Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Other pet critters - Birds, fish, rabbits, reptiles, rodents and exotics > Birds

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 9th, 2009, 08:56 PM
Smiley14's Avatar
Smiley14 Smiley14 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 2,424
Babies are gone now; Do I remove Nest?

I had some house finches move in while I was on vacation for two weeks. I came back to a nest and when I peeked inside, there were four little light blue eggs. They hatched a week later and then a few short weeks later, they suddenly disappeared one day and I haven't seen or heard from them since. The nest appears to have been abandoned now for the past week. Should I leave it there just in case or is it safe to take it down now? It's full of bird poop and making my deck a little stinky, so I'd like to take it down and clean up my light now, LOL, but I won't if they come back to their nests. I only got a few blurry pics of them while they were there unfortunately, but here's a few of the cuties.

Mom:


Dad feeding the babies.

__________________
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. --Christopher Morley
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old July 9th, 2009, 09:41 PM
14+kitties's Avatar
14+kitties 14+kitties is offline
150% PRO S/N
Starcastle Champion, V:force Champion, UFO Shoot Out Champion, Parachute Panic Champion, Mission To Mars Champion, Disc Dash Champion, Crazy Closet Champion, Railway Line Champion, Penguin Pass Champion
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MYOB
Posts: 15,408
Where are the birdie people? I am sure someone will come along soon. I have a family of swallows living in my garage. The 4 babies were born about a week ago. The nest is really far up. I am not going to worry about removing it for quite some time.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old July 9th, 2009, 10:10 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
You can take it down. The babies don't come back to the nest once they've fledged.
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old July 9th, 2009, 10:43 PM
Smiley14's Avatar
Smiley14 Smiley14 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 2,424
Thanks Hazel!!!!

I normally wouldn't worry about it, but it's stinking up my deck and I like to eat my breakfast out there every morning. The nest and my light is COVERED with bird poop and it's only a few feet above my head. The deck floor was too, but I've been hosing that off. Not quite sure how I'm going to get it all off the light. Thought I'd remove the nest as much as I can first and try spraying the light with a hose first. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't destroying their home first though! They were such cute little visitors. And luckily the dogs totally ignored them and they didn't seem to care about the dogs either.
__________________
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. --Christopher Morley
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old July 9th, 2009, 11:07 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
Use rubber gloves.

A week should be long enough for the lice to be gone, at least. For the first couple of days after they leave, the bird lice can be pretty thick on the nest. But once the birds leave, the lice leave also. At least bird lice don't care for dogs, cats, or humans, so if you accidentally get into some, you itch like crazy thinking about it, but they don't cause you any problems that a shower can't cure. Yes...I'm speaking from experience...
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old July 10th, 2009, 03:29 AM
Smiley14's Avatar
Smiley14 Smiley14 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 2,424
Thanks Hazel! I was definitely planning on wearing big rubber gloves as I'm not looking forward to cleaning it, but I didn't even think about bird lice! EEK! That freaks me out. Glad to know it doesn't stick around on humans and dogs at least. *shudder* I'll probably cut out arm holes in a big garbage bag and put that on as well, to make myself feel better if nothing else. The neighbors will think I've gone completely insane.
__________________
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. --Christopher Morley
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old July 10th, 2009, 01:46 PM
Bina's Avatar
Bina Bina is offline
Skylar's Farm
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: East Ontario, west Que.
Posts: 509
Some birds like swallows, robins, etc. will come back for a second clutch, but I'm sure that you can remove the finch nest while it's empty.
Yes, rubber gloves. Even with those on, mites can run up your arms.
Jump into the shower afterwards.
I have gotten horrible bites from tiny mites that were already on the ground under a phoebe nest. They ran up my legs, and over night bit me on my stomach, armpits, etc.
So NASTY.....yuk.
__________________
Bina
Please have pets spayed and neutered,
and wearing a collar with an ID tag.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old July 10th, 2009, 07:45 PM
Smiley14's Avatar
Smiley14 Smiley14 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 2,424
Oh dear, now I'm too afraid to touch the thing. I think I'll wait until the next time Dad comes to visit and let him deal with it.
__________________
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. --Christopher Morley
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old July 10th, 2009, 08:34 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
Put on your gloves, keep the garbage bag intact....open the bag, flip it over the top of the nest and scrape everything into the bag by using the bag itself. That way you have two layers of plastic between you and any nasties.

After a week, the lice have pretty much all abandoned the nest, anyway--they need live birds or they starve.
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old July 10th, 2009, 08:43 PM
Smiley14's Avatar
Smiley14 Smiley14 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 2,424
Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack View Post
Put on your gloves, keep the garbage bag intact....open the bag, flip it over the top of the nest and scrape everything into the bag by using the bag itself. That way you have two layers of plastic between you and any nasties.

After a week, the lice have pretty much all abandoned the nest, anyway--they need live birds or they starve.
LOL, okay, I'll see how brave I'm feeling tomorrow. UGGGH. I get the willies just thinking about lice and mites! But if they're all gone, then I can handle it.
__________________
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. --Christopher Morley
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old July 10th, 2009, 08:50 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
And if you just can't make yourself do it, well there's that Plan B of yours: Dad!




I think you can do it, though!
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old July 10th, 2009, 09:10 PM
Smiley14's Avatar
Smiley14 Smiley14 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 2,424
Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack View Post
And if you just can't make yourself do it, well there's that Plan B of yours: Dad!




I think you can do it, though!
Thanks for the vote of confidence!
__________________
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. --Christopher Morley
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:44 PM.