Don't touch them with a stick, you may injure one. Nestling birds play dead when the nestboxes are opened up for monitoring. This is normal. Lots of people think they are dead because they act this way. When they are dead they really look dead and you don't wonder if they are dead or not. If you are unsure gently nudge one with your finger...not a stick! Also if you look really closely you should be able to see them breathing. How old are the nestlings? Hopefully they are ok! Have you seen the adults at all? Do you have a sparrow spooker up to prevent HOSP from getting in and killing them?

Donna

Oops, didn't realize this was a new thread that was concerning your other post that you haven't seen the adults. If it has been a few days and you hadn't seen the adults and you hadn't contacted a rehabber or tried to feed the neslings, then they probably are dead. I still would use my finger to nudge one though...you can wear a gardening glove. Sorry this has happened.

Donna

I tickle them with a blade of grass. Please be sure to check all babies to see if there are any survivors. So sad. Also check to see if something got in the box (wasps, ants,blowfly, etc)that may have made the parents abandon them. Get a hamburger flipper and lift the nest (if they are dead).

This is my first year with BBs building a nest and I have made a lot of mistakes!! However, I am on day 16 since the chicks hatched and they are still feeding them, so it looks good for fledging soon.
When mine were about 5 - 6 days old, I opened the box and really thought they were dead, I lifted up the nest some to see if I got any response, but you would swear those guys were dead. I had read about them playing dead, so I left them alone and watch the parents. I noticed they seemed to still be hanging around, so the next day I opened the box quickly and saw them with the mouths open,etc.
So my moral of the story is, they can really play dead well, so it's possible they are just fine.