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4 eggs but can only see 2 mouths

11 years ago

For those that don't recognize my name, this is my first year at BB-rearing assistance. Mama laid the last of four eggs (of her second brood in this box) 14 days ago. Yesterday I saw hatchlings. Today I took a pic of the interior of the nest b/c the cup is so deep I can't look down in there well - even w/ a dental mirror. There are only two upturned beaks.

We've had a couple of weeks of near or over 100 degrees just like the most of the rest of the country. I didn't think there was anything I could really do to help them w/ the heat, so I've just kept my fingers crossed. Now I'm reading other posts and wondering if the other two eggs are OK, and whether I could have done something. (Her first brood had one egg that never hatched.)

I have two birdbaths in my backyard (the nest box is in the front) but don't know of anywhere around here I can get mealworms. Does anyone have advice about anything at all I should do? Try to determine whether the other two eggs are there? Take them out? Put another bird bath near the box? etc.

Thanx!

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Comments (6)

Lexarose
11 years ago
Hi Cyn, I never remove eggs so maybe I'm not a good example. But I have removed a dead baby from a clutch before. I have a clutch that I'm quite sure has an unhatched egg under the babies 'cause there were 4 eggs and only three babies. Maybe when you check again you'll see another mouth. I posted on another forum that I easily was able to double-sided tape large pieces of styrofoam to the tops of my boxes and I believe it's helped hugely. Having water available is great. My birds are finding tons of bugs so I don't buy mealworms. Hopefully today they are taking good care of the babies. Sometimes it's better that they have less babies to deal with like with this lousy heat.
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cyn_s
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanx Lexarose. When I looked yesterday I thought I saw three beaks and maybe a fourth. It's VERY hard to see down in there. As they get older it will be easier; I'll keep my fingers crossed.
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cyn_s
Original Author
11 years ago
Well, I figured out that I can take a pic much more quickly and easily than trying to look down into the nest. I read on Sialis not to use a flash (unfortunately *after* I'd already taken one). Anyway, I definitely have 4 - yay! - altho one is smaller than the others.

I didn't realize heat really is an issue until reading Sialis again last night. Fortunately my box is positioned so that it's protected from late afternoon sun; but it's still been unbearably hot. So I followed your suggestion Lexarose (thanx for the idea) and just put some styrofoam on top.

I haven't seen a bird go in since, but one sat on the spooker (which is on top of the styrofoam) for quite awhile. Should I watch the nest until I see one go in; or does this sound like they're OK?
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cyn_s
Original Author
11 years ago
Also, Sialis says to use spacers b/t the top of the box and the styrofoam in order to allow airflow; is that necessary? I taped mine directly to the roof.
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dzyg
11 years ago
Yes, you need an airspace between the styrofoam and the box or you are insulating the box and possibly making it warmer. You can just use the large push pins to create the space.

Donna
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cyn_s
Original Author
11 years ago
Done. Thanx.
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