Often times you may be unaware of the time she spends on the nest incubating. I would trust that she is doing what she needs to do. If she had four eggs laid on 4/14, check on 4/28 and see if there are young. If she has abandoned the nest there is nothing you can do. So I would advise to just be patient and see if the eggs hatch.

Yep, what Kendra said. On or about 4/28 you should see hatchlings but it could take a bit longer so don't get dissapointed if it isn't right on that day.

Good luck.

Donna

Momma will sneak in and out fast, give it time then let us know what you see at the end of the month.

First ever bluebird box abandoned also. There are four eggs and I haven't seen her but a couple if times. My dates are the same as cyn-s. No activity at all. I placed a piece of straw in the opening last night. This morning it hadn't moved. Feel that nest is abandoned. What do we do with the eggs if they don't hatch? I also have another box with bluebirds building a nest. No eggs yet. Should be soon though.

I did receive this information to help check if the female is sitting on the eggs. Use a magic marker and put a small dot or mark on the eggs. If the mark moves, you know she has been turning and sitting on the eggs. I did that today and will check the box tomorrow.

I think you should wait a really long time before thinking about removing the eggs. I had a clutch last year I swore would never hatch because there were so many 20 degree days and I NEVER saw the mom. They hatched after 20 days, I about freaked. So you never know.

Thanx everyone! This is all very helpful. I've been thinking today that all the cold we had a week or so ago was NOT good; but maybe everything is OK like with Lexarose's experience. Unfortunately I'll be gone for several days around "hatch day," so I'll keep my fingers crossed that I come back and find little ones!

I'll do an update then.

Thanks everyone. I did mark my eggs with a marker yesterday evening, but the marks were in the same place this afternoon. They had not been turned when I checked. That doesn't sound very good. I did see a pair of bluebirds this afternoon. They were probably the ones that built the nest in my other box. I will leave the eggs alone until this weekend and check again, but I don't see any activity at all around that box except for the mockingbirds. Cyn-s, let us know what happens. Thanks Lexarose.

I think the deal is is they don't turn them 'till they start incubating. So if they are marked and she's not turning them she's waiting to start incubating maybe due to the weird weather or whatever. My bird didn't incubate at first so they just sat seemingly abandoned. How they are viable after that long in the cold I'll never know. I think these birds know what they're doing. Please give her more time,hopefully you'll have a nice surprise like I did.

Thanks again Lexarose. I will give her more time. Weather has been strange, hot then cold. Will keep checking. I do have a lot of mockingbirds. They are pretty aggressive and I hope they haven't run that pair of bluebirds off. Would I see the male at all?

I HAVE BABIES! I just got back a few minutes ago from being gone several days. Went right out to check the box, and just as I got there mom came flying up. My heart leapt! I peeked in very quickly, just long enough to see some fluff; didn't want to take the time to count. (It's a deep nest and I have to use a little dental mirror to even see down inside it.)

Any luck w/ you yet sagrinin?

Thanx again to everyone for your encouragement and reassurance!

Congrats! So glad you came here for information! Have you read up on the www.sialis.org website. We call it our "Blue Bird Bible" There's a lot of information that will help you know what to expect from nest building to fledglings! God bless your babies!

Cyn-s, I had no luck. I believe a wren got my eggs. They were lying on the ground a couple of days ago with holes pecked in them. They must have been all liquid because there was no sign of anything In them but maybe a little yolk. Must have been abandoned. I have another nest in my other box, but no eggs yet. Congrats Cyn. Keep us posted. Hope I get some more eggs.

Oh sagrinin, I'm so sorry; how sad. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your other nest has eggs soon.

Lisa, I did find and spend some time on the sialis site a few weeks ago - it was overwhelming! I'm sure I'll refer to it a lot. Thanx!

I have one egg now. Hope another wren or sparrow doesn't get it .

Two eggs now! I probably need to put a guard on the box.

Hope you ended up w/ four, and that they all hatch!

Cyn, have four eggs and mama has been sitting on them. I see her going in the box everyday, but haven't really noticed the male. Hope nothing has happened to him. They should be hatching this weekend if nothing happens. Keep your fingers crossed.