Age of chicks when parents start to withhold food.
Hi all. About what age are the chicks when the parents start to hold back food? I start the plug and string when the chicks are 22 days old. I’m nest checking tomorrow and I noticed the parents of chicks who are 22 days old not feeding as often as they were before. Just wondering in the event I find starving chicks. I want to have a plan ready in case I need to move them to other nests. Last check they were fine. Thanks, Brent.
Brent
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
Hi Brent,
22 days sounds about right, I suppose it would be hard to give an actual date when food is withheld, as some chicks will be further along than others. Only the adults will know that.
They are probably at the heaviest they will ever be in their life time right now.
Plug and string is a good plan at that age, holding back food would indicate they are almost ready to go.
Tom
22 days sounds about right, I suppose it would be hard to give an actual date when food is withheld, as some chicks will be further along than others. Only the adults will know that.
They are probably at the heaviest they will ever be in their life time right now.
Plug and string is a good plan at that age, holding back food would indicate they are almost ready to go.
Tom
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1366
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
Hi Brent.. I agree with tom. From my observations .. the slowing down depends on the various sizes of the their chicks. .. usually around day 24 and as late as day 27, from what I’ve seen, in the past…
But I’m sure that can vary, depending on the development and fledgling date, of the older ones in the brood. Also, obviously, a smaller number in the brood total, will be less mouths to feed as they slow down, and less trips for the parents. I doubt they are starving, as I’m sure there’s lots of dragonflies and other insects, as there are here. I’m just about 60 miles or so , from you.. Your plan to check and monitor sounds like a good one…
Good luck
Rob
But I’m sure that can vary, depending on the development and fledgling date, of the older ones in the brood. Also, obviously, a smaller number in the brood total, will be less mouths to feed as they slow down, and less trips for the parents. I doubt they are starving, as I’m sure there’s lots of dragonflies and other insects, as there are here. I’m just about 60 miles or so , from you.. Your plan to check and monitor sounds like a good one…
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La