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TammyK
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:23 am
Location: ND/ Riverdale

Storm coming gourds have been drying out good but house with hay nests seemed moist would it be ok to put some dry pine needles under the nest for air or can a person replace some of the hay with dry pine needles?? :)
gourds have hay nests but better ventilation!
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TammyK
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:23 am
Location: ND/ Riverdale

I dont want to up set them if i don't have to!
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

How old are nestlings? Wet nests should be removed if sodden - especially with younger nestlings. If nestlings are 22 days and older, probably should leave things as they are.
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TammyK
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:23 am
Location: ND/ Riverdale

still just eggs!
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Ed Svetich-WI
Posts: 815
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.

There is probably a lesson here for upcoming nest replacements at days 10 and 20. Don't use hay or any material that absorb water and drains poorly. Pine straw(needles) dries quickly, does not hold water. Pine needles under wet hay may help, but eggs can be fragile and may be damaged messing with the nests.If you attempt to remove the eggs to do a nest change, be sure you do not touch the eggs. Oils from your skin can kill the embryos. Tough call, but only you know how wet the hay is.

Ed
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TammyK
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:23 am
Location: ND/ Riverdale

thank you Ed
i think ill just put some needles under them with out touching the eggs
didn't know touching them would kill embryo.
I love this forum lots to learn and every ones so helpful :)
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John Miller
Posts: 4866
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

While martins tolerate nest changes with babies at 10 days, but the female is sensitive to the position and appearance of her egg bowl. You may be able to slip some material under it, but don't try to take out the eggs and reassemble the nest bowl except in an emergency. That said, I have reluctantly sometimes placed pine needles under eggs that were laid on a mostly bare floor and seemed to keep getting scattered, and that did help and some hatched, but suggest you be cautious to avoid abandonment.

John
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TammyK
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:23 am
Location: ND/ Riverdale

thanks John good info☺
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TammyK
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:23 am
Location: ND/ Riverdale

I did my nest check gourds looked good .
The house wasn't , the nest that got attacked still had the eggs in it but the bottom was damp so i did a nest change jut because it was so wet not sure if they were even going back in because a brand new nest was built above it.
i took out the nest in the gourd that had been abandoned and put in pine needles maybe it will get used yet?
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