New pets

[leeco]

I have just been down to the boat and I have a nest with eggs in my tyre. I don't want to evict the moorhens until the eggs hatch. Any idea when they might hatch?

[carlt]

About 3 weeks from laying.

 

Edited to add: I recall that as soon as the first couple hatched the mum pretty much abandoned the rest of the eggs and only another couple more hatched successfully, the rest becoming food for our grass snake family.

Edited May 4, 2013 by carlt

[leeco]

Ok 3 weeks isn't too long.

[Guest]

I have just been down to the boat and I have a nest with eggs in my tyre. I don't want to evict the moorhens until the eggs hatch. Any idea when they might hatch?

 

 

According to here

 

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/moorhen.htm

 

They incubate them for 19-22 days - so it depend when they were laid.

[junior]

About 3 weeks from laying.

 

Edited to add: I recall that as soon as the first couple hatched the mum pretty much abandoned the rest of the eggs and only another couple more hatched successfully, the rest becoming food for our grass snake family.

You have a family of grass snakes on your boat?

[carlt]

You have a family of grass snakes on your boat?

No but I did have on my mooring.

 

The moorhens were not on the boat either.

[junior]

No but I did have on my mooring.

 

The moorhens were not on the boat either.

Ahh apologies. When you had said they were in your tyre I had wrongly assumed it was a tyre being used as a fender.

[Mac of Cygnet]

Ahh apologies. When you had said they were in your tyre I had wrongly assumed it was a tyre being used as a fender.

 

I think Leeco has a nest of moorhens in his fender tyre.

[Caprifool]

In a situation like this. Would C&RT be understanding if you put a notice in the window saying "Waiting for moor hen eggs to hatch"?

[junior]

In a situation like this. Would C&RT be understanding if you put a notice in the window saying "Waiting for moor hen eggs to hatch"?

Good interesting point.

 

Cue loads of CM'ers putting bird food in their fenders!

[leeco]

I have just been down to the boat and had egg butties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only yoking. so when they hatch how long before they flee my tyre? I was hoping to do some boating soon.

[carlt]

Only yoking. so when they hatch how long before they flee my tyre? I was hoping to do some boating soon.

Almost immediately although give them time for the Mum to get fed up.

 

We had a dozen eggs one year but she only bothered incubating four of them.

 

I did wonder if they have more than they can hatch to keep the local predators full until the chicks have grown a bit and can get away.

[leeco]

Almost immediately although give them time for the Mum to get fed up.

 

We had a dozen eggs one year but she only bothered incubating four of them.

 

I did wonder if they have more than they can hatch to keep the local predators full until the chicks have grown a bit and can get away.

Ok thanks, I will look after them until they move out.

[Guest]

In a situation like this. Would C&RT be understanding if you put a notice in the window saying "Waiting for moor hen eggs to hatch"?

Interesting point. It would need a call to them rather than a window notice but yes I reckon they would be sympathetic.

[leeco]

Interesting point. It would need a call to them rather than a window notice but yes I reckon they would be sympathetic.

I might have a few to sell in 3 weeks

[steven wilkinson]

I saw exactly the same thing on the Leeds and Liverpool last week! The tyre fender was facing the water - I thought the nest looked a tad vulnerable!

[leeco]

I saw exactly the same thing on the Leeds and Liverpool last week! The tyre fender was facing the water - I thought the nest looked a tad vulnerable!

Im on the L&L was it a blue boat?

[steven wilkinson]

it was indeed - I took a photo of it too!

 

 

 

maybe I should have a go at resizing that next time!

Edited May 4, 2013 by steven wilkinson

[leeco]

Post it up lol.

[steven wilkinson]

edited and posted

 

not my best attempt - but I had to grab my camera and not run into the swing bridge before Mrs W opened it!

Edited May 4, 2013 by steven wilkinson

[leeco]

thats kens boat I think.

[steven wilkinson]

ah - then he has new pets too!

[jelunga]

I wonder if there is a market to sell CMers fake nests in tyres with eggs? Would make a good excuse for overstaying especially if they were Ostrich eggs. Don't they take a few months to hatch?

[carlt]

Don't they take a few months to hatch?

42 days according to the American Ostrich Association website.

 

Another interesting fact on there (amongst many) is that they lay up to 100 eggs a year.

[steven wilkinson]

that could keep the average American in omelettes AND scrambled eggs!