|
Post by hfriel on May 7, 2019 8:56:40 GMT
Very strange Chris..... Ive had some very strange behavior with nesting over the last few years too.
One of my worst was, what was obviously a very late nest with only 4 eggs and only one hatched. The chick was never fed and the Mum kept on incubating the other eggs. The poor chick died of neglect, Mum just removed it and spent another 2 weeks incubating eggs that were never going to hatch.
In the end they are just like humans, some good parents and some bad and all that’s in between.
Have anymore Hatched?
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 7, 2019 12:05:24 GMT
It’s all very sad when things don’t go to plan.that must have been so frustrating watching the little chick die. I often wonder how long a female would sit on eggs if none hatch.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed at the moment. A second chick hatched yesterday and another this morning. Still three eggs to go. Three eggs still out of the nest .I think they’re well buried in the feathers now.
Can’t fault the parents, she’s very attentive and he’s bring in food thick and fast. ,The female is eating a lot of it as either the chicks are full or it’s way too big. Only problem is very shallow nest. Not enough base and too many feathers. Time will tell if she can keep the chicks in the nest. At the moment a lot of room taken up by three eggs . If the rest hatch won’t be so bad as they fit together better. Anyway here’s hoping. 🐣
|
|
|
Post by suep on May 7, 2019 13:15:58 GMT
Oh my goodness Chris what a predicament. Everything tells us we must leave the nest alone. But then there is that voice that says the three hatched ones may die if she doesn’t feed them correctly whilst incubating the others (as Helen has said). Sounds a very immature bird what with the nest incorrect and not protecting eggs etc. Don’t know what anyone else’s advice would be?! Hope things work out for mum and chicks . Sue
|
|
kevin
Senior Member
Posts: 123
|
Post by kevin on May 7, 2019 13:21:59 GMT
Hi Chris it’s awful sometimes when things like this in the nest happens, I know you just want to help as much as possible but then again we have to let the parents get on and hopefully nurture the chicks. Fingers crossed that everything goes well.
|
|
|
Post by elle on May 7, 2019 15:30:25 GMT
Hi Chris, I think with all the goings on, to have 3 hatch is very Lucky. I must admit all has been strange this year. I hope maternal instincts kick in and she will become a good mum Keeps us updated Chris Elle xx
|
|
|
Post by YorksherLass on May 7, 2019 15:31:16 GMT
Yes Chris, a problem for you. I'd be inclined to leave well alone & let nature take its course. We need Kathy to read this post of yours, as she & her husband tried to raise some chicks last year or the year before. After a valiant attempt feeding every 2 hours for days, they had to give up and take them to a rescue centre. More details if she reads this message of yours though, as I may have got timings wrong.
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 7, 2019 15:45:25 GMT
Hi everyone, Things not looking too bad at the moment. Three strong chicks being well fed by dad . Mum mostly in,keeping them warm . They must be getting plenty as they are refusing a lot of the time. The three eggs left in the nest might still hatch, either that or be pushed out by the chicks .ive seen one get right under an egg and almost lift it up. One chick accidentally kicked out of nest but managed to get itself back in. We were standing in front of the TV willing it on. 😫 I’m feeling slightly more relaxed now but still keeping fingers crossed. They both seem to be good parents apart from the nest building .🏡
|
|
|
Post by elle on May 7, 2019 16:46:06 GMT
I’m pleased the instincts are kicking in for them Chris, hopefully they will be able to manage. I hope you won’t need it, but there is some information about raising chicks, but having been through this myself a few years ago, it is definitely not recommended
Elle Xx
|
|
|
Post by WildlifePaul on May 7, 2019 16:54:32 GMT
Glad some success is coming out of this for you Chris! Keep us posted.
|
|
|
Post by sammi on May 8, 2019 20:35:54 GMT
Gosh Chris I'm just catching up! What a tense time it is for you... I know what you mean, sometimes it is just better not to know what's going on. Hope things go well for those chicks.
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 10, 2019 10:40:02 GMT
Just a quick update. We have three chicks which look fine . A fourth hatched but I’m afraid hasn’t survived .It was one of the ones kicked out of the nest so the trauma was perhaps too much for a new hatchling. not sure where it is ,must still be in bottom of cup. Parents feeding them well although it’s mostly dad . With only three chicks they will have an easy time of it. I’m amazed any hatched after all the drama.
|
|
|
Post by suep on May 10, 2019 10:45:38 GMT
So pleased the three are doing well Chris. Benefit of a small number is that they should be looked after well. Sue
|
|
|
Post by YorksherLass on May 10, 2019 11:19:07 GMT
for the update Chris & yes, it is a shame about the chick which died, but as you & Sue say, the remaining three will be well looked after.
|
|
|
Post by Beechnut on May 10, 2019 12:22:18 GMT
Hope everything goes well for your 3 little survivors Chris. Thankfully feeding shouldn't be a problem even if only one parent feeding. Good Luck!
|
|
|
Post by sammi on May 12, 2019 8:23:57 GMT
Good luck for your little trio. Hope they are spoilt rotten and get all the grubs they need
|
|
|
Post by elle on May 13, 2019 19:08:32 GMT
After all the trauma Chris, these 3 must be little fighters icon_biggrin
Elle xx
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 14, 2019 16:35:03 GMT
Thanks everyone for your good wishes for the little trio. They you are doing very well and being very well fed with mealworms. If the feeding goes on at this rate they’ll be too fat to get out of the hole.😂 Slight problem at the weekend, we were over the two days inundated with starlings. We have them in the winter but early spring they all disappeared.nesting and raising chicks I presume. Now we have hoards of them ,all wanting to be fed. Of course it didn’t take long to find the meals worms. I’ve got one of the feeders with a dome that can be lowered to keep bigger birds out. Oh no not starlings. How on earth do they get their heads in .😫 Anyway , I’ve taken it away and modified a cage feeder. I cut small hole plates out of plastic milk bottle and fixed them over the bigger holes..I got the idea from Paul’s Scott feeder. The robin can still get in as I’ve not made the top holes smaller but the starlings can now only get their head in but not reach down to the worms.
I think I shall be quite glad when this years nesting is over.. 😫
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 14, 2019 16:54:21 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Ann70 on May 14, 2019 16:55:40 GMT
i get very annoyed with the starlings, ive got mainly caged feeders and one that is spring loaded to close if larger birds gets on, but the starlings are light enough to land and get food , so ive emptied all food, the starling chicks have not left the nests yet so it will be noisy and busy soon, hopefully they have been put off coming to my garden i have a ground caged feeder which the starling find a way in, so ive covered it was pea mesh and just left a few holes for bluetits, greatits, robins to get in and it has worked thankfully, i have a small scott feeder which has to remain empty because the starlings manage to get food out of the container. i dont won't to lose the regular birds to my garden. for the last few days there's been no starlings
i probably won't be popular writing this post but it is as it is
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 14, 2019 19:01:16 GMT
I’m with you there Ann . I’m not a fan of starlings. We have loads in the winter. I don’t mind them feeding at the feeders but what gets me is the way they constantly squabble and fight and frighten everything else away. I’ve managed to keep them from eating all the mealworms but unless the dish is fixed in they tip it up and eat them from the floor. I know they are on the decline but you wouldn’t know it around here.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2019 21:42:43 GMT
Well, Chris and Ann and I know it might be blasphemy on here, but I find Starlings far more interesting than Blue tits! Their behaviour is brilliant to watch! Raucous, loud and beautiful songsters!
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 15, 2019 7:54:23 GMT
I know Ben, I’m probably not being fair to starlings but you must admit they are sometimes a pain in the bum when you get about fifty landing on your feeders. At the moment they are feeding young and I think it’s the young that make that awful swishing whistling noise that gets on your nerves. I know they are intelligent birds and nature’s opportunists and have beautiful colours when the sun shines on them ,almost like oil on water. Anyway I shall try and look at them with fresh eyes from now on. 😳
|
|
|
Post by matt on May 15, 2019 7:59:30 GMT
I'm with you Benn! I really like starlings as well, although there is no doubt that they do get a bit annoying when they descend mob-handed and polish off a bowl of mealworms in a couple of minutes. Despite that, I do love the iridescence of their feathers in the light, and also appreciate how amazingly effective they are at extracting chafer grubs from our lawn when they get in the mood - incredible to watch them sometimes.
|
|
|
Post by suep on May 15, 2019 8:27:38 GMT
I’m on the fence (excuse the pun) with this one. They are welcome to my garden when I don’t have chicks to worry about, but otherwise no no no . Sue
|
|
chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by chrisp on May 15, 2019 18:27:09 GMT
I had to laugh at your description Ben.
Raucous, loud and beautiful songsters. Sounds like a welsh rugby team. 😂
I think I shall always think of them now as the “Lads” of the bird world.
|
|