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Post by blueeyedchick on May 9, 2019 7:28:29 GMT
Maybe it's a female who didn't get the chance to breed at the beginning of the season. It is most likely Tuppence will still be caring for her first brood as Benn said but who really knows?
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Post by Beechnut on May 9, 2019 8:09:14 GMT
Like Meryl I think that it is the same female (Tuppence) in the Wallbox, it seems more than a coincidence that another female would lay in a nest within 24 hrs of it being vacated, especially when I have two other desirable residences in shot putting distance.
There isn't really a problem with the fledged chicks at the moment as the three eggs are just lying there in the box all day, while she is out helping to feed the young ones. Admittedly it is possible that Tom is doing the bulk of the feeding because his feeder box is being emptied where 2p's just needs topping up.
There is no way that I can identify Tuppence, but if I see the male in the box I can probably tell if it is Tommy or not.
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Post by suep on May 9, 2019 8:18:43 GMT
Well, Tuppence or not. Let’s hope fledged chicks are cared for AND this new clutch go on to hatch and fledge successfully. The bird world needs all the help it can get. Sue
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Post by Beechnut on May 9, 2019 8:30:49 GMT
Amen to that Sue
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 9, 2019 9:42:42 GMT
The whole world needs all the help it can get. When MSM gives about a 3 min bulletin on the effect of climatic change and the devastation of the environment because of us being over populated, they then devote 5 mins + talking about the Royal baby -jeez Anyway Beechnut all the best to Tuppence if it is her.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 9, 2019 11:48:16 GMT
I think its more likely to be the old female than a new one I think, I only say this because our sparrows have the same turn around rate. Chicks leave the female starts laying again within days, I think when this happens the male looks after the chicks. Everytime we have fledged chicks though, The male and female will feed them for first week then show them the feeders. By week 2 the chicks are left on their own and using the feeders, This female needs to lay her eggs then incubate that gives them way over 2 weeks for the parents attention before the new brood hatch. So in my opinion seems more likely to be the current female not a new one.
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Post by Beechnut on May 9, 2019 12:23:58 GMT
Tuppence is doing a bit of sitting and then taking a bit of time out of the nestbox (chick feeding?).
The male has been in a couple of times with a mealie for Tuppence while I've been watching, and I'm pretty certain it's Tommy.
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Post by Beechnut on May 12, 2019 7:06:31 GMT
It looks as if five is Tuppence's favourite number as she hasn't added to it this morning. so I assume that incubation began yesterday.
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Post by sammi on May 12, 2019 7:50:31 GMT
Well done Tuppence. It must be lovely for you to have another nest to watch......I watch our Great Tits on the feeder and wonder where they have been nesting....? Maybe next year they will choose one of my boxes.
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Post by elle on May 13, 2019 19:01:11 GMT
This is really great news Beechnut, fingers crossed all goes well Elle xx
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Post by suep on May 13, 2019 20:43:10 GMT
Wonderful news Beechnut. Sue
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 20, 2019 9:42:58 GMT
Hope all are fertile Beechnut good news for you a loooong season
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Post by YorksherLass on May 20, 2019 15:31:58 GMT
Just catching up Beechnut, is everything still OK with Tuppence's five eggs - I hope so!
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Post by Beechnut on May 20, 2019 18:26:12 GMT
Yes Diane - hatching should be Thursday/Friday, and hopefully 5 hatch Kathy.
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Post by Beechnut on May 23, 2019 6:39:02 GMT
Hatching started this morning before 6am - I think there are currently 3 chicks, but I haven't really been able to get a good look, only a glimpse of, I think, 2 eggs yet to hatch. Tuppence hasn't been off the cup in the last 90 minutes that I've been recording and Tommy has been in over a dozen times with lovely tiny maggots which he gives to 2p to feed the chicks. Occasionally she lets him do the honours, making sure, first, that it is 'chick size food'. As I type, he has blotted his copy book and brought in a grub twice the size of the others, for which she has given him some verbals, but after a bit of holding and pulling, they have managed to get it down to a swallowable size! I'll post a pic later.
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Post by Beechnut on May 23, 2019 7:18:11 GMT
As promised here's a pic of the now 4 newly hatched GT chicks.
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kevin
Senior Member
Posts: 123
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Post by kevin on May 23, 2019 7:23:11 GMT
Beechnut that’s great news 4 GT chicks. yahoo_clap
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Post by Beechnut on May 23, 2019 7:58:31 GMT
Thanks Kevin - hope there will soon be 5 . Here's a vid of Tommy being allowed to feed a chick and take a poo bag. (that's a first for me so early after hatching).
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Post by Beechnut on May 23, 2019 8:56:44 GMT
Tommy brought in a really large piece of food which he tried to feed to the chicks while 2p had gone out on a comfort break.
He managed to get it into one chick who failed to produce a faecal sac, causing Tommy to investigate the top end and extricate the piece if food, just as 2p returned.
Needless to say there was a heated debate, and several efforts to get the food small enough for a chick to take, all to no avail.
Tommy swallowed the food and probably his pride (momentarily) and departed the box!
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Post by YorksherLass on May 23, 2019 14:02:58 GMT
I enjoyed that last clip Beechnut! Tommy's way of thinking - well, if we can't make it smaller by both of us pulling it to get a small enough portion, I may as well eat it before she does! - then sensibly flies off before the tirade.
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Post by suep on May 23, 2019 14:32:02 GMT
Wonderful news re the chicks hatching Beechnut and brilliant video capturing the too and fro of the extra large food. Hope he gets his sizes sorted soon, though top marks for his efforts yahoo_clap . Sue
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 23, 2019 15:30:28 GMT
Congrats Beechnut!
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Post by Beechnut on May 23, 2019 18:35:10 GMT
Thanks guys - I think Tommy is using the mini mealworms I put out after the post arrived just after 10am, and got a bit mixed up which chicks he was supposed to be feeding. There are 2 fledglings which hang around the Scott feeder in the plum tree, but can't work out that they have to go through the large round hole to get a mini, so they wait on Tommy visiting to get fed - so he's doing double duty at the moment and is run a bit ragged. Anyway he seems a bit better organised now, bringing in reasonably sized stuff - I can't tell whether it's small mini mealies or some other grub, but the chicks seem OK on it now. The 5th egg is still sitting in the bottom of the cup, generally covered by either four writhing or flaked out chicks - I shall be pleasantly surprised if is has hatched when I check in the morning.
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Post by sammi on May 23, 2019 19:47:55 GMT
Gosh Beechnut they seem such a dedicated pair even if Tommy gets it slightly wrong sometimes.
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Post by elle on May 23, 2019 21:30:11 GMT
Congrats again Beechnut
Elle Xx
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