Blackbird chicks
Discussion
We have a pair of blackbirds that nest in the same place each year.
Alas today it seems Mrs Blackbird has come a cropper.
Mr Blackbird is still feeding the 3 chicks but he is not going in the nest and cleaning it etc or roosing on there at night to keep them warm as Mrs Blackbird would do. Is there anything I can do I am expecting to see 3 dead baby blackbirds in the morning?
Alas today it seems Mrs Blackbird has come a cropper.
Mr Blackbird is still feeding the 3 chicks but he is not going in the nest and cleaning it etc or roosing on there at night to keep them warm as Mrs Blackbird would do. Is there anything I can do I am expecting to see 3 dead baby blackbirds in the morning?
Unlikely there is anything much you can do. You could make it easier for the male by leaving out live meal worms or garden worms or small slugs etc.
Otherwise for a better answer from people who will almost certainly have raised baby birds themselves post here:
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/british-b...
Hope they don't die
Otherwise for a better answer from people who will almost certainly have raised baby birds themselves post here:
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/british-b...
Hope they don't die
Sheets Tabuer said:
We have four different types of birds nesting in our garden, the robins eggs all hatched 3 days ago, today the nest is empty 
Anyhow don't go near the nest or he will abandon it, stand well back and cross your fingers.
We had a nest of five Speckled Thrushes. As the nest was in the Wysteria above our patio door, we could keep an eye on them. We used a plastic ball bearing gun to keep away Crows, Magpies and a Squirrel that came within about two foot of cleaning out the nest. Four appear to have got away safely.Anyhow don't go near the nest or he will abandon it, stand well back and cross your fingers.
Another update - two more boxes of mealworms later I am now letting them out into the garden for a few hours each day. They can both fly a bit but only about 10cm off the ground and for short distances. One is very very tame and follows you around which is a problem. I am hoping to be able to let them go permanently once I am confident they can get up into some tree branches.
We have a nest of blackbird chicks in our roofspace at the moment. I have been watching them all day, dad seems to keep watch from a tree while mother collects food.
What happens at night with regards to sleeping arrangements? Is dad tucked up in the nest with mother and chicks?
I have only noticed this coming and going from my roof for the last couple of days. How long will it be before the chicks fly the nest and when can I block the hole up?
TIA
What happens at night with regards to sleeping arrangements? Is dad tucked up in the nest with mother and chicks?
I have only noticed this coming and going from my roof for the last couple of days. How long will it be before the chicks fly the nest and when can I block the hole up?
TIA
Vron said:
Update! two died - one tuesday and one wednesday but the other two seem to be flourishing. I have bought mealworms (live) after a 20 mile trip to get them and have been hand feeding them with tweezers.
These little chaps still alive? Edited by Vron on Saturday 8th May 12:04
You could keep them and be a kind-of urban pirate with a blackbird on each shoulder. Or maybe not.
Yep.
They are now out in the garden (free) all day and I am bringing them in at night. The plan was to leave them out all night tonight until one fell in the pond so they are now back in the house next to the radiator. They are flying up into the trees now but as soon as you go outside they swoop down to you and follow you round.
I am hoping the tameness will lessen over the next few days. They are not being hand fed anymore and I am putting food around the garden so they have to search for it.
They are now out in the garden (free) all day and I am bringing them in at night. The plan was to leave them out all night tonight until one fell in the pond so they are now back in the house next to the radiator. They are flying up into the trees now but as soon as you go outside they swoop down to you and follow you round.
I am hoping the tameness will lessen over the next few days. They are not being hand fed anymore and I am putting food around the garden so they have to search for it.
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