10 Eggs in one gourd. Advice please
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
I would imagine the first clutch was bad due to some cold weather and the female having to abandon, and this is a new clutch she or a new female added.
Here in St. Louis, we had three days of cold rain May 15-17, when many eggs were being incubated. I expected by now to also see some 10 egg clutches, but have not. I'm really perplexed too...some of these eggs are still being incubated, and in some nests just one or two hatched.
I don't know whether martins can tell if eggs are bad, but I think in both our cases this is one aspect of martin management where it's probably best not to intervene and start tossing eggs, at least not yet. with 10, I'd worry the female might not be able to keep all warm and some that potentially are good might get cold, but I'd still not interfere...if she gets just a few to hatch, that will be good.
John M
Here in St. Louis, we had three days of cold rain May 15-17, when many eggs were being incubated. I expected by now to also see some 10 egg clutches, but have not. I'm really perplexed too...some of these eggs are still being incubated, and in some nests just one or two hatched.
I don't know whether martins can tell if eggs are bad, but I think in both our cases this is one aspect of martin management where it's probably best not to intervene and start tossing eggs, at least not yet. with 10, I'd worry the female might not be able to keep all warm and some that potentially are good might get cold, but I'd still not interfere...if she gets just a few to hatch, that will be good.
John M
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Thais G
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 6:37 pm
- Location: CT/Darien
- Martin Colony History: Started at unsuitable location in 2008. Many lessons learned since. Two tentative locations: Rogers International School and the "Fish Church" (downtown.) One pair in 2015; no fledglings though. No pairs 2016.
Isn't there a way to place them against the light to see if they are developing or not? I thought I saw that somewhere? Just a curious thought!
Best,
Thais
Best,
Thais
Thais Gherardi
Wannabe Landlord in Stamford, CT (2 tentative sites):
- Rogers International School (S&K barn since 2013; Alamo House installed 2016)
- "Fish Church"/downtown Stamford (Alamo House installed 2016)
Wannabe Landlord in Stamford, CT (2 tentative sites):
- Rogers International School (S&K barn since 2013; Alamo House installed 2016)
- "Fish Church"/downtown Stamford (Alamo House installed 2016)
It's called candling, make yourself a square box about 10 in.Place a 60 W or40W lightbulb in it and make a hole a little smaller than the egg ,put the egg in the hole and you should be able to see the blood lines in the egg . Hope that works for you . Turn the egg slowly don't leave it in the hole too long so the lightbulb will be too hot for the embryo ,.good luck
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
There's only so far I will go with interference. I leave them alone....there are some things that nature just needs to handle. If the male or female is infertile, this is nature's way of weeding them out of the gene pool. Or maybe the weather played a part. The female will eventually discard the eggs that are bad...or she won't.
I had the exact same thing happen one year. I abstained from interfering and eventually, the pair abandoned the nest with 10 eggs left in it. Sometimes, maybe it's best to just leave it to Mother Nature.
I had the exact same thing happen one year. I abstained from interfering and eventually, the pair abandoned the nest with 10 eggs left in it. Sometimes, maybe it's best to just leave it to Mother Nature.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
Hi Kathy,
I feel you are on track in least intervention at this point and let nature take its course. the parents know when an egg is a dud egg and will either remove it completely from the nest or push it our to the entrance or porch.
I feel you are on track in least intervention at this point and let nature take its course. the parents know when an egg is a dud egg and will either remove it completely from the nest or push it our to the entrance or porch.
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Mudflap
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2016 9:07 am
- Location: SE Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2011: Set up 16 room S&K house.
2012: nothing.
2013: lookers but no takers.
2014: lookers but no takers.
2015: 3 pair nested, 7 fledged.
2016: second year: S&K house is now an 8 room house and added a separate pole with eight Troyer Vertical Gourds. 13 pair nested, 50 fledged.
2017: third year: S&K house is now a 6 room house (blocked attic access). Same Troyer gourds.
That's good info for future reference. I didn't even realize that happens.