Please Some Advice!!!

dpgg213 · #1 (**permalink**) 13-07-2005, 11:10 AM

Ok i wrote a thread a while back about a Blackbird nest in my garage.
Well i'am in need of help. So ok here goes...

There were 3 eggs and 2 have hatched the other one i'am guessing is a failed one.
The 2 chicks left are now 6 days old. however one of the chicks was nice and big
And the other was small and weak. And it sadly died last night.

I mean the male comes in and feeds them and so does the mother

There is a disgusting smell from its body. But the other chick is starting to grow
some feathers and is nice and plump but when you usually see a chick its full
Of life and stamina but when i looked today it opened its eyes once and just lay
There breathing. I mean when you see chicks they are happly chirping for food
But this one just lay there.

Again its nice and big....could it have been full or tried?

QUESTION 1: Is the dead bird causing some sort of diesese??
QUESTION 2: Is the biggest birds beheavior normal???
QUESTION 3: Now there is only 1 bird of a 3 egg brood what are its chances??

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE

henrya · #2 (**permalink**) 13-07-2005, 02:02 PM

Q1 Can't be nice to have to sit next to a dead body - but the disturbancve of trying to remove it might be too much.

Q2 If it's as hot where you are as it is here then probably yes. The chick may be full and too hot to do much

Q3 The survivor may have a better chance now as it's getting the sole attention of both parents, and doesn't have to compete for food with it's brothers and sisters. But the reason that one died may be lack of food. Maybe you can supplement the food available to the parents by digging over a bit of the garden so they can find grubs, worms etc - or turn over the compost heap (if you have one).

henrya