Help - I've killed a robin

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Now, don't laugh because I feel dreadful about it!

I went to get my trailer ready this afternoon for my lesson with Spencer and lay in the bedding was a little robin. She was definitely dead because I gave her quite some time to come around (ended up being a bit late for my lesson because of it). Anyway, what makes matters worse is that I looked up on the rug rack for some reason and there was her nest, complete with 4 little eggs. I took it down because I was worried that they could still have a chance if I put them in another nest, but they were completely cold.

The reason this little robin made her nest there is because I left my trailer windows open by mistake (always close them) and she had been very busy in a short period of time. Poor thing, she must have been unable to get out again!!!!

So my question is, how long can eggs survive without being sat on? Would it be worth going getting the nest and putting a heat lamp over it?

The eggs were a pinkish colour... does this suggest how young/old they are?
 
Errmm...don't mean to be funny but would you then be picking worms out of the garden to feed the little babies, if they hatched (which they wouldn't)? Bless - we've got swallows in our stables and one of the chicks fell out of the nest last year. It was really horrible but that's nature, I'm afraid...
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i would put them under a lamp but im mad like that and yes i have done it and one lived but i did have to feed it worms i made a fake beak out of a mc donalds straw and use to feed it 6 times a day lol
it lives at my mums now its a black bird called hope lol he he it must be 4 yrs old now
 
We have loads of swallows nests, one in my stable which have just flown the nest and their parents have just laid a new set of eggs. Could it be worth putting the robin eggs in there?

I just feel so horrible... more than anything because her nest was absolutely beautiful, she had worked really hard on it and it looked so well put together
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[ QUOTE ]
Help - I've killed a robin - Now, don't laugh because I feel dreadful about it!

[/ QUOTE ] *snorts* Could you call a bird rescue charity for some advice?
 
I can understand how awful you feel.While on the subject last year I felt terrible because we put up fly sticky things in the stables and a swallow flew in and got tangled in it .Luckily we found it and managed to clean it and put it in a bucket hung up in our chicken pen it survived .I have since been told the RSPB warns people not to use these things but I never knew about it.
RIP little robin
 
Tried to phone... I couldn't get through
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I rang them about two baby magpies a few months ago (they had fallen out of their nests and had decided our arena was the best place for them) and I felt very foolish indeed when I spoke to them as they did not seem particularly concerned.
 
Dont worry, you didnt do it on purpose...... I moved into a new stable and didnt like the cobwebs that hung in drapes round the walls, so I hooverd them off and think i scared off the parents of a swallows nest. Two days later and the little babies had all commited suicide and jumped out of the nest.... whereby merlin had stood on them eeeewwww.

So long as it isnt done in malice its just the way things go :-(

Re the sticky things, friend and myself couldnt understand where the stable robins tail had gone, till we looked up and saw it stuck on the fly paper..... I didnt realise they were THAT sticky!!!! Poor thing, its ok though!!
 
Becki - are you sure the robin couldn't get back out? The reason I ask is because she obv found materials to make her nest with (unless of course it was hay etc from the trailer.)

Also what goes out must come in - ie if she was desperate I'm sure she would have tried to get out where she came in from.

As for the eggs I haven't a clue. You could put them in the swallows nest and give them a chance but if they have gone bad inside it could be worse for the swallows themselves.
 
If the eggs are cold, they will not be viable. Also do not put them in another bird's nest you will cause that to be abandoned.

Very sad, but these thing do happen and you are not to blame.

I "mucked out" a young swallow last week that was buried in the banks, felt very guilty but he managed to half fly so I scooped him up on a broom and lifted him to a safe place where his parents could see him - he had two chances but luckily for him he survived.
 
Even if the eggs are cold they may be viable - we've had hens die on the nest, the eggs go stone cold and been transfered to the 'bater for a 4/6 hatch

However, a heta lamp won't help - you ned an incubator, humidity is v.important so I'd discard teh eggs
 
Thanks everyone... I am not sure whether she could get in and out, she had built the nest mostly from my bedding in the trailer (Nedz Bedz) and haylage... however there were a few bits of moss in it and horse hair she could have found in the trailer.

It looks as though she broke her neck when she tried getting out... there was a really big dent in her head where it looked as though she had flown into something, and she was not breathing etc when I found her.
 
Aw, poor little robin. It's horrible when things like that happen. You're obviously a very kind person, so don't beat yourself up about it - it couldn't be helped. I don't think it's very easy hand rearing chicks, but the RSPB might have some advice for you if you decide to give it a go.
 
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