Hi
Am new to nesting- have just put up my first nest box and camera and delighted that it has a blu tit with 8 eggs. However she has been sitting for 3 weeks now- male still feeding her- but no hatchlings. Could it be that due to the cold weather they are staying inside their eggs- or could they be empty?
vonny
Hi Vonny, welcome to the forums.
The normal incubation period for Blue Tits is 13 - 15 days, this could be from when the female dropped her last egg.
Is this the first brood? Blue Tits normally only have one brood 12 Apr -11 May. Some can start rather late or have a second brood. If this pair started late then the next week should be when the eggs hatch.
It sometimes does depend on the weather, things can slow down. Also I have found several batches of eggs that are addled in the 300+ nest boxes that I check.
Fingers crossed, I hope your pair are successful.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hi Vonny, and welcome to the forum.
I can't add a thing to what Buzzard has said. He's the expert in these matters. I hope you do get some chicks and a successful fledge. My camera nest box has been looking at a rooster since the winter, no nest, just a lot of poo!!!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Just want to say hello Vonny. Buzzard is definitely the expert.
thanks for your support- keeping my fingers crossed xx
looking forward to chicks rather than poo- will keep you posted- am so impressed with the quick replies and support xxxx
Welcome to the fourms from me too Vonny. Im sure you will like it here everyone is great and willing to help.
Look foward to your posts.
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Hi I'm a new member and first time camera bluetit watcher. Ours have only 2 eggs laid 2 weeks ago. He is feeding her frantically and she's been on/off sitting but mainly sitting on them for 1 week. Are they still likely to hatch. Its amazing how fond you become of them!
Hi Billie and welcome to the forum ... if your BT female is religiously incubating then it's possible the eggs could hatch, they don't start incubating til their last egg laid so that chicks hatch same time, it is a very small clutch but it is successful ... do let us know if they survive, some useful info here
www.bto.org/.../blue-tit-diary
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr