How long before I can knock down a bird's nest?

Question

We just moved into a house and there are all kinds of bird's nests on our house. I had my husband knock down one and told him not to tell me if there were babies inside.
He hasn't got to the rest yet and now there is one inside the garage. He ended up telling me there were babies in the one he knocked down. I feel bad enough about that so I don't think I can let him knock down 4 more!
Anyone know how long before the eggs are hatched and babies can be on there own, so we can knock it down?
Also, we can't leave the one in the garage...any ideas how to get it down without killing the babies? That one is made mostly of dirt so it would be impossible to move.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I agree with most of the other posts. Why rip them down, they may not look really pretty on your house but I think you can survive a few weeks with them, why is the life of baby birds worth your house looking a wee bit prettier? Just look at the nests, do you see any eggs or babies? Is there an adult flying back and foth, prepping it? Just wait until there is no evidence of babies and then take them down if you really must, though personally I don't mind them I think it's cool when you can watch the birds so close

Answer 2

Knock them all down right now...before they start another 'clutch'

Answer 3

awww, leave them alone. you wouldn't like someone going over to your house and trying to kick you out!!

Answer 4

Why don't you leave the nests alone until you know that there aren't any chicks in them!!?!?!? Animal killers!!

Answer 5

check and make sure there are no babies in them first. it should be very soon that the nest are empty...I know here they all moved out a few weeks ago. "Georgia"

Answer 6

Be very careful about the ones made of dirt. It is illegal in my area to knock down swallow's nests and they are made of dirt. I have morning doves that come every year to my yard to nest and have babies. The one on my patio cover was there for about a month and the one in my window box we noticed about 3 weeks ago. She just had a baby over the holiday, but there is still two more eggs left in the nest. I usually wait at least a month after I see no more activity in the nest. Very shortly after I saw the mama morning dove teaching the younglings to fly, they vacated the nest on the patio cover.

Not to worry, they come back, rebuild the nests every year in exactly the same place.

Answer 7

if you try to move the nests the mother will leave them and let them die
it can take 2 to 3 weeks for the babies to hatch, them another couple weeks to get old enough to fly

Answer 8

Look in your local phone book for your county agent. It will be listed under your county name.They will have tons of info about local birds and their habits. They will have good advice :)
Hope this helps :)
Mary in MS

Answer 9

If you don't want to kill the baby birdies then wait until later in the year. Fall at least.

Answer 10

We have barn swallows that make mud nest. They have had as many as 4 set of babies but that was only once. mostly just 2.
We encourage them because before they came we had lots of mosquitoes but now we dont. So put a plastic mat under the nest to catch the poop, and enjoy being somewhat bug free.