Baby blue tit help!

honeywebb · #1 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 10:31 AM

Hi..i'm new here & after some advice.
We have a nestbox in the garden, on our garage wall about 10-12 foot up. Bluetits are nesting & the babies are hatched.
This morning at 8.30 i found one of the babies on the floor, he was well but wobbly. I grabbed the cat & he is now under house arrest (much to his disgust!)
I have been monitoring the baby from inside my house, he is now hopping more confidently & the parents are busy feeding him & the others still in the box so all would appear well.
Does any one know how long the baby will be vulnerable on the ground & how long before i can let my manic cat out safe in the knowledge that the babies have all been able to fly to safety. I am very stressed!!

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 10:39 AM

Hi and welcome..

I would keep the cat in for at least 2 weeks and the other chicks will be leaving the nest sometime soon so will also be vulnerable at this time as some land on the floor when leaving the nest..
Hope this helps but at this time of the year its best to limit the cat to outdoors as much as possible if you dont want the inevitable to happen..

honeywebb · #3 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 01:04 PM

2 weeks!! I think i will have killed the cat by then!

Have just got back from being out for a few hours & been watching the parents back & forth to the nestbox but no sign of the little one on the floor, so am hoping he found his wings & has flown to a safer place.

Stephanieg19 · #4 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 06:00 PM

Oh dear! I would send the cat on holiday to family for a week or two

good luck with the chicks!

sunnydale · #5 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 06:48 PM

Hi Honey and welcome

Hope all goes well for your Blue Tit family!

Tracey

honeywebb · #6 (**permalink**) 25-05-2011, 08:39 AM

Quick update...Baby No.1 had disappeared from my garden by the afternoon yesterday so am assuming he flew...the parents continued to feed the nestbox all day.

This morning Babies 2 & 3 both plopped out & were hopping around on the floor..one seemed more wobbly than the other...both were being fed by parents. Cant see them at the moment which is abit of a worry.

There is still chirping coming from the box so presume there are more to come! Its exciting but nerve wracking & i am deaf from my moaning housebound pussy cat!!

Stephanieg19 · #7 (**permalink**) 26-05-2011, 08:39 AM

Haha I feel for the poor cat, but having nesting birds is so exciting, I really miss mine now they have gone, good luck

honeywebb · #8 (**permalink**) 27-05-2011, 07:19 AM

Last update...Baby 4 joined his siblings Wednesday morning & they all hung around the patio area of my garden, dodging in & out of the flowerpots, until Thursday afternoon...when i got back from work they had all disappeared & there was no sign of the parents.

I really hope they are happy & healthy & doing what birds do & didnt end up as a meal for the local magpies, crows & cats.

I may let my sulking pussy cat out today!

Thanks for all your support everyone.