Spoiled Bluebirds

15 years ago

My husband had some wax worms left over from a fishing trip, so I have been mixing some in with the mealworms that I'm feeding the bluebirds. Wax worms must be like candy for them, because they are taking them first then coming back later for the mealworms! Also, I have a question. She laid 4 eggs and 2 hatched on May 12. The other 2 never hatched. Should I remove them, or just wait until I clean out the nest box after the babies fledge? Hopefully, she will have another brood and all the new eggs hatch!

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Comments (4)

ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Bluebirds LOVE waxworms! I had a single father blue raise 4 nestlings all by himself last season and I helped by putting a dish on top of the box. Watched him mash them up and feed them! Then when it was empty he'd chirp and fly around as if to say "Bring me some more!!!" If I had the time I'd train them for mealworms...but that's a little too much for me.

As for the eggs...If you can CAREFULLY spoon or pick it out of the nest it's been over a week so I doubt they'll hatch.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
I have heard that they adore Waxworms but have never purchased any. Guess I need to head on down and get some! As for the eggs, they say that it doesn't hurt to leave them, and I have found intact eggs after fledging. Like Tim said, if you can carefully remove them by using a plastic spoon and not touching the babies, then that would free up some room in the nest for them to grow and move.
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dzyg
15 years ago
Yes blues love waxworms, I normally provide them with some each summer. I don't mix my waxworms with the mealworms though cause live mealworms will eat the waxworms. I put mine in seperate dishes in my feeder. Blues also LOVE crickets, you need to remove their big back legs though so they can't jump out of the dish.

I would just leave the eggs and remove them when you remove the nest when the other two fledge.

Donna
lisa11310
15 years ago
Every bait store has waxworms and from my understanding they are better nutrition. I can get 600 for about $25.00. Donna....LOL sorry but I just cant do that to the poor Crickets! The only time I can do that is if I have TRES starving from bad weather, it has been said that they MAY eat things moving in the nest. I did not know meal worms ate waxworms! UUUGG what a horrid way to die (as a waxworm) at least fish and birds will kill them quickly, meal worms would kill them slowly by eating bits of flesh! AAAACCCKKKK.

Spoiled Bluebirds

Comments (4)

ohsoblue77

bandjzmom

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dzyg

lisa11310

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