Tara, was the chick developed, with feathers or was it an early stage ? Birds are born with all the instinct they need to raise their babies so though older birds may be more experienced they have the same instincts to raise their young. If you have another nest, write down day by day what you see and what the birds are doing. Do your neighbors use pesticides on their lawns? Do you live near any kind of farm that might have sprayed? Sometimes we don't have too much control over what other people do that might affect the birds in our own yards

Are you sure it's dead??? How old is it? When they get older they play dead when you open the box and they can be VERY convincing. Is it warm, cold? Did you take it out and look? Are the parents still bringing food in? They will stop bringing in food in order to encourage the baby to fledge. You should not open the box after day 12 unless you suspect a problem. It can trigger premature fledging.
Let us know what happens
Cathy

Tara, this is so sad and I'm truly sorry about the loss. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things just don't work out for some reason. Guess that's mother nature and we humans can only do so much to help. Sometimes we can readily identify the problem, but many times we are left wondering, which is so upsetting! I hope you have better luck next time.

Donna

I appreciate all of your advice and questions.

The chick was just about fully grown. I noticed last week that it looked frail and that it didn't have as many feathers as other chicks have had at that age. The BBs raised 3 clutches last year, and nothing has changed in my yard or my neighbors' that I'm aware of, so that wasn't it.

I just took the nest out and cleaned the box. I did this after noticing the female was already starting to build a new nest! On top of the old one with the dead baby in it. The male just sat in a tree and watched me the whole time I removed the nest and baby. It was sad.

My husband will burn the nest and remains. I don't feel right burying a bird. Since the female seems ready to try again I have the box cleaned out and ready for her and a supply of mealies that will last. I'm not sure what happened to this little one, but more than anything it looks like "failure to thrive". Not a mark on it.

I'll let you know when we have a new clutch to hope for.

Thanks again.

tara

So very sorry Tara. Good thing the birds don't take it as hard as we do.
Cathy

I checked today and there's already a new nest being built. I didn't see the female, but the male was standing guard.

Now I have to get rid of the Robins. The back yard is their favorite bug hunting ground. I figure I can quit feeding the blues for a couple of weeks. Maybe that will discourage the Robins a bit. Now I just have to watch for Mockingbirds (which were the problem last year) and BlueJays. I don't mind feeding them as well, but they are all such gluttons!

tara

Hi Tara, you can give yourself permission to stop feeding the birds since there is plenty of natural food around at this time of year. You will save money and maybe save a few headaches from the birds gathering in one place in your yard. The robins usually dig in the ground for their food so just don't use pesticides and they will be fine and fat all summer without supplements and the other birds, including bluebirds will be fine, too.

Oh Tara, my heart breaks for you! I know the pain of loss of the little beings.

I am so very sorry.

Linda...