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Dead Chicks

15 years ago

Yesterday it was 102 degrees here. This morning all 4 of our bluebird chicks were dead. No evidence of foul play. Interestingly, sparrow chicks in a nearby house were also dead. Could it have been the heat?

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Comments (9)

kendra2003
15 years ago
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Bluebird chicks. It could have been the heat. If it's 102 degrees outside, it was probably even hotter in the nest box. Perhaps you could rig a shade of some sort for the future. You can put a raised roof over the box to keep the sun off the roof (with an air space in between). I've even heard of some people attaching an umbrella over the box to shade it. Also make sure the box is well ventilated.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Awwwww...too bad. Very sorry to hear. So sad when this happens. I would agree that it must have been the heat. Well, bury your chicks, and remove the nest. There is time to get another one going.~~Angie
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I'm in agreement with Donna in that you should remove the dead baby. It could draw ants, etc., to the nestbox. Increasing your offering of mealworms is also an excellent idea, since Dad is having to feed by himself. The mealworms will allow him to spend less time hunting for food and more time feeding and protecting those babies. His hesitance at the mealworm feeder may offer a clue as to what happened to Mama, though. Is your feeder close to the nestbox? It's possible that Mama was attacked while at the feeder. Try to make sure that there is some cover for the birds so that they will have a better chance of survival in the event of an aerial attack by hawks, etc. Raptors are very smart and can become accostomed to the timing of your feedings, too, then use this to time their attacks. Donna's questions regarding the set-up of your nestbox are also pivotal. Your blues are vulnerable to attacks from all kinds of climbing predators (snakes, raccoons, etc.) if the box is not mounted on a slick metal pole equipped with a predator baffle. I use the stovepipe baffle on all 35+ nestboxes that I monitor and it works beautifully. Keep us posted on Dad's progress. Kathy
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katiedidcottage
15 years ago
Does anyone have an idea of generally what temperatures may be tolerated for healthy BB chicks. I have one nest in my yard where the eggs should start hatching by Friday and one where the birds just built a nest yesterday and may start laying today. Our temps are in the mid-90s. Should I be building or be prepared to build a shade for these that are hatching soon?
Thladw
Original Author
15 years ago
After cleaning out the dead chicks, I was out watering and was swarmed by biting gnats. Now I am wondering if it was the gnats that killed our bluebirds and the sparrows. I know that there were gnats in the birdhouse the last few days, because we have a birdcam in there and could see them.
lisa11310
15 years ago
Im sorry about your BB chicks but I have a serious question. Why are you allowing House Sparrows to nest in your yard? Are you sure they are Sparrows? Please go to www.sialis.org for information. House Sparrows (if that's what they are)are deadly to Blue Birds and other cavity nesters.
kendra2003
15 years ago
Buffalo gnats can be a serious problem for nestlings. They absolutely can kill them. I know some people that have a problem with them will paint vanilla extract around the entry hole so they can't smell the chicks inside. Of course it would have to be reapplied often. I didn't mention the House Sparrows because they had died. But House Sparrows could come back, and as Lisa pointed out, they do need to be dealt with and not allowed to nest in any of your boxes.
angiek
15 years ago
I have the same situation. Four dead chicks in the nest today. One looked as though something tried to remove it. The chicks had no apparent predator damage, but they did have little red spots under the skin, so I'm wondering if it was gnats here, too. Would the parents have tried to clean the nest themselves?
kendra2003
15 years ago
For those having trouble with Buffalo gnats killing nestlings, you may find this article of interest (PDF file) PMCA Article on Buffalo Gnats
I wonder if the gnats this year are particularly plentiful because of so much rain.
katiedidcottage
15 years ago
Wow, Kendra, thanks for the great article! We have had no rain since we had tornados on April 27 that devastated many areas around here in the south until last Thursday when we had a good downpour. I have seen no problems with gnats or flies, so a lot of rain could be too blame if you've had a lot.

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