My baby Peanuts

[owlmomma]

Last weekend, we had a call asking if we would take in a Chaffinch nest. Of course, we said yes (the tree had been chopped down before they found the nest )then we found out that they were just eggs. We popped them in the incubator but didn't really expect them to hatch...Lo and behold, they did, all 5 of them

When I saw the size of them, I was gobsmacked to say the least. There was one which was smaller than the others and sadly, we lost him but the other four seem to be doing ok so far, everything crossed here though as it is still very early days.
The oldest is now two days and the youngest one day.

however, they do seem to be gaining a bit of weight now. I am feeding Tropican with a toothpick

[Kayleigh]

OMG....just look at them...

Everything crossed for you..OM...

It so sad and preventable I think there should be a laws against chopping trees down in spring every year the same thing happens so unnecessary..

Good luck keep us updated wont you.

[James M]

Good luck OM, hope they make it, I didn't realise just how tiny they are when they're born.

[gess]

Wow...how tiny are they!!! good luck to you OM

Gess

[owlmomma]

Just given them their supper and popped em back in the incubator for the night...they are looking good

[Gaina]

Aww!! Good luck with them .

[The Woodman]

It's struck me this year how many people attack their gardens at the very time that our garden birds need the security of hedges and trees to successfully nest in.

I watched a well trimmed, dense, mature Leylandii hedge being cut down recently by a professional after the owners had made a start trimming it and realised it was a task beyond their capabilities. This was shortly after a cold calling gypsy had made a pigs ear of reducing the height of a specimen conifer in their garden!

That tree, with the hedge, has now gone.

I felt sure that there must have been a nest or two in the hedge and I went and asked the tree surgeon if he had come across any nests. He told me he had found two "old nests".

All this happened in a garden where the owners like to feed birds from multiple feeders yet in common with many others, have little, if any, regard for nesting birds when that spring gardening fever strikes.

There may not be a law against cutting trees down at this time of year Kayleigh but there is a law that protects nesting birds.

Good luck with the Chaffinches owlmomma, they're pretty good doers and should fledge without problems.

[jaykay]

I'll add my "good luck" to the others, keep us up to date with events, loved the photo btw

[owlmomma]

All present and correct this morning, four little gapes to greet me when I opened the incubator. They are staring to grow a bit now

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

It's struck me this year how many people attack their gardens at the very time that our garden birds need the security of hedges and trees to successfully nest in.

I watched a well trimmed, dense, mature Leylandii hedge being cut down recently by a professional after the owners had made a start trimming it and realised it was a task beyond their capabilities. This was shortly after a cold calling gypsy had made a pigs ear of reducing the height of a specimen conifer in their garden!

That tree, with the hedge, has now gone.

I felt sure that there must have been a nest or two in the hedge and I went and asked the tree surgeon if he had come across any nests. He told me he had found two "old nests".

All this happened in a garden where the owners like to feed birds from multiple feeders yet in common with many others, have little, if any, regard for nesting birds when that spring gardening fever strikes.

There may not be a law against cutting trees down at this time of year Kayleigh but there is a law that protects nesting birds.

Good luck with the Chaffinches owlmomma, they're pretty good doers and should fledge without problems.

What's the use of a law protecting nesting birds if its not policed...
you cant tell me professional tree feller's do not know nests are about in spring its turning a blind eye for sake of a few bob...
Its sickening I here them round here with the chain saws.
Well I think there is a thrush's nest next door to me and he has large conifers he will get a "B" shock is he decides to cut them down....