I’m so hoping there is a robin expert out there.
A few weeks ago a robin built a nest on my window sill.
The weather was pretty harsh and it blew her starting attempts away a couple of times before she got it to stick.
About a week later she started laying eggs, one per day for 4 days.
This matched what I was able to learn about robin’s laying habits.
Then she disappeared for about 2 weeks. The eggs, naturally, just sat there. I was afraid my uncovered window was scaring her away so I covered it.
I kept hoping that she had not come to a tragic end and I thought I had read somewhere that they might build 2 nests so maybe she was attending to other hatching.
That then led me to wonder how long incubated robin’s eggs might remain viable to hatch.
I searched the web and couldn’t find anything
but I know that chicken eggs, if not washed or refrigerated stay good for months yet I’m not sure they are viable for hatching for that long.
Then my granddaughter (5 yrs old) visited after seeing the 4 eggs 2 weeks before. She (peeked) and said. “grandpa, there are 5 eggs!”.
I was sure she has miscounted but she was correct. Now there were 5 eggs. Then yesterday the robin was back and now there are 6 eggs.
She is back today I’m pretty sure she will lay another.
These eggs are at least 10% bigger than the first 4.
Now there for sure are 6 eggs.
A few questions;
1. For How long IS a robin egg viable?
2. Can they run 2 nests at the same time?
3. Are my robin’s first 4 eggs “done”? So far she is adding to the nest and hasn’t discarded the first eggs.
4. If the 4 eggs are “done” will she keep them and use them as food for the new chicks?
5. When brooding will she be there ALL the time?
5. Is it OK to put out some raisins on the other end of the window sill from the nest?
6. Can I uncover the window? I WANT TO WATCH!
A few weeks ago a robin built a nest on my window sill.
The weather was pretty harsh and it blew her starting attempts away a couple of times before she got it to stick.
About a week later she started laying eggs, one per day for 4 days.
This matched what I was able to learn about robin’s laying habits.
Then she disappeared for about 2 weeks. The eggs, naturally, just sat there. I was afraid my uncovered window was scaring her away so I covered it.
I kept hoping that she had not come to a tragic end and I thought I had read somewhere that they might build 2 nests so maybe she was attending to other hatching.
That then led me to wonder how long incubated robin’s eggs might remain viable to hatch.
I searched the web and couldn’t find anything
but I know that chicken eggs, if not washed or refrigerated stay good for months yet I’m not sure they are viable for hatching for that long.
Then my granddaughter (5 yrs old) visited after seeing the 4 eggs 2 weeks before. She (peeked) and said. “grandpa, there are 5 eggs!”.
I was sure she has miscounted but she was correct. Now there were 5 eggs. Then yesterday the robin was back and now there are 6 eggs.
She is back today I’m pretty sure she will lay another.
These eggs are at least 10% bigger than the first 4.
Now there for sure are 6 eggs.
A few questions;
1. For How long IS a robin egg viable?
2. Can they run 2 nests at the same time?
3. Are my robin’s first 4 eggs “done”? So far she is adding to the nest and hasn’t discarded the first eggs.
4. If the 4 eggs are “done” will she keep them and use them as food for the new chicks?
5. When brooding will she be there ALL the time?
5. Is it OK to put out some raisins on the other end of the window sill from the nest?
6. Can I uncover the window? I WANT TO WATCH!
