I thought I had corrected the subject of my posting. It should read "Incubation Period SEEMS Too Long". Since this is my first post, I guess I goofed up a little :-:

Ours were around 14 days last year and 16 with the first brood this year. Last year Mama took a few days before she 'sat' on the nest. I'd wait a little while longer...

So it is 14 or so days from the time she starts sitting on the nest? How long can the eggs survive without her on them?

I've noticed the last couple of days that she isn't on them when I first go out to put out meal worms -- 5:30 - 6:00 AM and it's chilly. Will the eggs be okay? She was not on them when I went out this morning, but 10 minutes later she came back.

Sometimes they delay incubation for a few days after they are done laying so it may not be 17 days of incubation. I know 19 days is not unheard of. Where's Janie been??? I think she knew someone's nest that went 21 days and hatched. Don't worry the female knows how warm the eggs need to be and they often leave them for a while. Longer of course when it's warmer out. Keep us posted
Cathy

Hey Cathy, I'm here! :D

Yes, I did see an egg that was TWENTY ONE DAYS OLD hatch! Because it was in a box with an in-box cam I KNOW when it was laid and I know when it hatched! There were three eggs laid in that nest and only one was fertile. The female removed one of the three by the 17th day but my friend (it was her box) removed the remaining unhatched egg (infertile, all liquid) on the 23rd day, 2 days after the one egg hatched. We would assume that even though the eggs were laid and she remained in the box she was NOT incubating from the start. It was the first nest of the season and we had a 3 day cold snap right after the eggs were laid.

I don't hold out a lot of hope for eggs that don't hatch by at least the 15th day (mine have always hatched by the 14th day when they were fertile) but after that experience I know now that you should hold off removing eggs and a nest longer. I can't say exactly how long but I'd probably candle eggs that remain unhatched in a nest after 21 days.

Janie

Thanks. I'm thinking this is the same bluebird couple that had incubated and fed 5 little ones in my neighbor's backyard across the street. Just as they were ready to fledge, a stray cat got to them in the night and destroyed them. I had been feeding a bluebird couple for several weeks in my yard -- I had assumed it was the couple that was living in the neighbor's yard. A week or so after the cat attack, the bluebird couple that I had been feeding built a nest in my box, and eventually deposited the 5 eggs. So, if this is the same couple, it is probably her 2nd brood. I don't know how to candle the eggs.

Note - the stray cat is now history for our neighborhood. Trapped and delivered to Humane Society.

I've done the same with cats that people just dump off here.
Do you have a proper baffle on the box? That will keep off many other predators that will kill the blues. This site is awesome.
Cathy

Here is a link that might be useful: predator baffle

Yes, Cathy. I use a WBU pole, house, and baffle.
GUESS WHAT!??!! I just went out to check and it appears that 3 of the 5 eggs have hatched since I checked early this morning! I HAVE GRANDBIRDS!!! :o)

It is so amusing to watch the female. She has attuned her ear to the sound of the turning of the deadbolt lock of my patio door. As soon as it turns, her little head pops up into the hole and she starts watching for me to come out with the raisins and meal worms.

I hve been putting out a dozen or more worms 3 times a day, along with several raisins each time. How much do I need to icnrease this now that we have babies?

You could increase it or not. The parents will feed them regardless of what you do. They don't really need us. LOL
Cathy

YIPPEE, Congratulations! I'm so happy to read this update!

Checked again this morning and another chickie baby has emerged. Only one egg left. This is almost as exciting as when my 4 grandchildren were born --- not quite, but almost!

Great news... congratulations!
See, these birds sure know how to get us pacing and worrying... nature just takes its course and voila!!!

It appears that all of the eggs have hatched. I don't see any eggs ... all I can see is fluff. And early this morning I noticed, if I listen very, very closely, I can hear the faintest of little 'peeps'. They are getting stronger each day -- it has been less than 48 hours for the first ones, less than 24 for a couple of them.