The last time I know they had a good meal was Tuesday. No hope of one until tomorrow. I did the only thing I knew to do and that was go to my local pet store (I'm in a rural area) and by $10.00 worth of small crickets (They were out of large). So that gave me 100. I froze them...defrosted them and the rain never let up today but I went out about 12:45 and lowered my poles to feed. Of course they all came out...which was good to see them live but I hated to see them get wet.
I only had about maybe a teaspoon full of the small crickets and I didn't want to waste that so I put them on the floor of each compartment in the entrance section (Expanded compartments). I don't know if they ate them or not and won't know until morning. They are pairs in each compartment so the pair would have had to share that small amount.
They have been on the porches for the last hour or so ... I sure wish they would go inside.
I guess I'll mail order crickets next year just in case and then I'll have enough to start flipping.
My poor, sweet birds. Prayers for them please.....
Proud "Mother" of Edgar / Dottie and (32?) 2009 Fledglings!!! :D
Hi Shari....We just went out and got crickets and worms and slung them from a spoon...they ate them all or at least most of them. It didn't take long before they got the swing of it and started getting the food...it was awesome to watch them get some food since it has been awhile (Tuesday)....Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day...we are going to go get some more crickets for them.
Shari, you could try the scrambled eggs. Mix a couple of eggs with some water and microwave until done! Then chop into small pieces & fling.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
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It's almost dark....would be b/f I could get out there.
All birds are inside but one.
He looks so miserable.
I will never let this happen again.
Hurry morning!
Be safe birds!!!
Proud "Mother" of Edgar / Dottie and (32?) 2009 Fledglings!!! :D
This is pretty much how I have to do it with scattered sites in a park during bad weather. I might not have flushed them out in the rain...but it gets to be a judgement call.
I also might have scattered a few on the porch near the entrance, to get martins started. Sometimes a pile of crickets will scare them when they first return to the house, so don't over do it the first time.
I think you will find that some of your birds eat the crickets. I also think smaller crickets are eaten more readily from compartments and platform feeders; while of course it's easier to fling larger ones.
Thanks guys...I just want someone to tell me that most of my birds will survive this!!! ????
It's supposed to be 53 tommorow and in the 40's by 8am....I just don't know how long it will take them to find food!!!
I have to leave by 10am in the morning but maybe I could be ready to go at 9 and flip eggs until I leave....
Will they eat flipped eggs if they've ever been supplemental fed before???
Thanks again!
Proud "Mother" of Edgar / Dottie and (32?) 2009 Fledglings!!! :D
Shari, because your martins have not accepted food before, it is difficult to predict what they will do.
Try offering scrambled eggs, and chop them very small. If you have a hand held pastry blender, that works perfectly.
Start earlier than nine if you can. I realize work responsibilities are pressing and the most important, but please realize you can only do what you can.........Keep the egg pieces small. Many landlords report that their martins capture but drop the eggs. I suspect the pieces are too large.
Martins fly, capture and gulp. If the offerings are too large for them to gulp on the wing, they will drop them. It does not mean they do not want the eggs or other offerings, it just probably indicates the offerings are too large.
Good luck, I hope your martins will be fine, and hope to hear a good report from you sometime tomorrow.
Know that others are rooting for you and your martins.
Shari: I feel awful for you I hope you can feel all the support the folks on the forum are sending you. Let us know what happens. We're rooting for you and your martins!
