Hi, I have blue tits beginning to nest in my garden nest-box. They have nested here for many years but not last year. In the past I have had fatalities in the box, although some in the box at the same time have flown. But the year before last I found 6 dead ones and only one surviver. I have a peanut feeder about 10feet from the nest and I noticed that the parents were feeding at the nuts and taking it to the nest. I am wondering if the little ones got choked on the peanuts. There doesn' t appear to be any thing else that would cause it. Do you think I should stop feeding them when there are young ones in the nest? Many thanks. Byegeorge
byegeorge said: I have a peanut feeder about 10feet from the nest and I noticed that the parents were feeding at the nuts and taking it to the nest. I am wondering if the little ones got choked on the peanuts. There doesn' t appear to be any thing else that would cause it. Do you think I should stop feeding them when there are young ones in the nest? Many thanks. Byegeorge
I have a peanut feeder about 10feet from the nest and I noticed that the parents were feeding at the nuts and taking it to the nest. I am wondering if the little ones got choked on the peanuts. There doesn' t appear to be any thing else that would cause it. Do you think I should stop feeding them when there are young ones in the nest? Many thanks. Byegeorge
Hi and welcome to the forum I think you have answered your own question about the peanuts. I would remove the peanut feeder until the young have fledged.
One other cause of the yong dying is if the nest box is in strong sun and causing over heating of the nest. good luck and let us know what happens
mike
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byegeorge said: Hi, I have blue tits beginning to nest in my garden nest-box. They have nested here for many years but not last year. In the past I have had fatalities in the box, although some in the box at the same time have flown. But the year before last I found 6 dead ones and only one surviver. I have a peanut feeder about 10feet from the nest and I noticed that the parents were feeding at the nuts and taking it to the nest. I am wondering if the little ones got choked on the peanuts. There doesn' t appear to be any thing else that would cause it. Do you think I should stop feeding them when there are young ones in the nest? Many thanks. Byegeorge
Thanks Mike for your reply, I will take away the pea-nut feeder as soon as I can see that the blue-tits have nested. I have erected a wooden shade ont the sun side of the nest box, so I think that part of things should be o'k. Byegeorge
Hi byegeorge
It is worthwhile removing the peanut feeder, and feeding alternative foods that the blue tits might feed to their chicks.
The RSPB web-site advice on helping birds pages have some good ideas for what foods to feed, and when to feed what types of food: Here, and Here
Best wishes Chris
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Hi
I had the same thing that year with all the chicks dieing and don't have peanut feeders only hearts and I thought the same ref hearts and I still often wonder if we are doing the right thing.
It could well have been a bad year.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Hi. What alternative food suitable for young blue-tits would you suggest? Byegeorge
Woodpecker said: Hi byegeorge It is worthwhile removing the peanut feeder, and feeding alternative foods that the blue tits might feed to their chicks. The RSPB web-site advice on helping birds pages have some good ideas for what foods to feed, and when to feed what types of food: Here, and Here
Hi, what alternative food suitable for young blue-tits would you suggest? Byegeorge
hi have blue tits nesting for the last three years in garden ,with a peanut feeder beside their nestbox.heard about the peanut problem before but having observed them for hours they only feed on it rarely going for naturals ie grubs,insects ,and herbs whic h i have found out are used to kill bacteria,maybe they know the difference.
byegeorge said: what alternative food suitable for young blue-tits would you suggest?
The "natural" food for a blue tit chick is caterpillars, so probably the very best thing you could feed is mealworms - live if you can. Dried are ok, but you have to soak them really well because the chicks need to get their water from their food.
If you're feeding live, other people on this forum have said that mini mealworms go down the best, though I must admit I've only ever fed the regular size, and they all seem to go fine.
I get mine online from www.livefoodsdirect.co.uk
BB
Adults don't usually feed their chicks seeds as they don't have enough nutritional value.
I feed live mealworms but if you don't like the idea of live mealworms you could try soaked dried mealworms instead.
The RSPB advice pages Helping Birds give loads of good ideas of what to feed and when to feed it.
Woodpecker said: Hi byegeorge Adults don't usually feed their chicks seeds as they don't have enough nutritional value. I feed live mealworms but if you don't like the idea of live mealworms you could try soaked dried mealworms instead. The RSPB advice pages Helping Birds give loads of good ideas of what to feed and when to feed it.
Thanks everyone for your help re feeding blue-tits. I will try them on the mealworms, but I hope that the other birds realize that they are not for them!