age for last nest check?

[defed]

i can never remember (should probably write it down)....what is the latest age for nest checks, both for blocking the hole and for when you should not even do it?

thanks!

[C.C.Martins]

I dont know that there is one. 21 days old, general Tom rule I made up...I feel comfortable with it. Not much else to do really after that age but enjoy and watch them fledge. becomes tricky on a big gourd rack or house with mixed ages but even then, to me, its not worth premature fledges. Good to be comfortable with plugging, especially if there is a problem. Adults got it.
Tom

[defed]

i thought there was a recommendation of something like....up to 22 days, be sure to plug so they don't jump and never after 22.

because of a weather event during laying, i'm not 100% sure how old they are, as i think they are about 3 days behind what the '1st egg' date says they should be. i have an idea, of course, but didn't want to check tomorrow if they are going to be 22 and that is the 'cutoff' where you should not do it.

[C.C.Martins]

Do what your comfortable with and able to do. If its intrusive, dont do it. If there's not an issue go right ahead. More and more I'm getting to the opinion that as they get older its transitioned from me managing to the adults. I all ready know how many there are-no need to count, I use sevin so I don't do routine nest changes for example.
Just me, just my 2 cents.
Tom

[Martintown33]

Yes, the usual rule of thumb is 22 days… sometimes I stop at 20, just depending on circumstances… if there are chicks in other gourds over, 20, I always use plugs, just to be on the safe side…
Good luck
Rob

[defed]

Yes, the usual rule of thumb is 22 days… sometimes I stop at 20, just depending on circumstances… if there are chicks in other gourds over, 20, I always use plugs, just to be on the safe side…
Good luck
Rob

you plug them even if you don't open them?

i believe my oldest (only nest on that rack) is 21 or 22. not 100% sure because i'm pretty sure they paused laying during a rainy 3 day 50 degree spell. on the other rack, i believe there is 1 nest that is 1 day younger (have a cam on this one, so don't need to check it), one is 1 day younger than that and 1 just hatched 3 today. so it is possible that on this rack, if i check again in 5 days, 2 gourds will be right around 25 days. i won't open them next time, just the one w/ new hatches.

i did check the one that is 21 or 22 today only because i thought i might have had a few mites last time and i put a little sevin in and wanted to see how it looked.

[brent]

I follow the PMCA nest checking guidelines. Plug and string 22 days and older. Keep nest checks brief. Be quiet. After nest check is over quietly lift the house up and then wait 5-10 minutes before gently pulling the string to unplug. I need to plug and string because I have Trendsetter houses and at any given time I’ll have some nests with day old chicks and others with 22 (or older) day old chicks. Varying ages. I’ve been able to nest check using the plug and string method up to fledging. But I agree with the other posts. Do what is comfortable. At first I was so scared to check the older birds. It takes some getting comfortable with. I’ve not had one jumper. Brent

[Martintown33]

Yes, I plug the ones over 20, even if I don’t check them. Just in case the ride up and down, and the nest check activity around , spooks them, to try to fly out.
Rob

[Dave Reynolds]

,, When my Martins babies are in that 22 days old range, I have all ready checked them around 17 times thought the year. So I don't lower the rack any more, I just use my binoculars to see what is going on.. Not worth losing a baby because they might jump early.. Just me though..

Dave

[defed]

,, When my Martins babies are in that 22 days old range, I have all ready checked them around 17 times thought the year. So I don't lower the rack any more, I just use my binoculars to see what is going on.. Not worth losing a baby because they might jump early.. Just me though..

Dave

i only check about every 5 days, so only 4 or 5 times for me. i believe one group is about 26 today so i'm not opening that one again - i can see them poking out the hole - and they are on their own rack so no need to even lower it. the other rack has 2 groups at about 24 days. i'm not opening those any more either - 1 i have the camera in and can see them looking out, the other is on the back side so i can't see them. but that rack also has a nest w/ 5 day old chicks, so that rack will probably get lowered 1x before the others fledge. or i suppose i could skip 1 check on that last nest.

[Jones4381]

All of these suggestions are good policy until an emergency happens. I too hold back on lowering when they have heads out but when one falls/jumps/earlier flyer/etc... I typically lower rack and put back to the best gourd I can figure if I don't know exactly which one....yea worry about others jumping and I probably should take more time in ensuring I put back with right family we do they best we can when under stress and I didn't have any additional jump from nest when lowering racks like this and i had to lower racks at least 4 times this season during the stage when you have many at different age levels and concerns.

[Dave Reynolds]

,, When my Martins babies are in that 22 days old range, I have all ready checked them around 17 times thought the year. So I don't lower the rack any more, I just use my binoculars to see what is going on.. Not worth losing a baby because they might jump early.. Just me though..

Dave

i only check about every 5 days, so only 4 or 5 times for me. i believe one group is about 26 today so i'm not opening that one again - i can see them poking out the hole - and they are on their own rack so no need to even lower it. the other rack has 2 groups at about 24 days. i'm not opening those any more either - 1 i have the camera in and can see them looking out, the other is on the back side so i can't see them. but that rack also has a nest w/ 5 day old chicks, so that rack will probably get lowered 1x before the others fledge. or i suppose i could skip 1 check on that last nest.

..
.
Sorry about that.. defed...
I didn't say that right. I did make 17 nest checks on Mondays and Thursdays through out the season. Starting when they started building their nest. I didn't mean I check them 17 days in a row ... Guess I better double check what I wrote before the post.. My Bad ..

Dave

[defed]

,, When my Martins babies are in that 22 days old range, I have all ready checked them around 17 times thought the year. So I don't lower the rack any more, I just use my binoculars to see what is going on.. Not worth losing a baby because they might jump early.. Just me though..

Dave

..
.
Sorry about that.. defed...
I didn't say that right. I did make 17 nest checks on Mondays and Thursdays through out the season. Starting when they started building their nest. I didn't mean I check them 17 days in a row ... Guess I better double check what I wrote before the post.. My Bad ..

Dave

LOL i thought you meant at 22 days old, you checked them 17x already, so ALMOST everyday.