How long to hatch Blackbird chicks? (1 Viewer)

[eileengard]

How long does the female Blackbird take to hatch her young?
'Ours has been sitting for at least three weeks, on three eggs.
The nest is on top of a gas flue.
Could they be 'cooked', or would she be too wise?
The male has not been seen at all.

 

[Andy Bright]

Hi Eileen, a warm welcome to birdforum.net from all the staff here. I have to say that I'd fear for the eggs if your boiler is active (not to mention some risk to yourself with a nest on top), the birds may have made the nest during a warmer period when you didn't have the boiler going.
I think incubation of the eggs is roughly two weeks.
Regards,
Andy

 

[robinm]

Hi eileengard,

May I wish you a warm welcome to Birdforum on behalf of all the Admin, Staff and Moderators. I hope you enjoy your time with us - I am sure you will find everyone friendly and helpful.

I thought a typical incubation period for blackbird was about 2 weeks, so your 3 weeks does not sound good. Maybe someone more expert than I will comment.

Please post something about yourself in "Say Hello" so we can get to know you.

 

[robinm]

Just beat me to it, Andy!

 

[eileengard]

Rely re Blackbirds Hatching period

Hi Eileen, a warm welcome to birdforum.net from all the staff here. I have to say that I'd fear for the eggs if your boiler is active (not to mention some risk to yourself with a nest on top), the birds may have made the nest during a warmer period when you didn't have the boiler going.
I think incubation of the eggs is roughly two weeks.
Regards,
Andy

Thanks very much.
Yes, we have been fearing for her.

 

[eileengard]

Hi eileengard,

May I wish you a warm welcome to Birdforum on behalf of all the Admin, Staff and Moderators. I hope you enjoy your time with us - I am sure you will find everyone friendly and helpful.

I thought a typical incubation period for blackbird was about 2 weeks, so your 3 weeks does not sound good. Maybe someone more expert than I will comment.

Please post something about yourself in "Say Hello" so we can get to know you.

Thank you.......not looking good then...

 

[Andy Bright]

Just beat me to it, Andy!

It's always galling 3 I felt very proud of myself last week when I i.d'ed a Chukar from a rough description but after posting (and finding a photo from database) I found someone beat me to it.... i was in tears

 

[Michael Frankis]

The thickness of the nest structure should be plenty to insulate the eggs from any heat in the flue. And if it was carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty flue (very unlikely with modern flues) then the sitting bird would also be dead.

I reckon more to the point is the cold weather we've been having recently, that can slow down incubation a bit. So I'd give them another day or so before giving up on them.

Otherwise, occasional individual birds can be infertile, just like people.

Michael

 

[eileengard]

The thickness of the nest structure should be plenty to insulate the eggs from any heat in the flue. And if it was carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty flue (very unlikely with modern flues) then the sitting bird would also be dead.

I reckon more to the point is the cold weather we've been having recently, that can slow down incubation a bit. So I'd give them another day or so before giving up on them.

Otherwise, occasional individual birds can be infertile, just like people.

Michael

Well, thank you!
As yours is the most optomistic response....!!
We have the boiler serviced and checked a minimum of once a year.
I know she has been sitting in the nest, but of course we only
checked whether there were eggs when she flew off for a couple of minutes the other day.
Many thanks,
Eileen

 

[eileengard]

How long to hatch - blackbirds ?

Well, that's that.
Our Blackbird has flown the nest, last week.
This may not be seem much to some, but we were SO dissapointed.
Thank you anyway, to everyone who helped with information.
If we leave the nest where it is, removing the eggs of course, would it
assist future nesting by the same, or another bird?
May be a silly question, but we are complete novices, but love to watch
and feed the birds.