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Post by pete11 on Apr 19, 2022 17:39:03 GMT
I'll be amazed if all 10 hatch - but I guess it's nothing out of the ordinary by Blue tit standards!
A little moment from early this evening.
She's left the eggs quite uncovered a few times today, away from the nest for a couple of hours, then comes back, settles down, and the male comes in and feeds her.
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Post by matt on Apr 19, 2022 18:18:10 GMT
I dunno Pete, all hatching would probably be par for the course, although one or two might not. Now it will be more amazing if all 10 survive to fledge, but also not impossible. Are you going to provide mealworms/waxworms for her? I had 11 eggs once - all hatched, but I think only 6 fledged that year. I think there might be people on this forum who have had even more eggs, but not sure. I know there was a crazy nest on the Bigg forum years ago that had 19 eggs and two females together, bit weird!
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Post by Taz on Apr 20, 2022 8:24:39 GMT
That's quite a brood, but normal for a blue tit best. Great photos
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Post by pete11 on Apr 20, 2022 12:12:32 GMT
I've counted 11 eggs today in one of the low-res motion detection images in the camera app. So she must've laid that this morning to add to the hoard. I'll post pics later if I find any.
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Post by pete11 on Apr 20, 2022 12:14:02 GMT
I dunno Pete, all hatching would probably be par for the course, although one or two might not. Now it will be more amazing if all 10 survive to fledge, but also not impossible. Are you going to provide mealworms/waxworms for her? I had 11 eggs once - all hatched, but I think only 6 fledged that year. I think there might be people on this forum who have had even more eggs, but not sure. I know there was a crazy nest on the Bigg forum years ago that had 19 eggs and two females together, bit weird! 19! Wow. I'm assuming - hoping, even(!) - mine won't get that silly I'll have to investigate the mealworm thing. I got some for the robins and they loved them, but fishing ones out from the box I bought from Pets-at-Home was fiddly.
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Post by matt on Apr 20, 2022 13:45:57 GMT
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Post by matt on Apr 20, 2022 13:48:10 GMT
I've counted 11 eggs today in one of the low-res motion detection images in the camera app. So she must've laid that this morning to add to the hoard. I'll post pics later if I find any. Laying one more egg the day after she appears to start incubating is pretty common - perhaps even normal. She's probably done now though, and 11 is plenty!
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Post by suep on Apr 20, 2022 15:45:07 GMT
Eleven eggs is superb Pete. Going to be a lot of chicks to watch Sue
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Post by pete11 on Apr 20, 2022 20:33:28 GMT
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Post by pete11 on Apr 21, 2022 21:57:44 GMT
Not much to report today - a lot of sitting on eggs, male feeding visits, and egg shuffling. At one point something landed on the entrance she clearly didn't like - she went on a big defensive display for about a minute (first pic below). I think it was a Great tit landing on the box to have a look. Haven't seen any other incidents so far... She camouflaged herself so well at times, really burying herself right down in the material. Made me realise how similar the nesting materials are to their own colouring - no accident I'm sure.
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benn
Senior Member
Posts: 143
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Post by benn on Apr 22, 2022 8:15:11 GMT
Amazing number of eggs Pete. Only once in many decades of Blue tit boxes have we ever had 11.
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Post by pete11 on Apr 24, 2022 20:12:42 GMT
Lots of dutiful sitting on eggs in the past couple of days - the nest cup is getting very well defined with a proper edge to it now. In case you'd forgotten what they look like...here's a picture of 11 eggs exposed to the light while mum sneaks off for a comfort break Rinse and repeat tomorrow etc. I guess! Still thinking about mealworm feeding - not sure what the best plan is regarding an actual feeder, as I'd prefer to make it as BT-exclusive as possible. All suggestions welcome. Can't help thinking they'll need all the help they can get with 11 eggs.
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 25, 2022 8:12:11 GMT
Look on my thread pete, I have put a pic of what I use and it is BBT exclusive. Been using it for 3 years now successfully.
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Post by matt on Apr 25, 2022 14:02:53 GMT
Pete, here's the contraption I cam up with for feeding mealworms last year. This pic is from the "training" phase pre-chicks, when I was trying to get them used to it. In this early period, they never did manage to get through the holes so I swapped one side out for a horizontal row of bamboo (kebab type) skewers, spaced close enough together to keep the starlings out. They were straight in then, and once they got used to it I swapped the perspex hole side back in and they were happy enough going inside. Absolutely no chance for bigger birds, although that didn't stop them trying!
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Post by suep on Apr 25, 2022 15:32:18 GMT
Here are two i wo I have used over the years Pete. The one on the left my son made (originally to cover a wooden bird box to keep predators away) and now used as mealworm feeder. It just need a couple of small cup hooks on a fence, and lifts off for cleaning and topping up. The one on the right is a ‘Scott feeder’ (so called as Paul (wildlife Paul), came up with it one year . Just a caged feeder that several of us bought and adapted with the plate on one or more sides. This one hangs anywhere. Our efforts look pathetic compared to the creations Matt comes up with - he is a genius!! Also the one Karen uses looks good. Many options with a bit of thought. Good luck. Sue
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Post by pete11 on Apr 25, 2022 20:26:42 GMT
Wow, you guys have really been to town on this! Some very impressive solutions! The basic idea makes sense though, and it's definitely giving me food for thought. Looks like I've got some catching up to do 😂
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 28, 2022 12:25:35 GMT
All looking great Pete, Any sign of your little Robins?
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Post by pete11 on Apr 28, 2022 22:42:29 GMT
All looking great Pete, Any sign of your little Robins? No, Paul, nothing obvious. There’s been a pair of adults on the top of the fence in the past few days doing that display thing where their tails point up and their heads look skywards and move from side to side. Not sure if that’s two males facing off or a courtship male/female.
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Post by pete11 on May 1, 2022 20:54:07 GMT
On tenterhooks seeing everyone else's hatchlings! Delighted it's all happening for everyone, but wondering if mine are going to emerge soon or whether there are still a few days to go. The eggs are very much still all eggs tonight! I still haven't sorted anything out as far as mealworms go. Time's ticking on!
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Post by pete11 on May 2, 2022 8:58:02 GMT
Lo and behold...chicks this morning! 1st one emerged between 7.20am and 8am...hard to tell as I'm out and about so can't check the footage. Better pics to follow later...
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Post by Taz on May 2, 2022 9:26:53 GMT
Fantastic, get those mealworms in 😂🐦🐦
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Post by pete11 on May 2, 2022 10:56:11 GMT
Looks as if chick #1 hatched about 0745 Here's a clip from around 5mins later, with mum picking out the eggshell and eating it.
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Post by pete11 on May 2, 2022 11:36:07 GMT
Chick #2 hatches as mum's feeding #1
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Post by pete11 on May 2, 2022 12:17:37 GMT
#3 hatching
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Post by pete11 on May 2, 2022 12:19:19 GMT
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