Bird Nests


smcmichael1976 asked: "Do you remove old nest from your trees or leave them. We have nests in our trees that have been there for a long time so I know they are no longer occupied. Do birds reuse them or can they be removed or do you just leave them?"


A1: Jeremy R replied: "Birds will reuse them, but you can remove them if you would like, they will just build more."

A2: mamapig_57 replied: "I would leave them. The bird that built the nest will not come back, but occasionally another bird will come in and use it. If they really start building up and not falling apart, then I would remove them"

A3: Lisa V replied: "I would just leave them-maybe a different type of bird will use them."

A4: cgminime replied: "I have removed bird nests and created table centerpieces with them by adding dry flowers and moss, then put a cupcake paper in them and fill with candy.

I also save threads from my sewing area and toss out on the ground in the spring when birds make nests. It is fun to look up and see some brightly colored threads in nests!"

A5: birdgirl replied: "VERY FEW species will reuse a nest again. Only birds such as swallows or phoebes that make mud nests might reuse them. Some birds of prey and owls will reuse nests, but passerines prefer to build their own nests fresh each year. Nests need to be fresh (no smell to attract mammal predators) and clean (no mites) that can be in past years nests. So, yes you can remove them...BUT only if you are positive they are old, or you can just leave them and they will fall down eventually."





Dare to ask? asked: "i have a robin nest in my yard and every now and then i check up on them to see the cute little birdies. the birds are about 11 days old and today i noticed a small white bird inside their nest. what could it be?"


A1: Huh? replied: "Is this the first time you've noticed it?
In quite a few bird species, the babies eliminate(pee&poop) and it is all contained in a little ball like that, it's called a fecal sack. Makes it easier for their parents to carry it off and keep the nest clean.
Maybe they don't check on them quite as often now that they're a bit older and that's why it's still there, but believe me, they're around.

Check this out:
"

A2: wildlifeangel_87 replied: "I can't tell if you meant a small Ball or bird... A small white ball would be their fecal sac. That is what the babies use to eliminate (like a mix of poop/pee).

If there was another type of baby bird, then there are some species that lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. Cuckoos and cowbirds are notorious for this behavior. (hence the term cuckold, meaning tricking someone else into raising your young.)

If the new bird is an adult, watch very carefully because there are also several species that will make their nest on top of the nest of another bird...burying the babies in the process and taking over the nest site.

So, if it's fecal matter, it is no big deal, but if it's another bird it warrants watching."





Donald c asked: "i am very interested in the bird ecology and habitat which produces bird nest soup found in some part of the asian countries especially in indonesia. can anyone help me to find such website containing the said information which i looking for?"


A1: ɹɐǝɟsuɐs replied: "Here is a site with good information and links to others."





Bookworm4124 asked: "A bird built a nest on my front porch. I have a problem with the little lizards eating the eggs. So far this morning the damn lizards have eaten two of the five eggs. Is there anything I can do or do I have to let nature take it's course? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks."


A1: Penelope replied: "If you move the nest the momma bird will probably not return. I suggest letting nature take its course. It's summertime, they have plenty of time to lay more eggs. Maybe those lizards are taking dinner home to their babies :)"

A2: bic replied: "Well, for one thing having a birds nest on your front porch isn't going to be a real clean thing especially after the babies are born be prepared for lots of little droppings. With that said, I do understand wanting to let the little eggs hatch and it is fun to watch, but unless you can barricade the nest from the little lizards then you have to let nature take its course. But, whatever you do do not touch the nest because if the birds detect you have touched or messed with their nest they will not come back.

Have the birds come back at all? I wonder if because of the lizards they have abandoned the nest. Usually once the eggs are layed they stay with the nest and leave only on occassion."

A3: Owlwoman replied: "Hi Bookworm. Dang those lizards!!!

Since they are likely to eat them all, you might move the nest so the parents can continue to incubate them

Or, let Nature take her course and hope the parents get the message that this is NOT a good place for their nest.
Thanks for caring."





Kyle asked: "I have noticed the bird nest that was in my hanging basket has been abandoned... and there is one egg in there.. there used to be two but one fell out, and had yolk in it... and was a regular one.. I am concerned about the other one though... I'm ot sure if its a baby one.... because the mother has left it...

Is there any way to tell? Thanks. I need help ASAP for obvious reasons.... if it's a baby egg I need to get it in inside and nurse it :]

If I do have to nurse it how would I?"


A1: Vivian D replied: "You would have to put it in a shoebox, with a hole in one end of the box. Put a small lightbulb (like a nightlight bulb) in through the hole and leave it on all the time to keep it warm inside. Leave the top on to keep in the warm air. You don't need to poke holes in the box because the egg is not going to breath air."

A2: Debbie W replied: "Of course they are baby birds. If they are touched by human handstho, the mother will abandon it. If you bring it inside, it needs to be kept warm and dry. Its tough to get it to hatch, but it is possible. There really isnt any nursing involved per se, except constant warmth, but Im not sure of the proper temperature. Maybe call a vet for that info. But remember, once its touched, the mom wont come back to it."

A3: jocelynhallet replied: "In response to the person above, birds have a terrible sense of smell and will not reject it if you touch it, that is a myth."

A4: angel_fish1791 replied: "If eggs do not hatch within a certain amount of time the mother will abandon them becase they are more than likely unfertilized. One way to tell for sure is to get a flashlight and a tube from the center of a roll of toilet paper. Cut the tube down one side and make one end of the tube just big enough to fit the base of the egg, and tape it in place, leave the other end larger-big enough to fit on the end of the flashlight. (the tp roll should make a cone that fits on top of the flashlight) go into a completely dark room, place the cone on the end of the flashlight and the eggin the smaller end of teh cone. The light should shine through the egg, you should be able to see inside the egg and determine if there is a baby chick in it, or if it is unfertilized. Chances are it is not fertilized if the mother abandoned it. Even if it was fertilized it is probably dead by now if it has not been incubated."

A5: humor4fms replied: "Just let nature alone. If the mother has not returned, it's for a reason. Remove the nest and put it in the trash and be done with it. Even outside birds lay infertile eggs.

Good Luck!"





chicding asked: "I am waiting to paint my shed and a tree creeper has built a nest near it .I dont want to disturb it but I wondered how long it will be?"


A1: birdgirl replied: "They incubate for 13-17 days, and chicks leave the nest between 14-17 days of age. Once they leave the nest, they will no longer have any use for it. If the adults have a 2nd nest (this species occassionally does) they would build a new nest elsewhere."

A2: wacky replied: "In a good season weather permitting and the supply of insects ,a Treecreeper,(Certhia familiaris) will breed twice,
it takes from 14 -16 days for the eggs to hatch and 12-14 days for the young to fledge and leave the nest,they will occaisionally return to the nest to roost for the night but once again it depends on the weather."





♥emo♥ asked: "Im making a birds nest from chow mein noodles and chocolate, but the question is - What should I put in it? I want to make it creative like eggs or worms, but I don't have gummy worms! WAH!"


A1: zak replied: "DEAD BIRD?


LOL

XD


:P"

A2: OctoberGirl replied: "Do you have marshmallows? I guess you aren't going to the store to get gummy worms. You can always put a scoop of ice cream in there."

A3: Lucky replied: "eggs"

A4: ~Cay~ replied: "put eggs in it && like color the eggs so they look like a birds egg"

A5: a cabingirl replied: "Here is a recipe for Chocolate eggs- if you can go to the store, you could get jordan or candy coated almonds, or make sugar cookies and cut into egg and bird shapes, decorate with royal icing.

Chocolate Eggs
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
1 (300 ml) can Eagle Brand Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
3 drops of yellow food coloring
2 1/4 lbs icing sugar
1 1/2 lbs semisweet baking chocolate, melted
decorative icing
candy sprinkles

Cream butter and salt until fluffy.
Gradually beat in Eaglebrand, vanilla and food coloring.
Slowly beat in icing sugar until well blended.
Knead with hands until mixture is smooth and pliable.
Form mixture into eggs.
Place onto waxed paper lined tray.
Cover and chill for 4 hours or until firm.
Resting each egg on a fork, dip into melted chocolate, letting excess coating drip off.
Place back on tray, let stand until firm.
Decorate with sprinkles while still moist, or let chocolate stand until firm and decorate with colored icings.
Store covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator"





Donald c asked: "does anyone knows about the name of the natural bird which produces bird nest and the ecology and habitat in which such natural bird is originating from and which top ten countries are
currently the biggest exported for bird products in the world and which ten countyries are the biggest imported for bird nest products. If possible what the the price range the bird nest is being sold in the international market"


A1: dennis h replied: "the only thing i know is that the bower bird makes nests not
produce them,they are found in warm climates.i believe it is
illegal to export/import birds and nests, quarantine laws stop
these things happening. sorry i could not give you any more
info. why dont you go online and look up quarantine laws?"

A2: Mimik replied: "If you are referring to bird's nest soup, then these nests are produced by the various species of asian cave swifts."





Stuff Muffin asked: "A cardinal laid an egg 4/16/06 and abandoned it on 4/18/06. The egg was found out of the nest and on the ground 4/18/06 and was placed back into the nest . The nest was intact."


A1: laraelucas replied: "Leave it alone....if the mother comes back, she will likely smell the scent and abandon it. However, nature does take its course on these things...."

A2: cats_waves replied: "Eggs have to be kept warm or they die. There is not much chance the egg is alive."

A3: suerteDperro replied: "It's tricky because how can you be sure the nest was abandoned?
Look in the phonebook or online to see if there are any wildlife rescue centres nearby, and they'd be able to give you more specific advice, and even incubate the egg if they determine that it's not too late, and that the egg has really been abandoned."

A4: Sapphyre replied: "The egg that fell out for sure is no good. There is a reason why the bird left it. Once the egg has been left alone over 8 hours it will not hatch, the embryo will die.


Sapphyre
Certified Avian Specialist
Join us at"





Matthew L asked: "I think the nest has hatchlings, they are very loud. The vent outlet is about 15 feet up on the side of my house. The nest is about one foot on the inside of the piping, unreachable by human hands (the hole is too small). I can barely see the nesting material, but can not reach it. I hate to disrupt a nest with hatchlings, but their noise is intolerable with my toddlers room right above it."


A1: Number6 replied: "Vacuum it out. Sorry, but its got to go or it'll stop your toilets from flushing...."

A2: joan replied: "i would change the room and leave the birds."

A3: Brenda P replied: "First try calling animal control in your town. If they won't do it and you don't want to call a pest control company then the least likely way to harm them is to use a garden hose to rinse them out. is harming them is not a problem then vacuum them out or try to smoke them out with a smoke bomb by the vent. either way once you get them out make sure to put some wire mesh over the opening so it doesnt happen again."





chefdaddy911 asked: "I have a hanging planter and a bird has nested in it and the plant needs water.But i dont want to scare it off.Any ideas would be helpfull"


A1: allygrav replied: "try not to touch anything when watering...the mother bird may smell you on the plant or nest and abandon it. I would wait until the mother bird leaves the nest for a bit...and take a cup of water...something small and work around the nest to water the plant"

A2: lilmsgdy2shus replied: "My Dad has this problem..He has Doves nesting in all his hanging plants..First he starts talking to the birds..lol..then he puts the hose on very low and he just waters to the side of the nest..it doesn't hurt the nest as the water drains out immediately.."

A3: gemni replied: "Just leave it alone and don't touch it. The reason is because the nest is at a certain temperature for the eggs to hatch. Watering the plant will change that and possibly damage the developing babies."





dolphingirl asked: "The nest was found in the grill of a van my husband bought 2 weeks ago. The van was running strange so my husband checked it out and there was a nest stuffed in the grill with 4 eggs inside. We are in a different part of town from where the van was purchased. It has been very cold outside - the low 40's at night. Could the eggs still be alive? How can I tell? What should I do?"


A1: Molly replied: "Don't do anything. They are probably already dead. I'm sorry but that's the truth. It has been too long. Any more then 40 minutes and they are gone. If you already had a heat lamp set up, you may have been able to help, but it's too late. They may have been abandoned anyway long ago. If there is anything wrong with the eggs or the devolpment, the mother will not hatch them. Have you ever noticed a broken robins egg in the yard with a half developed chick? Mother knew there was a problem, picked that egg up and chucked it out the nest. Maybe all 4 had a problem."

A2: Aaron H replied: "leave it alone the motherbird cant be far away"

A3: rhsaunders replied: "Unlikely, and you are in no good position to do much about it if they are alive. You could call a wildlife rescue type for advice, but I imagine that ulimately you'll just consign the mess to the trash."

A4: andy_desaya replied: "leave them alone and their mother will return if not theyre someones supper"

A5: J's Mom replied: "Sit on it VERY CAREFULLY until eggs hatch. Be careful those little bills can stick you in the butt!"

A6: The Shizzz replied: "The mother has proably aboandonded them by now since you have moved. :( You could probably put them in a tree and see if another bird might come and take care of them, which proably won't happen. If you want to keep them at your house I reccomend a heat lamp.

You can't save everything, its the life cycle. :("

A7: dixiedarlin7297 replied: "They won't be alive. They've been 2 weeks without incubation, plus the van has been running. Just toss the nest."

A8: Peekablue replied: "Most likely, they're not viable anymore. They've not been incubated by the mother during the cool weather & have probably been exposed to the heat of the van's engine."

A9: Just Q replied: "If it has been 2wks,those eggs are long gone.
Once the nest was moved from one side of town to another the mother bird would not find it.
It only takes a very short time without proper incubation that those embryos would die. . . .since it has been 2wks you are probably looking at some very ugly nasty rotten eggs and the best thing you can do it to throw them away. . very carefully.
Mother bird is probably already building another nest elsewhere and is getting ready to try and hatch out other eggs by now."





Zippyzoey asked: "They will be out of the nest soon and I am afraid he will get them."


A1: Rachel replied: "Sprinkle cinnamon around the area where the birds are. Cinnamon is a deterrent for cats."

A2: KarmaDub replied: "You will have to keep your cat inside, if you don't want him going near the birds. In the meantime, you may have to get some toys or something to keep him occupied when hes in the house.

If you're looking for a medium, how about a harness for your cat with a lead attached to something on the porch? Bear in mind that some cats are con artists and may be able to slip out of their harness. When I was working at a pet store, some (smart) people actually brought their cats in the store for a proper fitting so that they will not have to buy a harness, take it home and then find it doesn't fit properly, then come back for another one.

The harness should be snug enough so that you can slip two fingers under the loops (one goes around the neck, the other goes under the belly).

That's the only thing I can think of. Hope this helps..."

A3: punkadoodle85 replied: "you do put the cat outside write back"





[Big Steve] asked: "we are re-landscaping my grandmas house and she had 2 potted ferns on the porch. They have to go beacuase they are dead but i discovered a nest inside the plants foliage and it had about 3 blue eggs with spots and 2 white eggs with spots. Now im not trying to be cruel to nature, so please dont flame me with that, but what should i do?"


A1: cupckaeface07 replied: "Just leave the nest there, but if you already touched it, you probably scared the mother away, take the nest and put it in an encubator, The birds nest should be kept around 95 degreses fariheit."

A2: feathermom_chirpling replied: "Put the nests and the plants in which they were located back in the location where you found them (to the best of your memory) and allow the parent birds to finish this brood. Check back, and when the nests are empty, it means the familys have "grown up and moved out." You can then safely remove the nest (place it in a wooded area as it can be "recycled" and used by other birds).

Thanks for being sensitive and trying to do the right thing!"

A3: Ally .x replied: "just leave it as it is and DO NOT TOUCH IT we done that once and well lets just say we didnt lyk wat we saw a few days after so just leave it alone and soon if ur lucking u mite see them fly off .x"

A4: chancezr85 replied: "leave them because if you move the eggs the mom wont b able 2 find dem cuz dey dont have a secnt"

A5: mockingbird replied: "wait a few weaks. the eggs will hatch, the mommy will feed the babies and soon lead them out of the nest. once the babies leave the nest, destroy at will!

it only takes 2 or 3 weeks for eggs to turn into babies and for babies to fly away. you should tolerate your dead plants for another few weeks of your life.

you can take pictures of the baby birds :) just don't destroy any cover/shelter around the nest that hides the nest from predators."

A6: mia replied: "try to move to a safe place if u can!!!! good luck!!
thas good that u love nature:)"





ag asked: "I went away on vacation and came back 10 days later and found a birds nest with 4 eggs over my front door. I had no choice but to move it. Now I feel the mom will abandon the nest. Is it possible to hatch them with a light? Not sure how to and don't want them to die..."


A1: Christie D replied: "She may come back. If you attempt to hatch them, you are more than likely dooming them. Eggs need not only proper heat, but turning and proper humidity.

After they hatch, they will need fed 24 hours a day and will need to be kept in a brooder. Some baby birds will eat as often as every 20 minutes.

Leave the nest alone and hope for the best."

A2: ♥carmie♥ replied: "probbobly, yes, if they are not yet hatched, or , im not sure with this, to teach them to fly? anyway, yes genneraly because to hatch them , she might come looking for it"

A3: frazzled girl replied: "i do not think she will, is it really close to the orginal location? if it's not then very very doubtful."

A4: lolo replied: "Did you touch the nest with your bare hands? I've always been told if you leave any trace of scent behind, the mother will abandon the nest.
As for hatching on your own, all I can tell you is from my very limited knowledge. My daughter's class just hatched eggs in an incubator (it's stryofoam, with a heating device) and then after the chicks hatched, they put them in a box with a warming lamp to keep them warm. However, these were chickens, not wild birds. I understand how you feel, but caring for the birds after they have hatched will probably not be something you are prepared or able to do.
If you have a DNR office in your area you might want to contact them to ask. Or possibly any county or state park offices may be able to point you in the right direction. Good Luck!"

A5: papasteve replied: "I found a birds nest when I was a kid. I touched the eggs, and the mother never came back. I was told later I was to wear thin cotton gloves, and dirty them. Take a shower first. Use no soap, no deorderant, no lotion, or purfume. Use the dirty gloves and move the birds to a safe place. Do not touch the nest, or the eggs with your bare skin. If you already touched them. the mother modt likely will not come back. Check with a bird shop, and ask what you can do."

A6: bobobee replied: "There is no-way the mum will ever return. Once she sees a disturbed nest, she will realise she is also in danger.

lets just hope it was a common species."





naktahu asked: "I found this little bug crawl out from the bird nest from my home, they stuck on our clothing and it has since been bitting us for the last ten days, have wash all clothing and also spray insecticide , but still no help, pls advice"


A1: rhinow1964 replied: "Vetafarm has a Product Called AIL Avian Insect Liquidator.

You should be able to get this or something like it from you vet or Pet Shop."

A2: MamaSmurf replied: "Probably mites. Never heard of not being able to get rid of them by washing. Use hot water, bleach where you can. If you don't get rid of them burn the clothing so they don't spread."





Ramesh asked: "I ve got the bird nest (Swiftlet), if anyone is interested to buy it,let me know or let me know where i can sell it"


A1: Aelia replied: "Isn't it illegal to sell swiftlet nest? I've eaten it in Asia, but I thought it was illegal to sell in America because of the import customs or whatever."





Jessica T asked: "I am an animal lover and I will not simply throw it out. How do I know if the mother has been back to the nest? If she hasn't, how do I care for the eggs, so that they don't die?"


A1: Paint♥Pastel♥Princess replied: "Leave it be for a while, that may not have been mom.. If weeks go by and nothing then not much you can do but throw the eggs and the nest out..."

A2: al replied: "Give them some of your Kool-aid. The mother bird may have abandoned them. Let it go."

A3: lbhietala replied: "The dead bird may not be the mother - there's no way to be sure.

Handling the eggs or the nest may upset the mother - especially if she sees you - but she probably won't be able to detect it. Birds have virtually no sense of smell whatsoever and most of them will disregard small changes in the nest as environmentally caused, like from a heavy wind. The mother will not abandon her babies because she can "smell you on them." She couldn't smell a skunk if it exploded.

Owls eat skunks - mostly because the skunks are slow and their main defense doesn't work on birds. It's amazing but true.

If the eggs have been cold for too long, they're not necessarily dead - you'd be surprised what they can take.

Go to your local Farmer's Co-Op store and get an incubator - just a little one, like for quail eggs. They aren't expensive. You can incubate those eggs and maybe get them to hatch.

You'll need to go online to try to determine what kind of eggs they are. Audobon may have a site that can help, or your local wildlife protection agency. Having determined that, then you can maybe figure out what the incubation period ought to be.

Raising baby birds is a busy job. I wouldn't take it on. Birds die from natural causes all the time, and nests get abandoned all the time - this time, it just happened to be in your grill. If you were to toss them, no-one would think less of you.

Leading cause of non-disease death in birds (specifically mourning doves): landing errors. No joke."

A4: K... P replied: "I know this is tough but leave them alone. You can get gloves on and then put them in a tree. As far as caring for the eggs you should not because they willnotbeproperly trained whenolder."

A5: DIANE R replied: "It's a shame about the dead bird, but is there any reason to assume that this is the Mother?
I would leave the nest and BBQ exactly as you found them, and try not to go near or disturb it any further. Hopfully the mother will return and soon you will have a happy clutch of baby birds in there.
If you are really sure that the mother has abandoned the nest or died you could try putting the eggs in your airing cupboard, but the chances of survival are virtually nil.
Hope you have a happy outcome."

A6: margecutter replied: "There is no way to know if the dead bird was the mother. Even if she was, in some species, both male and female share the responsibility for incubating the eggs. Get a basket to place the nest and eggs in, and place it as close to the original nesting site as possible, if one or both of the parents are still alive, they will return within 24 hours (usually, as soon as they no longer see humans or other predators in the area)and continue caring for the eggs.

Do not worry about your scent being on the nest. It won't bother the parent birds. Birds do not have an acute sense of smell, and the parents will not detect your scent on the nest and eggs.

Wildlife biologists and bird banders handle baby birds all the time - they are licensed to do so - and the parent birds never abandon their babies because of this.

Unfortunately, if no bird returns to the nest, there is nothing you can do. It is illegal for you to take the eggs and attempt to incubate them.

In the US, ALL native migratory birds - not just endangered species - are protected under federal law (Migratory Bird Treaty Act). It is illegal for anyone to possess a protected bird, its nest, its eggs or even its feathers unless they have the required federal and state licenses. Penalties for violating this law include fines of up to $500 and/or up to 6 months in jail for each offense.

It doesn't even matter if you did not mean to break the law: "A type of question that we commonly get involves well meaning people who want to rescue young or injured birds, secure feathers for artwork, or salvage eggs or nests for various purposes.

Anyone desiring to possess migratory birds or their parts or products should be aware that all of these are covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16U.S.C. 703-712), which implements a series of international treaties designed to protect migratory birds.

Some key provisions of the Act are worth keeping in mind:

Wording of the Act makes it very clear that most actions that result in "taking" or possession of a protected species or its parts or products is a violation of the Act. Specifically, the Act states:
"Unless and except as permitted by regulations, …it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means, or in any manner…to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, …possess, offer for sale, sell, …purchase, import…any migratory bird, any part, nest, or eggs of any such bird…"
It is a "strict-liability" law, meaning that there is no requirement for law enforcement agencies to prove "intent" to violate the law. That is, if you are found in possession of a protected species or its parts or products, you are automatically in violation of the law.
The provisions of the Act are nearly absolute; "...except as permitted by regulations ..." is the only exception. Some examples of permitted activities that do not violate the law are legal hunting of specific game birds, legitimate research activities, display in licensed zoological gardens, and bird banding under an appropriate permit.
The Act covers the great majority (83%) of all native birds found in the U.S. Many of the species not covered by the Act are covered by the Endangered Species Act , other Federal laws, or state laws, many of which are as stringent as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act . In the lower 48 states, all species except the house sparrow, feral pigeon, common starling, and non-migratory game birds like pheasants, gray partridge, and sage grouse, are protected.
Penalties upon conviction can be severe. Even if a sympathetic jury finds that you meant no harm in trying to rear an abandoned nestling or in picking a hawk feather, legal defense costs are clearly not worth the risk.
In summary: your best approach is to take a hands off approach...look but don't collect." "

A7: Suzi replied: "Don't assume the dead bird was the mother, unless you found it in the grill.

Please leave the eggs alone. Even if you could hatch and feed the chicks, as a human, you couldn't teach the babies what they need to learn in order to survive in the wild.

Further, it's illegal. All native wild birds are protected by federal law. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, no one is allowed to tamper with nests, harass birds, or to possess any bird, egg, nest, or even a feather. Licenses are only issued to rehabbers, researchers and when in season - to hunters.

No licenses are ever issued to individuals who wish to keep wild birds as pets.

I know it sounds harsh, but leaving the eggs alone is the best thing you can do. If the mother did perish, it's best that her eggs do not develop, as she will not be there to raise them.

There is also a possibility that the hen isn't done laying her eggs. Wild birds lay one egg, every day or every other day. They don't start sitting on the eggs until all laying is done. Until that point, eggs are left to go cold in the nest. When the hen is done laying, she incubates (sits on) all of them at once.

This is essential. This way all of the chicks hatch at once. They are fed at the same rate, grow at the same rate, and leave the nest at the same time. Any eggs that remain in the nest after the others have hatched are either infertile, or dead.

Once the incubation period starts, it must not be interrupted, or the embryos will die.

If they've never been incubated, and the mother bird fails to return to the nest, don't fret - the eggs have not developed and they are no different than the chicken eggs you get at the store.

You need to wait - until the hen returns, or you have determined that nest is truly abandoned. If the hen returns, she and her chicks should be out of your grill within 2-3 weeks max.

Once you have determined it's no longer in use, please clean all nesting material out of the grill. Grills are not safe for nesting anyway - especially in the summer. They are made to contain heat, and get too hot for nesting.

Best of luck to you. I hope your bird comes back, and nests successfully. Just remember to keep your distance so she doesn't abandon the nest."





Barbara asked: "Birds nest in a small birdhouse in that tree every year and I've seen a young black rat snake slithering up to go after the eggs in past seasons. Not wanting to interfere too much in the balance of nature, I'd still like to keep the nesting birds safe in that particular spot. Any tips?"


A1: Available F replied: "Yes Barb go to your local CO-OP and purchase some SULFUR NITRATE the snake will not go near it . be careful when applying. good luck."

A2: boogeywoogy replied: "Around here, people wrap a piece of sheet metal around the tree trunk to keep snakes out of trees. Use a strip at least 10' wide."

A3: lightening rod replied: "I would recommend you go to your favorite L&G Center and get some Tanglefoot. It usually comes in a tub (like butter) or a tube. It's normally used around the trunk of a tree to keep insect pests from crawling up the tree, like catepillars or ants, for example. But it will also keep snakes away. So you can protect the tree and eggs with this one profuct. It's not poisonous or harmful to you but it's as sticky as can be so try not to get it on yourself."

A4: lehrer162 replied: "Barbed wire"





Holly P asked: "There was an egg in it can I just put the whole nest and egg in a tree? Should I attempt to hatch it or just let it get cold?
This nest was actually inside of the porch light on the bulb I moved it because I was afraid it would catch fire the light kept flickering off and on. I didn't know there were eggs in it until I moved it (i am short)"


A1: just me replied: "if you moved the nest its probably too late to do anything, i bet the mom wont get back on it."

A2: thisbrit replied: "You will have very little success hatching it - the incubation is hard.
If you put the nest in the nearby tree, the bird MAY get to it. I don't know. Try it! Can't do any harm."

A3: mamaac43 replied: "once you touch it the bird will usually not come back. There is really no sense in trying to hatch it now."

A4: jason c replied: "first of all you should never mess with a birds nest.you decrese the chicks survival by a lot. put them back where you found the nest at on the porch light."

A5: Punkie'sDad replied: "If you move the nest somewhere else, the mother will not recognize it as her nest and will not return. If you are wanting the egg to hatch, the only chance is to return it to where you found it and hope for the best."

A6: Amanda F replied: "If the momma bird is still coming around then I would leave it alone...otherwise she might abandon it because you are messing with it. Let it hatch before you remove it. Don't let a bird die because of it"

A7: Miranda replied: "when a human toutches a nest or egg the bird will not go near it because of the new sent so buy a heating lamp and some hay . get raedy to be a parent"

A8: Princess of Nascar replied: "The mother will not help a baby bird once a human touches it. If you want to try and save it, then place warm bottles of water under a blanket and place the egg on top. Then cover the egg so the heat will stay. I don't know how to tell the age of the egg but keep the water bottles changes every 4 to 6 hours. Call your local vet to get information on the kind of bird and the chances it has of living."

A9: grannygrunt28391 replied: "You had the choice of leaving the nest
for 2 to 4 weeks and then there would have been another of Gods creatures.
You chose not to! It sounds harsh, but then the mother bird has experienced harsh."





picklepolly asked: "I have one that is yellow and about 14 inches long."


A1: pg69 replied: "Leave them alone until the vine dies completely. If you pick them they will stop growing and they need to have all of the growth time so that the outside will harden properly."

A2: Dummy replied: "If you are using for bird nest,s you may want a large dia.Otherwise when they are large enough just pluck hang up and let dry."





rezster0900 asked: "I've heard this before, I don't know if it's true or not."


A1: Sarah H replied: "I really do think that it is true!!"

A2: *~Jenn~* replied: "Yes, a bird will not return to take care of her babies if she smells another animal (human) scent near it."

A3: Dragon replied: "No, it's not true. The mother will still come back and care for it's young. I remember taking in a nest a couple months ago, the mother bird waited outside."

A4: munkey replied: "They will come back if you touch the nest, I know this from personal experience! It may depend on the kind of bird... but I took down at least 10 nests that birds were trying to build on my deck, and they came back each time to rebuild it."

A5: birdgirl replied: "No, this is a myth...birds have a poorly developed sense of smell and cannot smell the human scent. However it is not a good idea to touch a nest as this could lead a mammal predator to it as they CAN smell. Also, if a birds nest is disturbed too much..a bird may decide to abandon and find a new quieter, less busy spot."

A6: Jessica W replied: "Actually our local paper had an article about it in the paper about a month and a half ago and while I don't remember the exact reason why, it did say that the bird would come back to it's nest. It said it was also true for baby birds, if you touch them, the parent will still come back."

A7: margecutter replied: "Absolutely untrue!!! This is one of the biggest and most persitent myths about birds.

Birds do not have an acute sense of smell. They can not smell human scent on their nest, on their eggs, or on their babies.

Wildlife biologists and bird banders handle baby birds, eggs, and nests, all the time with their bare hands. The mother and father bird never abandon the nest or the eggs, or reject the babies after the biologists or bird banders have finished and returned the eggs or the babies to their nests.

This does NOT mean that anybody should touch a nest, an egg or a baby. It is illegal to disturb nests, or take eggs or babies, even for a short time, unless you have the proper permits. Bird banders who only have the bird in their possession for minutes still need permits.

What it does mean is that if you see a baby bird that has fallen out of the nest, you can quickly replace it without fear that the mother will reject it.

You can see some wildlife biologists handling baby peregrine falcons here:
"

A8: LaJefe1 replied: "Absolutely false. It's just an old wives tale. See the advice just above this entry, it's very good.

Vet in Vegas"





Bird mites asked: "we had the pest control come over 5 times we have used just about everything. We have vacumed and cleaned everything. All our clothes are in plastic sealed bags."


A1: Pumpkin Pie replied: "Bird mite infestations originate from birds that are nesting within the house. The mites become a problem when the young birds fledge and the mites in the nest search for a new host to feed on.
Those nests has to be in the house somewhere!"

A2: lisak replied: "There is a commercial spray for mites. Some believe it isn't good for the birds. I did have a mite problem years ago. That was the only way I got rid of them. The stuff the vet gave me didn't work. I purchased mine at a pet store. Follow the directions on the bottle."

A3: [x]...Becca Ehm...[x] replied: "Garlic, I'm not sure how you would go about using it indoors but ti certainly worked in our shed, I put one clove to 2 liters of water let it sit overnight and sprayed the shed with it, they had disappeared by the next day."

A4: dustyrose replied: "if you have bird you need to take them to the vets and have them checked out once you do then they give the birds meds then they tell you w hat you have to do to get ride of them , if you dont own birds , then more then likey its not mites from birds
but red spiders which a comerical spray will get ride of how ever again if you own birds avain vet should be first"

A5: Bob The Bugman replied: "To reduce bird mites that may migrate indoors, spray an insecticide effective against mites, such as bifenthrin. Treat outside around windows, doors, and other possible points of entry. Vacuuming will help, but keep in mind that doesn't kill them. Put the bag in the freezer for a few hours or throw it outside.

If you are 100% sure there are no nests or dead birds inside your home, attic, crawlspace, etc and you had a pest control company out 5 times, they are not helping you. Find a more qualified company to help you.

Also, you want to be 100% sure its bird mites that you are dealing with. Some unqualified pest control techs may misidentify a pest."





Rick asked: "Which one you think was better venue?"


A1: Karnelle replied: "if i was you i would build a nest its not too costly and you can use some leaves ect. but you can get a straw like material from pet shops and that gives the nest a good basic feel for the bird!
i hope that helps good luck!"

A2: wacky replied: "What type of bird is the nest for.

There are plenty of good Nesting boxes or Baskets to bought from most Pet stores at reasonable prices."

A3: jonboy replied: "Well as Wacky says what is it for,that is the only way you can get a sensible answer.

See down marker is at it again!!!!!!!!!"





earlymorn asked: "I would like to ,make them for an easy class project.
Will you share it with me?"


A1: lizzie s replied: "i do its my favorite j/k"

A2: tammy replied: "i have a different bird's nest recipe involving chow mein noodles and butterscotch chips---go over BIG!

e-mail me, if you want it...

peace, tammy"

A3: raindovewmn41 replied: "here u go good luck ,,they are almost like rice crispie treets :)"

A4: noskittles! replied: "doesnt it have like chow mein noodles that you put in your chinnese food, melted chocolate and the chocalote as the eggs or gum easter eggs as the eggs"

A5: Scorpio replied: "may this help u....


"





dknupp26 asked: "i have a friend whose hair is matted like a bird nest. her hair is almost to her waist. Is there anything you can suggest to help unmatt her hair?"


A1: LeanOH replied: "Hot oil, [leave-in] conditioner, detangler spray, good maintenance."

A2: kwflamingo replied: "Put conditioner (leave it in) - comb through and rinse - you'll be fine."

A3: ♥nikki♥ replied: "This is kind of long but this is the best way to get rid of them!

I would recommend a couple bottles of Matrix "Instacure" leave-in conditioner treatment. This can be found at several places like Davidson's Beauty Systems stores, CosmoProf beauty supply stores. As well as the JC Penny hair salons. I'm not sure the exact price but it's totally worth it!

Just spray in a generous amout all over hair (Top, ends etc.) and use a hair pick to work out the bigger mats. Once the bigger ones have been worked out, use a hair brush to get out the rest of them. Make sure the hair is still wet from the leave in conditioner. It may take a while but trust me, it definately works!

I would recommend brushing her hair quite often to keep the mats out. Also tell her to try using Garnier Fruictes (not sure of the spelling) shampoo and after washing her hair spray it with the leave-in conditioner and using the hair pick go through and make sure all the tangles are out!

Good Luck and let me know if it works!"

A4: you were prolife at birth right? replied: "SOAK IT SOAK IT SOAK IT IN conditioner and comb it through.......


Good Luck"





Tree kisser asked: "Me and my cat decided to take a walk in the morning and I noticed that one of my underwear was hanging outside and it seems I had forgotten about it for a month.


As I approached my underwear I noticed there were baby birds inside. There was a nest with 3 baby birds and I decided to let them stay.

I took the underwear inside my trailer and I changed and put them on without interrupting the birds.

It feels very uncomfortable but I feel I did the right thing by letting them stay there. I just wish The rash would go away because it burns and hurts. My cat pooper keeps pawing ay my pants trying to get to the birds."


A1: Emily N replied: "omg, how funny!"

A2: Gilbert replied: "I dont get it"

A3: evelynmarch26 replied: "You should put the nest back outside, that the mother can feed them."

A4: go a replied: "http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070609170333AAavAT7&pa=FYd1D2bwHTHwLLtiF.kzQEJMk3xiBSJ0tbRcflJyM75w1A--&paid=asked&msgr_status="

A5: vanilla_milkshake1994 replied: "You couldn't have put different underwear on?? My gosh. I really don't think you did do the right thing. You should have put them outside for the mother to feed them."

A6: amber_rain1995 replied: "thanks for the 2 points"

A7: Eliza D replied: "the only problem is: birds eat worms!"

A8: for me to know, you to not... replied: "The birds eat worms comment is funny...good one."

A9: iNerT replied: "you tried to hard :["

A10: AHSgirl replied: "thats sick dude. but hey, at least there warm. lol"

A11: Renee replied: "Worm haha *v* peck peck"

A12: whitefleur369 replied: "Now you are going to have to go outside and hold your underwear open all the time so the babies can get fed."

A13: tm41170 replied: "lol, good one."

A14: alan p replied: "i've heard of pussy's in underwear but not baby birds"





foundbirdnest asked: "I carefully moved the nest out of the grill beside the grill so that when the mommy bird comes back to look for it, hopefully, she'll see the nest. I'm in NW Florida, so it's pretty warm now. But I'd hate for the birds to dye if the mother doesn't come back for them. What can I do, anything? will they survive one night without the mom bird? how should I keep them warm? Please help!
My husband actually moved the nest out of the grill before I could tell him not to. He didn't touch it. He used a long stick and put it in a tree. I thought it was too far from the original location so I used the same long stick and moved the nest into a box beside the grill. So no, my scent didn't touch the nest or eggs, which that is supposed to be an old wives tale, according to "experts".

I appreciate your opinions, but would like to have some sources for your information. Are any of you experts with birds?
Hoooray!!! the mommy bird came back. I went outside this morning to check the nest, which is inside of a box next to the grill. Surprisingly, I saw 4 eggs, which gave me hope that the mommy bird came back, or I miscounted the eggs.

So about 10 minutes later, I went outside to check again and this time I saw the mommy bird inside the box sitting on her eggs!!!! So happy! Looks like a little sparrow mommy.

Thanks for your help!"


A1: fox_maple replied: "I'm sorry to tell you this, but the mama bird probably smells your scent on the nest, and she won't come back. You really should never touch a nest or baby bird. The mothers are very sensitive to smell and will abandon their young if they don't smell right. I understand there wasn't much you could do though, if the nest was in the grill. You could call your local vet if you want to....but a baby bird without it's mother doesn't stand much of a change. I'm sorry :("

A2: ily bby replied: "just let nature take its course."

A3: Diane replied: "You already moved the nest. Should have left it there until later this summer when the babies flew away. You could have gotten rid of the nest then. Just leave them in the nest and do not touch it again. You should have used gloves too. You cannot get human scent on a bird nest or baby birds, the parents will leave them if you do. In your case, maybe they will come back for them, but I doubt it. tonight a cat or something will probably get them...check in the morning.... and stay away from them..."

A4: The First Dragon replied: "If the birds are hatched already, they will call their parents when they are hungry and they will come, unless you are too close.
The parents will find them.
If they were not hatched yet, leave the place strictly alone, and the parents may or may not come back; sometimes when a nest with eggs is disturbed, they abandon it. If they do, they will soon build another nest and lay more eggs. Also, if there were unhatched eggs, it is possible the parents aren't sitting on them yet, until they get a full clutch of eggs; or even that the eggs were infertile and they abandoned them after the normal incubation period.
The birds can't smell you, but they may be afraid to approach when they see you near."

A5: birdr replied: "Depending on the age of the nestlings, they may be able to survive the night without a parent. If they have feathers or mostly feathers, they are probably fine. If they are downy or naked with closed eyes, they need their parent for warmth.

As for what to do...
1. Watch the nest...constantly. Parents come back for short periods of time, and you may miss them if you only look out once or twice an hour.
2. If the parents come back, you're in good shape.
3. If the parents don't come back, call a wildlife rehabilitation center. If you can not find one, call a local veterinary clinic, animal control office, or humane society.

If you take the nest down, its contents become your responsibility. Put it in a small box and keep it warm (e.g. put a heating pad on low under the box and a towel over it). Do NOT give the nestlings water. Try to get them to a wildlife facility asap."