Gardening

Baltimike

(4,441 posts) Wed Apr 29, 2020, 10:18 PM Apr 2020

A robin made a nest in my porch fern hanging basket

I have been VERY careful when I water it, and she seems to tolerate me when I announce that I am there to water. Anyway, I think those beautiful little blue eggs have hatched and I was wondering if I should get them some millet sprays, or something to kinda welcome them...

Does anyone have any experience with this?

7 replies

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A robin made a nest in my porch fern hanging basket (Original Post) Baltimike Apr 2020 OP

Robins are not seed eaters. The ones in my yard seem to prefer earthworms. Arkansas Granny Apr 2020 #1

I'll look into that then. :) Thank you. nt Baltimike Apr 2020 #2

How lovely! MontanaMama Apr 2020 #3

Mealworms are available at home improvement stores and tractor/farm/feed stores. sprinkleeninow Apr 2020 #4

The local Birds Unlimited sell live meal worms csziggy Apr 2020 #6

I keep having to get 2nd mortgages to keep these lovelies in 'lollipops'!😁 sprinkleeninow Apr 2020 #7

Let Mama Bird take care of this Warpy Apr 2020 #5

Arkansas Granny

(31,869 posts)

1. Robins are not seed eaters. The ones in my yard seem to prefer earthworms.

Reply to Baltimike (Original post)

Wed Apr 29, 2020, 10:26 PM

Apr 2020

There is a pair that frequents my back yard. The last couple of days there has been a young one hanging out with them. It just hops around with them and begs food instead of finding its own.

Baltimike

(4,441 posts)

2. I'll look into that then. :) Thank you. nt

Reply to Arkansas Granny (Reply #1)

Wed Apr 29, 2020, 10:28 PM

Apr 2020

MontanaMama

(24,087 posts)

3. How lovely!

Reply to Baltimike (Original post)

Wed Apr 29, 2020, 10:32 PM

Apr 2020

I had a robin nest in my porch hanging basket the last two years...hoping she comes back this year to do it again. I did what you did...watered carefully...and gave mama her space. She feeds those babies bugs and worms. The best gift you can giver is space and time. I did water my front yard a little more than I normally would so that worms would be easy for her to harvest.

Enjoy every minute.

sprinkleeninow

(20,593 posts)

4. Mealworms are available at home improvement stores and tractor/farm/feed stores.

Reply to Baltimike (Original post)

Wed Apr 29, 2020, 11:10 PM

Apr 2020

I keep a feeder filled with these dried mealworms for mainly bluebirds. I do get them starlings tho that aren't mannerly!

csziggy

(34,189 posts)

6. The local Birds Unlimited sell live meal worms

Reply to sprinkleeninow (Reply #4)

Thu Apr 30, 2020, 02:17 AM

Apr 2020

But it's kind of gross keeping them in the fridge if you buy a week's worth. They put them into plastic tubs, kind of like the ones margarine comes in, in a wood shavings mixture. You can dump some of the mix which will contain mealworms in a dish for the birds. I buy them for our bluebirds and they really love the wiggly things.

sprinkleeninow

(20,593 posts)

7. I keep having to get 2nd mortgages to keep these lovelies in 'lollipops'!😁

Reply to csziggy (Reply #6)

Thu Apr 30, 2020, 02:31 AM

Apr 2020

I haven't gotten to a farm and seed place yet where they have a larger bag.
Lowe's are almost $15 for a 20 oz. bag.
Heck, it's only money and I'm loaded. 😆

Warpy

(113,131 posts)

5. Let Mama Bird take care of this

Reply to Baltimike (Original post)

Wed Apr 29, 2020, 11:10 PM

Apr 2020

The chicks are going to need a pretty high protein diet, so she will be after bugs and larvae, not millet. Get some mealworms from a bait shop and she'll love you forever and her chicks will grow strong and fat. Or just let her take care of any garden pests in the area and the neighbors will love her.

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