Atlanta, GASorry the HOWR have been such pests! Hope they find lodging elsewhere. Not really.
You aren’t alone with wren guard issues. Others seem to be having a problem with them this year. I expect to be the next one but I really hope not.
Gin
Atlanta, GACari, I have NEVER had birds totally reject a nest with eggs when I put a guard on a box. Some birds do take a little longer than others but none have ever abandoned eggs. Go for it!
Gin
Atlanta, GAJudy, some birds are just more cautious than others. Does your guard have sides? Is it extra long? Either feature can be slightly altered to help them accept it. I always try to get a guard on in the morning after the first egg is laid. That gives her about 24 hours to get used to the thing.
Gin
Atlanta, GAEABL will definitely take over anybody’s completed nest if they want the location. They will even remove the eggs of another species if they want the box. No telling what will happen when the TRES return.
I love that you saw the bunting!
Gin
Atlanta, GABZ, when a female “turns” the eggs, she actually turns them OVER and will do this several times a day. You might not see your marks tomorrow or you might see a couple of them. Don’t worry if you see as many as 4 out of 5. That just means she is doing her job.
Gin
Atlanta, GAPlease don’t be so quick to assume these eggs are abandoned. Eggs can feel cool to the touch and it’s pretty hard to judge their temp by touching them. A good strategy would be to mark the eggs with a sharpie. That way you can know if the eggs are being turned.
Birds have an extremely strong attachment to their eggs and don’t readily abandon them. She flew out and knows there is a way back in. I would definitely mark the eggs and see what happens.
Gin
Atlanta, GA
