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Only 3 bluebird eggs - what to do when out of town?

14 years ago

I have a bb nest in one of my boxes. On Thursday afternoon, there were no eggs. When I went out of town on Friday morning, I didn't check the box before I left. When I got back on Sunday, there were three eggs. I checked this afternoon, (Monday)' there were still only three and I have seen her go in the box and stay for awhile. I assume she is incubating them. Guess I am surprised there are only 3 eggs. I am going out of town on Saturday and will be gone for a little while. I have another box that is empty. Should I leave that box open to keep wrens or hosp from building a nest in it or keep it shut so they might not be interested in the bbs nest and go to the empty box?

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Comments (7)

dzyg
14 years ago
Normally later clutches of eggs are smaller than the ones you see earlier in Spring. I guess I would shut the other box to keep them occupied. Too bad you couldn't of added a wren guard before the momma blue started incubating. Or do the wrens already know about the box the blues are in?

Donna
sagrinin
Original Author
14 years ago
I haven't seen any other bird around that box really. I saw a bird land on it once last week, don't know what kind of bird it was, but the blue ran it off. Haven't seen anymore in the past few days. I closed the other box yesterday and saw a sparrow on it this morning. Maybe they will build a nest and it will keep them busy, but I don't want them to nest in it at all.They are relentless like the wrens. The box with the blues is across the yard, about 200 feet away, I would guess. Just gonna keep my fingers and toes crossed. Thanks for all of your help Donna.

Frances
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dzyg
14 years ago
YOu so have a sparrow spooker on the Blues box, right? If you have HOSP interested in the other box your blues are not safe without a spooker. Good luck!!

Donna
sagrinin
Original Author
14 years ago
Donna, I am planning on making a spooker or rather my husband will. No nesting attempt in the other box. I opened it again. Will shut it before I leave and hopefully they will stay busy with the other box. Don't know what else to do.
dzyg
14 years ago
That about all you can do, get the spooker up and hopefully when you get back all will still be well! Good luck!

Donna
sagrinin
Original Author
14 years ago
Spooker is going up tomorrow. Since the female is sitting on the eggs, its not too late for,the spooker?
ohsoblue77
14 years ago
Nope, not too late. Just watch for the female to go in and accept it. Or leave a blade of grass across the hole, and if it's gone, she's likely gone in. Egg laying would have been a better time, but with a completed clutch she should be motivated enough to get past any fear of it.

In fact, the pair I have with young now were going in and out of a box with a spooker already on it containing a swallow nest, and the male often uses it as a perch.

~Tim~

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