A Finch has made a nest out on my. patio in a wreath. She laid 5 eggs and sits on them but is away from the nest for long periods of time but comes back and also th male feeds her too. It has been about 25 days and they have not hatched. What should i do, iof anything? I feel so sorry for her in case they never hatch and does she just keep sitting on them for weeks and weeks?
Thank you for reaching out to Ask Lafeber. Also, thank you for caring so much about the little finch family on your patio.
Based on what you described, it’s very likely that the eggs are not going to hatch at this point. Finch eggs typically hatch in about 12–14 days, and even stretching to the longest end of normal, 16–18 days is usually the maximum. At around 25 days, they are considered non‑viable.
It’s completely normal for the parents to take breaks from the nest, and the male feeding the female is typical behavior. She may continue sitting for a while longer, but eventually she will abandon the nest on her own once her instincts tell her the eggs aren’t developing.
You don’t need to intervene right now. The best approach is simply to let her come to that conclusion naturally. Once she has fully abandoned the nest for at least a couple of days, you can safely remove the eggs and the nest if you choose.
I know it’s hard to watch, but this is a very common part of wild bird nesting, and she will likely try again in the future.
If you have any other questions or want help knowing when it’s safe to remove the nest, I’m happy to help.
Best regards, Starleen
