Purple Martin Forum

I tagged on to this post because I am not sure what to do. I have a lone chick too, and had 2 chicks yesterday. He is about the age of the one pictured above, but as far as I can see no one is paying any attention to him. I will change his nest as suggested, but I am worried about the fact that he ...

How's the lone chick? Well, dsonyay, I am happy to say the Lone Chick is looking pretty good. Yesterday he/she started perching out on the porch. I thought maybe it had fledged today, because this afternoon there were no PMs anywhere to be seen, but half an hour ago I saw Queen Victoria (the mother...

I'm so relieved that your birds found their way back. It really makes you wonder what must have happened to them and where they got to in that storm.

brent wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 7:08 pm I think that little chick will survive. Keep us posted. I took some solace from Brent's words, when the one and only nestling in our colony got off to a rough start. His/her three siblings disappeared from the nest within two days of hatching. Then the poor surv...

Yesterday I used the new Sevin under new nesting material. I also put about 1/64 tsp of diatomaceous earth directly on the bird's back and belly, very gently massaging it into the feathers. Of course I was concerned that it might be harmful, but the baby looked so terrible I felt it was going to die...

It occurred to me belatedly that my Sevin was old. So I bought some new the moment the store opened this morning, changed the nest again and used the new Sevin. The poor waif looks dreadful, and I'm doubting it can survive. But if this damage is due to mites, maybe this new Sevin and new nest will s...

Yesterday was Day 14 for the lone surviving chick in our gourds. It seemed much livelier than the previous day, which was hotter and muggier. But I'm worried about the condition of its feathers. There seems to be more bare spots than the day before. I changed out the nest on Day 11 and put 1/8 tsp S...

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. The Babe is still alive, and I don't see any bloody places today. The back seems sort of irritated and bare in places where it looks like some of the feathers have been rubbed off, and that worries me. I don't see any insects on bird or nest, and I didn't...

Following the good advice I received here, I removed the old nest, wiped out the gourd, sprinkled 1/8 tsp of Sevin in the bottom, put in new cedar bedding, touched up the baby's injury with Bactine ointment (which my doctor has recommended as a less irritating topical antibiotic than Neosporin), and...

I agree with Ed. ... and add a 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon under the new nest material to keep all other parasites out of the nest. You mean Sevin? Thank you for your advice. I will do it. This is Day 11, so a good time for nest replacement. It's my first time, and the only nesting, so I only get one chanc...

Today the lone surviving baby Purple Martin, age 11 days, looks as if there is a wound on the back, near the tail. Yesterday that area looked almost feathered. Today it looks raw. Would a SY bird have entered and pecked it? What can I do to help?

Or is this normal?

Six years waiting. This year, the seventh year, two pairs attempted nesting. The SY couple laid one egg, which did not hatch and eventually vanished. I think they're still hanging about the gourd rack and going in and out of gourds from time to time. An ASY pair laid 5 eggs. Of those, 4 hatched. Of ...

Thanks Coolwhips!

Before the age of 20 days, is it a safe and acceptable practice to handle nestlings? I mean, take one out of the nest to look at or show to someone else?

The eggs hatched 4 to 6 days ago. One egg did not hatch. Should I leave it with the surviving offspring or remove it?

I am trying to make your pole predator guard effective against climbing mammals and explain how to set up the bird netting to ensnare snakes. Thank you 4th Gen! I see your point. I have removed the netting from inside the baffle, so that it again swings free. I stuffed it after I thought a snake ha...

brent wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:08 pm

I think that little chick will survive.

Thank you Brent. For your lips to God's ears!

I was afraid to look this morning, but the babe was still there. It seemed like the parents were guarding it closely. I saw the female arrive at the entrance and wait until the male emerged and flew off, and then she went in immediately. I checked again in the late afternoon. A parent was in there w...

Nest failure, depending on the cause does not always mean abandonment. If the parents are continuing to feed that is a good sign. I too suspect SY as the culprit. If it was a snake it would not have left that baby behind. I don't recall seeing what type of gourd the nest was in? Usually the Troyer'...

i Diane, dsonyay is right on the two possibilities. Sadly, this occurs occasionally and is a cruel aspect of nature. I wish I could give you more good news. Don't let this discourage you in the years ahead. Thanks Dave Duit. From what I've been reading, nest failure means the birds are likely not t...