Need advice on ASY Male behavior.

[brent]

Hi everyone,
The situation is this, I have an ASY male parent who is behaving strangely. He was able to enter the compartment earlier then had a difficult time once the chicks were hatched. So I thought that maybe the SREH was too small for him. I filed it down at the base and he responded well. He was bringing food and leaving. It was tight for him but it’s tight for many of them. But just starting again he’s reluctant to enter. He starts to enter then backs out. Some times he finally goes in but often he flys away, returns, tries again, flys away, eats the insect he’s carrying and then gone. The female is doing all the work. There are 5 chicks. I watched this evening and he went in for the night. Wiggled in with a little struggle but got in. What’s with him? Is it perhaps he’s an older bird and just getting tired and reluctant? She is constant. She brings food almost every 2 to 4 minutes. And keeps the nest clean. I am worried. Should I try to open the entrance by filing it more? Or is this all him? She has no problem going in or out. I see other males having to wiggle in but they go in. All the females have no problem at all. Should I change the nest tray (thinking maybe the base is too thick for him)? I just don’t know. Any advice would help. Last nest check was the 9th and the chicks looked healthy. Brent

[C.C.Martins]

Tough one. If you modify the entrance more there's a risk. Then no guarantees he'll return to that one next year and now it will be over size.
I suspect if you change the trey, that will help. They use their beaks to pull themselves out (and I suspect in) sometimes, if its full off food they just struggle. Give it a shot on the inside, see if that helps bro.
Tom

[Martintown33]

That is a tough one Brent.. I wonder if it’s just a behavior trait in this particular male.. as we know they are individuals with their own personalities.. As you and tom suggest, maybe removing the tray will give him more room to enter and exit.. the fact that he was going in and out for a while suggest the hole size is ok.. did you remove the wing entrapment device? That should help too, if you haven’t done it all ready.. let us know..
Good luck,
Rob

[Martintown33]

P.s. .. in the off-season I would check all your entrances holes for exact dimensions and file all if necessary.
Good luck,
Rob

[brent]

Thanks. Do you know at what age the chicks can crawl? The reason I ask is it looks like he's giving them the food at the entrance. They are 15 days old. Brent

[John Barrow]

IMO, it is his strategy to get more dominant nestlings to come to the compartment entrance to be fed. Cameras have shown adults entering a compartment to feed young, bypassing the dominant nestlings to feed the smaller ones that struggle for food. This strategy enables the male to concentrate on feeding dominant nestlings at the entrance, freeing his mate to handle the feeding duties for nestlings that would struggle to feed at the entrance. It is normal to see the adults try to entice young to feed at the entrance after their eyes have opened around 8 doa.
You can check your entrances; however, if the male has previously entered, I believe he could shoot right back in if he really wanted to. Best wishes to you, Brent!

[Martintown33]

Hi Brent. From what I’ve read, 20 days is time to start plug and pull. So that seems to suggest they can crawl at 15 days.. as you know, 28 to 32 days is full fledge.. I think you’re right, he’s feeding them at the entrance..
Good luck,
Rob

[Martintown33]

P.s. I know many landlords start plugging several days earlier than 20 days.. I know some landlords that stop doing nest checks at the 20 to 23 day mark , as to not get jumpers..
Rob

[brent]

Great information. John that is very insightful. Didn't think of that. You are probably right. I saw him earlier bring a dragon fly to the entrance then it look like he fed it to a chick. Right after he left with a poop sac. I will, at this time, keep observing. Nest check on Saturday. Thanks everyone. Brent

[brent]

Well I observed him all afternoon to the evening. He tried several times to enter but was not able to. I really am so puzzled. Tonight, after eating the food he tried to bring in, he struggled in. Yes, he went in. I think that trying to bring food in is difficult for him. I will check the nest tomorrow to see how the chicks are doing and I will prepare another nest tray. I will shave the side adjacent to the entrance down more than it already is giving him more room. The female gets in with no problem at all. I think a nest tray swap might help. I’ll prep it and if the chicks look fine compared to those of the same age that are in another compartment I might do nothing but if they look smaller, less developed I’ll put them in the new nest/tray. That’s my plan. I hope it’s not too risky or stressful for them. It shouldn’t take long. Brent

[Martintown33]

Sounds like a good plan Brent..
Good luck,
Rob

[birdman in buckhead]

I frequently see this behavior from ASY males. Bottom line is if he wants to get in he will get in! Especially if you have seen him enter and exit before. I can't explain why they sometimes struggle. IMO, leave things as is.

[brent]

Great advice and shared experiences. As I mature as a landlord I appreciate more and more the experiences others share. I’ve learned so much from so many. I did change the nest tray. The chicks were healthy and well. Beautiful I might add. The new nest was as good as the old one. The only alteration was to the side of the tray adjacent to the entrance. I shaved it a little giving him extra space and that was it. I quickly did the rest of the nest checks for house”A” and all the chicks looked wonderful, some days old others a couple of weeks. The ASY male, however, behaved the same. Confirming what other landlords have said. Had horrible thunder storms come through this afternoon. Lowered both housed down 2 feet. Expecting more severe weather tomorrow afternoon/evening. Hope to complete nest checks of house “B” tomorrow. Saw an uncared for martin house not far from me. A lone male sat on the porch. Nest material was sticking out of some of the other compartments. So different from what my martins are living in. I wondered what happened there. Thanks again everyone. Brent

[C.C.Martins]

Sounds like you have done what you can, the chicks are healthy; suggest watch and enjoy. I suspect your worries will be over; plenty of food available. When those chicks move to the front (if they aren't already as John suggested) they will be stuffed to the gills.
Those martins you have are lucky to have you.
Tom