Remove eggs? And update!

[HowdyDoDee]

Hey birdie parents!
Bird egg update. 4 eggs of the 7 total in this clutch have little moving parts and appear healthy. Three appear to me to either have not been fertilized, or they have died early.

I’ve heard conflicting advice about removing eggs from the nest box. Some do one at a time, some say never until momma bird abandons/removes them, and some say okay but replace with a fake egg.

Any tips?

Seems these eggs still have some time to go before they hatch. Here are some photos/video from today.

First are the unfertilized/died early eggs. Two have had remarkably large air pockets from the start.

 

[HeatherG]

I would pitch the dead eggs. Mom may be able to tell that there’s nothing in there. I’m surprised she’s incubating them all evenly. But in my opinion, there’s all that yolk and stuff to get germy since they’re not alive and it would be better if they were not there.

 

[HowdyDoDee]

I think I’ll remove one at a time and see how she responds. Yes, I was also thinking seven eggs is a lot to sit on- I hear her rotating them all through the night.

Thank you!!!

 

[Rozalka]

Personally I always was waiting for all chicks hatching and few days later I was removing unfertilized eggs (one per a day or two days) but 7 eggs is many and it's harder to incubate, so I don't see anything against removing one (maybe more but only one at time)

 

[HowdyDoDee]

Thank you!

 

[HeatherG]

I think it’s best to get the dead eggs out.