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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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Well, I've got a few years of chickens behind me now, so I will venture an explanation. This is my take on the subject, not textbook information. The hen sets until the first eggs hatch and since the chicks do not need food or water for a couple of days, she will continue to set for awhile longer. Unless the eggs are at various stages of development (i.e. the other hens have added eggs days later) the remaining viable eggs will be close to hatching. Chicks in the shell communicate with mom and with each other by peeping. So the hen has a pretty good idea of what's going on and she clucks to the eggs to encourage them. When there are no eggs still peeping, mom considers the hatch complete and goes into caregiver role... takes the chicks for their first walk, shows them how to eat and drink etc. Occasionally there will be an egg that hatches after she leaves the nest, but after a certain point the mother hen has to put the needs of the hatched chicks ahead of the needs of a latecomer. If this happens and I find the late chick still alive, I take it into the house and put it under a lamp to dry off, give it a bit of sugar water and return it to mom using the "2 for 1" trick. "2 for 1" is simple and has always worked for me. I chicknap one of the babies and it hollers to its momma to save it. Momma gets indignant, then upset, then furious. When she is all worked up and the chick is screaming, I return the chick to her... and also the newcomer. Momma is pacified by the return of her baby and never realizes she got extra as well. Isn't it handy that hens can't count? As to why you had one dead chick, chances are pretty good that mom stepped on the egg, forcing the premature hatch and the chick was too injured or too weak to survive.
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Hi Ann. Unhatched eggs are not usually a problem. I have removed them and left them in. By the time I have waited 2 -3 days to be sure it's not going to hatch Mom has it tucked so far back in a corner I can't get to it without moving babies. If a baby dies in the first few days the parents can remove it. Like Donna said you will be able to smell it. Watch for ants and flys.
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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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