nesting and freezing temperatures

4/15/2014

I returned home yesterday after a long weekend away to discover three beautiful bluebird eggs in one of the nest boxes I’ve been monitoring; today, the hen laid a fourth. I am wondering what effect tonight’s below-freezing temperature might have on the eggs. Will they freeze and not be viable? Does cold in some way stunt embryonic development? I’ve been googling for information, but coming up with little that's relevant. Most temperature studies are focused on heat. Does anyone in the club know?

Leave a comment if you have suggestions - thanks

Bonnie Bernstein

5 Comments

Dick Rowe

4/16/2014 09:38:00 am

Bonnie - I doubt that the cold weather will have any affect on the eggs. The female will sit on the eggs in the nest box and keep them at the proper developmental temperature. You are correct about the potential effect of lower temperatures on development - development will be slower at lowered temperatures. As long as the eggs do not get too cold, the embryos will be fine. They might hatch a day later then normal due to the effect of being chilled, but that would be the only result, unless the eggs freeze. Low egg temperatures or freezing can kill the embryo.

On last Saturday, 12 April, one of my nest boxes had 4 Bluebird eggs in it.

Dick

Barbara

4/18/2021 05:35:41 pm

I have 5 baby bluebirds in the nest. Close to leaving nest but not there yet. 4/12 I checked and they were fine. Mom was close by.
Today 4/18 I look and they are all dead. A few ants were in the box on one of them. We did have a night the temp was 47 but warmed the next day.
I’m sick they all died. Any idea what could have killed them? They all were healthy looking.

Thomas Wethington

4/19/2021 06:24:16 pm

I am sorry to learn about bluebirds. We have a very small patio back yard and have a Cardinal family nesting there. Temperatures are expected to plummet tomorrow evening to below freezing. The babies just hatched a day or so ago. Will they be ok in freezing temperatures? Is there anything we can do to help? We are not well versed in bird life. Appreciate any thoughts on how to prevent the babies freezing!

Lisa Powell

4/30/2021 10:24:58 pm

Oh no! Did you ever get any advice from anyone? How did the babies weather the cold?

Lara Anne Dillon

5/1/2021 09:33:03 am

I'm wondering if the babies could have been killed by house sparrows. House sparrows are quite horrible and aggressive and will frequently kill other birds, adult and baby alike just to take over a nest.

nesting and freezing temperatures

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