First chicks of the season

[Penny Briscoe]

Right on schedule when doing my nest checks this a.m. I was greeted by 4 chicks with one egg to go in one gourd and two chicks of 4 eggs in another. I am hoping I got to that one egg in time in the nest with the 4 hatchlings as one end was totally covered by 1/2 of one of the other chick's egg shell. I pulled the offending shell off and tomorrow will check to see if the egg hatched. So tiny, so cute, so vulnerable. I currently have 28 nest boxes or gourds with eggs or chicks but some subbies are still nesting. Hatching should occur in 8 of them by June 1. It is stacking up to be a good season, especially since I seem to have the HOSP under control and have seen no starlings at the housing this year. I doubled up on hawk guards, too, and so far all ok. I am trying to beat last year's fledge no. of 155 in 31 nests. I have 43 nests available--added three gourds this year, and all metal, 12-compartment housing was converted last year to two-room suites.

[MamaBruff]

Wonderful news! Best wishes for a wonderful season!