chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 14, 2019 9:22:04 GMT
Hi everyone, here’s hoping the season will be a good one for everyone. First post this year. Brilliant work by Paul and Matt getting this forum up and running. What would we do without it and Paul’s advice. Everything looking ok so far. Beautiful nest ready for eggs, loads of feathers ,I swear she has personally plucked a pidgeon. I was tempted to take down box after last years drama but dithered too long and by January it was already taken over by a pair of blues. Decided to put the live food feeder fairly near the box with peanuts and sunflower hearts. I thought if they got used to it there I might avoid the saga of last year where the lone male never found it. They have been feeding from it and as there are plenty of other feeders further down the garden they aren’t bothered by other birds. A few days ago I put some mealworms in and they are going a treat. I just bought a couple of boxes from pet shop but now I see they are eating them ,have put in order from Livefoods Direct. Fingers crossed it will be good summer for everyone. Chris.
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 14, 2019 10:41:22 GMT
Good to have you back with us Chris, I am hoping this year is more successful for you, And no single parents for raise the chicks. Keep us posted, Look forward to your updates!
|
|
|
Post by YorksherLass on Apr 14, 2019 11:55:20 GMT
back Chris. Things are going well for you & it's great that your bird is going for a luxury, feathered nest! You are spoiling her, what with their own personal feeders away from the madding crowd & mealworms too.
|
|
|
Post by suep on Apr 14, 2019 11:57:25 GMT
Back Chris. Here’s to a fresh start and a wonderful new season. Good luck and look forward to updates. Sue
|
|
|
Post by sammi on Apr 14, 2019 19:29:20 GMT
back Chris. Sounds like there will be no drama with the mealworm this year .....Looking forward to your updates.
|
|
|
Post by elle on Apr 15, 2019 12:14:58 GMT
Chris, welcome back, looking forward to your updates, fingers crossed now you have put mealworms out earlier, there won’t be a repeat of last year. good luck Elle xx
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 16, 2019 11:41:29 GMT
Thank you everyone, Very quiet here at the moment . Visits every couple of hours but now the nest is ready it’s just waiting till she’s ready to lay. Warm weather coming soon so perhaps that will start things off. Chris
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 16, 2019 12:13:54 GMT
Pretty much the same here Chris. Nests been build for over a week, I don't know if she is laying at moment or not. However visits limited and roosting during the night.
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 19, 2019 11:13:16 GMT
First egg laid this morning . 😍 Hope this warmer weather continues for a good while yet. chris.
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 19, 2019 11:41:17 GMT
Great news Chris, Keep us posted!
|
|
|
Post by elle on Apr 19, 2019 13:00:31 GMT
Great news Chis, hope all goes well Elle xx
|
|
|
Post by suep on Apr 19, 2019 14:44:52 GMT
Wonderful news Chris. Looks like they know it’s Easter 🥚 Sue
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 20, 2019 8:32:59 GMT
Just wondering where every one keeps their live food. I’m finding it difficult to know where best to keep the meal worms in this mini heat wave. If they were feeding young there wouldn’t be a problem , they’d be going as fast as I put them out. I think I remember two years ago keeping some in the fridge. Don’t want to kill them all though. Chris.
|
|
|
Post by sammi on Apr 20, 2019 16:16:34 GMT
Great news Chris. I used to keep my mealworms in a fridge....not too cold but they lasted well.
|
|
|
Post by Taz on Apr 22, 2019 16:19:53 GMT
Just wondering where every one keeps their live food. I’m finding it difficult to know where best to keep the meal worms in this mini heat wave. If they were feeding young there wouldn’t be a problem , they’d be going as fast as I put them out. I think I remember two years ago keeping some in the fridge. Don’t want to kill them all though. Chris. I keep mine in the fridge. I put small pieces of carrot, potato, apple or banana skins in to keep them hydrated. Seems to work well
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 22, 2019 16:33:34 GMT
Mine always go lifeless in the fridge what is the secret? I just keep them in the garage at normal temp never had problem with that put them in some oats and some sliced carrots every 2 days always lasted long for me like this and stay wriggly. If its a warm day I keep them in a shady part of the garage with the door fully open and the window so its not to warm.
|
|
|
Post by elle on Apr 22, 2019 17:03:20 GMT
They will go lifeless Paul, but as soon as you warm them up again they start wriggling, it’s like keeping maggots in the fridge for fishing, my husband & I used to do a lot of carp fishing and this is how we stored them. I put my mealies in garage a few times but resorted back to fridge as I always found they didn’t last as long. It’s what ever works for you Paul, if your happy with the way you store them, why change Elle xx
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 22, 2019 17:11:06 GMT
Very true Elle, Works extremely well for me so no point changing it I guess.
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 25, 2019 10:00:28 GMT
We have a second fridge in utility room that I only usually keep veg in . I’ve turned the temperature down to 45f. And the mealies go very inactive but are fine once back at warmer temperature. We had eighth egg laid this morning and I think she has started incubating. She’s hardly off the nest and is being fed quite regularly by male. We are forecast awful gales Friday night and all day Saturday. Hope all the birds can hunker down safely. Quite upsetting thinking of the nests that could come to grief. 😩
|
|
|
Post by Beechnut on Apr 25, 2019 11:13:57 GMT
Hope everything keeps safe at the weekend Chris - nice sized clutch for your BT.
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 26, 2019 11:17:23 GMT
Bit confused today.Is she incubating or not. Ninth egg this morning. Later when I looked she’d kicked it out. It’s now in a corner. I think she flicked it out when rummaging about turning eggs.
Not very impressed with husband either I’ve not seen him feed her at all today. She’s been off the nest more today,whether that’s because she’s not incubating yet Or hungry. Wish I could put some pictures on here but the camera is linked to the TV and any pics I take are rubbish. Not very technically minded I’m afraid. 😩
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 26, 2019 12:04:45 GMT
That is what I do with my pictures and videos Chris, Record them from TV screen on my iphone, I do lose abit of quality by doing it but still get good videos and pictures.
Doesn't matter how your pictures turn out, We would still like to see them, As I have always said doesn't matter about quality of picture video camera etc. We are all posting about something we love watching and have a passion for so never put off sharing your pictures due to thinking they aren't good enough, Believe me everyones nest is good enough full colour black and white anything!
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 26, 2019 15:18:36 GMT
Thanks Paul, that’s made me more confident about putting on a few pics. Your pictures always seem quality with clear and good bright colours. I would never have guessed they were taken from the TV. I expect your camera in the box is a good one. We just have the one that comes with the Garden nature nest box and the colour isn’t that good. Anyway I shall have a go sometime. 👍
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 26, 2019 15:43:31 GMT
Thank you Chris, I'm not very tech myself so any pictures or videos are just filmed off my TV screen as I see it happening with my iphone. No I just have standard gardenature cameras aswell, However I do have led lighting in the box. This does do wonders for the colour and camera. All info on the led light can be found here - £9.99 it is - birdboxdiaries.boards.net/thread/49/led-lighting-bird-boxesHave a look at these two sparrow videos, This is the same camera only difference is this year I have an led light in the box. First video will be one of last years sparrow nests and second video with the colourful feathers is this years nest, Only thing added to this box was an led light same camera but crazy results.
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on Apr 27, 2019 12:22:42 GMT
I’m almost dreading looking in box today. Yesterday she’d hooked an egg out and today another. I was looking just now and she was turning eggs, head down between legs up comes an egg and teeters on the edge Thankfully it rolled back in again. I was standing in front of the TV shouting at her, look you’re pushing another one out. Then breathed a sigh of relief. 🤪 If she carries on like this there won’t be many left.😩 I think the trouble is the cup isn’t deep enough. The base of the nest started off with straw and moss but the top half is mostly fur and feathers. It’s obviously flattened and now is a bit too shallow.shes also very energetic at turning the eggs . I’m now worried that if any hatch will they get thrown out as well.
|
|