How long will it take for the eggs to hatch in my front door?
by Janet
+8
I have an Easter Wreath on my front door. Last weekend I went to change it to my spring wreath and found a birds nest in it. The mother bird flew out at me when I approached it and then flew into the tree on the front lawn. She was quite angry(scared) and made it clear by the sound she was making. I have a storm door on the front door and the wreath hangs on the storm door. Each time I open the inside door she flies off screaming. Each time we have someone come to the door they get buzzed too! I don't want to disturb the nest and we use the garage door 99% of the time so unless we have someone come to the door, the front door is never used. I am more than willing to wait till she is finished hatching her eggs. What I was wondering, how long does it take to hatch them and then how long before the family moves out? I think they are finches but not sure. They are kinda small. We live in NJ if that helps. Oh and I am almost positive that the nest hasn't been there much longer before I discovered it last weekend.
Suggested Project Book
Finches have colors red yellow on them female not as bright as males....nesting habits-- eggs 4-5, sometimes 2-6. Pale blue, with black and lavender dots mostly at larger end. Incubation is by female, about 13-14 days. Young: Both parents feed nestlings. Young leave the nest about 12-15 days after hatching. Up to 3 broods per year, perhaps sometimes more.nests--Nest: Wide variety of sites, especially in conifers, palms, ivy on buildings, cactus, holes in manmade structures, averaging about 12-15' above the ground. Sometimes use sites such as cavities, hanging planters, old nests of other birds. Nest (built mostly by female) is open cup of grass, weeds, fine twigs, leaves, rootlets, sometimes with feathers, string, or other debris added. SPARROWS...many many different kinds/colors....The female lays two to five eggs at daily intervals and often starts to incubate part way through egg-laying. Both sexes incubate, and the chicks hatch after 11-14 days. The parents share nesting duties equally. Chicks are brooded for 6-8 days, but can control their own body temperature only when 10 or 11 days old.The young fledge 14-16 days after hatching. They are unable to feed themselves for about a week after leaving the nest and are cared for by their parents for around a fortnight. Post-fledging care is frequently left to the male as the hen prepares for the next brood. She can begin laying her next clutch of eggs within days of the previous brood leaving the nest.Pairs often remain faithful to their nest site and to each other for life, although a lost mate of either sex is normally replaced within days. A hole is filled with dry grass or straw with a nesting chamber lined with feathers, hairs, string and paper. Feathers may be plucked from a live pigeon!
The main nesting season is from April to August, although nesting has been recorded in all months. Most birds lay two or three clutches, but in a good year fourth attempts are not uncommon.
If it were me, I would put a sign up "Use back door" with an arrow on it. When they are gone you can replace it. I am glad you are willing to wait for the momma bird to raise her brood. Perhaps you could hang your next door decor between the two doors to avoid this happening next time? It is just a thought. Baby birds usually take until Aug. sometime. Be sure to move it before they have a chance to put new eggs in it again.
I have a pair of cardinals that made a nest in a plant pot on my porch. I can’t water the plant till they hatch and leave the nest but It is so fun to watch the process. Usually it only takes about 3 weeks all together. There were 5 babies last time and I got to watch them 1 at a time leave the nest and in the evening the Momma was there to make sure they got fed from the feeder. Sweetest thing ever!
Bless you for your kindness!
About 6 weeks
Hi Janet!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=How+long+will+it+take+for+the+bird%27s+eggs+to+hatch+in+my+front+door%3f&qpvt=How+long+will+it+take+for+the+bird%27s+eggs+to+hatch+in+my+front+door%3f&FORM=VDRE
http://www.sialis.org/runt.htm
http://www.city-data.com/forum/nature/2556572-birds-nest-found-seasonal-wreath-hanging.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-and-Take-Care-of-Wild-Bird-Eggs
You are a lucky one. You are an AUNT. I have a Robin's nest on my back fence with two eggs. Now we have to go through the garage. Get too close and the male pops out of nowhere and starts cackling, flapping his wings, clicking his beak. My daughter loves to fish so she put out a container of worms for them. Don't care how long before the eggs hatch and they leave. Uncle Bill can't wait for them to hatch.
My sister-in-law has the same "problem"! She waited until the mother flew out, them moved the wreath to the side wall of her front porch. Now everyone is happy!
I think as long as they are close to their original home the mother will return. My in-laws had a nest of wrens on their garage door opener that bothered them because the parents of the babies left their "marks" all over the garage floor. I moved the nest to a little bucket and sat it on the garage floor off to the side. The mother returned and two days later the babies had flown the, er, bucket!
I went out to move I t and saw they had hatched. But looks like they were sleeping. Maybe wait till tomorrow. I am so chicken! Lol