Active babies no sign of parents

14 years ago

I've got 5 active chicks who are sticking their beaks out the birdhouse hole for food, but I havne't seen the parents today. Should I use tweezers and give them some meal worms?

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Comments (5)

ohsoblue77
14 years ago
Tim, do you know how old they are?

If they are peaking out for food, and there's no parents, they could be just about to fledge!

Look and listen for the parents singing or calling nearby. If they are of age, this is a dead giveaway that they're leaving.

However I had parents BOTH disappear this season and the 5 young prematurely fledged, probably out of hunger. I had to take them to a rehabber. So try to see if the parents are anywhere nearby. They can be obvious when they try to get the young to come out of the box.

~Tim, #2~
timjc
Original Author
14 years ago
I'd guess they are approaching 3 weeks old. The parents used to sit on the roof of the neighbors house and have a clear view of the house opening, or in the trees above the house, but I haven't seen them. Today the chicks have been very quiet and sleeping all day. Still no sign of a parent.It doesn't look like the baby eyes are open yet, but their mouths certainly are with big yawns for food when I tap the side of the house.
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lisa11310
14 years ago
If they are near 3 weeks old their eyes are open and they should be ready to leave. Can you get a better idea of their age? If they are really 3 weeks and there are no parents your going to need to act. I would start calling rehabbers right away. It is very uncommon to lose both parents.
lorimcp2006
14 years ago
Do you have them trained to come for mealworms? My BB parents never miss a meal so far, so if you put worms out they don't come quickly, maybe something did happen to them.
timjc
Original Author
14 years ago
I had to clean out the nest yesterday and all 5 were dead. I had left mealworms for the parents on the baffle and they never returned.

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Active babies no sign of parents

Comments (5)

ohsoblue77

timjc
Original Author

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lisa11310

lorimcp2006

timjc
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Active babies no sign of parents

Comments (5)

ohsoblue77

timjcOriginal Author

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lorimcp2006

timjcOriginal Author

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timjc
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