Wing entrapment death pics - help

[DebA]

I went out to dispense scrambled eggs and I could tell immediately a bird must be stuck. I assume it hampened at bedtime because I was outside frequently yesterday. I lost a female ASY. The pics are graphic but please help. This is my first WE. I was thrilled the new Trendsetter had wing guards. Now this. You can see that Mister is huddled behind her and couldn't get out. He is ok. She was really wedged in there. Breaks my heart. You can see that there is space inside the entrance floor from the nest tray. Is this the problem? Is there something, anything that I should change? And here I was gonna get on here and whine about the temps coming the next two nights. I must have had 15 birds here because I stirred up 14 while getting her out.

[Louise Chambers]

Deb,

That's too bad - sorry you lost a bird, but thankfully it was only one. Your attention kept the male alive. It's odd, looks like she has both wings outside? I have to guess that they were fighting, otherwise there is no reason for her to have gotten into the sideways position. Fights seem to cause many of the wing entrapments. I don't see anything wrong with your guard installment - I think it was simply bad luck that she was on her side and thus more prone to getting into trouble.

[DebA]

Yes both her wings were partially outside. The bottom one was also crammed into that space between the nest tray and housing. Her head was pecked looking. I wasn't sure if it was from fighting or just in her struggle to get free. Or fighting and attack after getting stuck.

It was a cavity that a female was trying to run off another female from...about a week ago.

Now that I am able to post pictures directly...notice they are huge. Not sure how to control that but hey...I am not going to complain.

Thanks, Louise.
Deb

[DebA]

Now that I look at the pic of the bird in the back...could that be a female? I just lifted a little with my hand to know it was moving and then I left alone. After I raised the house it came out and I really didn't look up to see and confirm it was a male.

It has some white under side feathers and seems lighter on the throat area. Maybe males have a little white in their down?

Deb

[Matt F.]

Now that I look at the pic of the bird in the back...could that be a female? I just lifted a little with my hand to know it was moving and then I left alone. After I raised the house it came out and I really didn't look up to see and confirm it was a male.

It has some white under side feathers and seems lighter on the throat area. Maybe males have a little white in their down?

Deb

I'm really sorry about that Martin Deb.
It would definitely make more sense, for that to have been 2 females fighting. Upon closer inspection of your photo showing the other Martin, you can faintly see the light "collar" that extends from the front, to around the back of the neck, that would definitely be a signature of a female.
Great job on saving the second Martin.

[jedin]

Sad to hear/see Deb, but thanks for posting. I too have a new TS and am such a novice had no idea what wing entrapment even meant. Glad you found the other bird in time.
Janet

[DebA]

Thanks, Matt. I guess she won, huh. Dang it.

Janet, this is my fifth year and first experience with it. It didn't happen with the old S&K house that had no wing guards. Of course. As Louise said I guess it is just a flukish thing. I was worried the space between the wall and nest tray bottom contributed. I just hate losing one. Glad that she didn't have babies though. I have read about WE but...it hasn't been prolific here and I hope to never see it again.

[John Miller]

I am sorry this happened. Just posted a thread on it two days or so ago.

I'm thinking it may help for those who use the Trendsetter mesh trays to get the tray up under the bottom of the guard. this would raise the bird up and maybe make the guard more effective. I have glued some little planks under some of mine where I use nest trays similar to this, but not yet sure how effective that will be.

As I've stated before, these guards reduce risk but don't eliminate.

john m

P.S. don't forget to open your vents in May. It's closed now I see.

[AvianStewardess]

I am so sorry for that to happen to you, Deb. That's really sad.

[MamaBruff]

Oh Deb,

I am so sorry! How tragic for you, but good thing you were there to save the other one.

I have a Trendsetter with nest trays just like yours. I had wondered why the nest trays don't fit snug in the house when I installed them. Maybe John Miller is onto something with little pieces of wood under the entrance hole.

Hopefully this is a one time occurrence.

Keep up the good work my friend, and thanks for sharing.

Purple Hugs!
Mary

[DebA]

I wonder if I put a shim between the tray and the wall on the opposite wall of the opening. So that it pushes the tray flush under the opening. Not sure if that would be better, or worse or no difference at all.

Today it is raining and thundering. I can see a male and female sitting on different levels outside in the rain. It is 37 degrees (and the reason my vents aren't open yet). The trendsetter porches seem to be keeping them dry however. So I guess they want to watch the rain and not be closed up. I think it will clear off in the next couple of hours and I will go offer crickets.

Thanks for your support.

Deb

[Matt@atx]

Im sorry to hear about your loss Deb. Its heart wrentching and it happens. The other lives because of your tenitiveness. I think you have done a great job helping and feeding your birds in that terrible weather you have.

[Ben@SWMichiganPM]

That's though. I have a trendsetter too. Mine doesn't have wing guards. Is that something I can/should add? How would I add them?

[John Miller]

Ben

Yes,but note the things discussed in this thread. I beleive these guards are standard now on Trendsetters but when you order them separately -- called "wing protectors," they come with two tiny screws each and pretty easy to install. Greater risk if the housing has near full occupancy and lots of fighting...much less if you only have a few pairs.

John