Expert: Julia Booth - 6/5/2008

Question
a robin laid four eggs in a hanging plant on our front porch. Wierdly, she laid the eggs without a nest.  For about a week or so she sat on the eggs, while the male robin hung around chasing other birds away.  The eggs have not hatched but we have not seen the female or male robin for about a day or so now.  Have they abonded the eggs?  What is the time frame fro robins eggs hatching?  Thank You in advance for any help you can give.

Answer
Robins usually begin nesting in April. Incubation is about 2 weeks. It's another 2 weeks for them to fledge. It's not impossible that they are still incubating the eggs in question. They can lay their eggs on minimal nesting materials -like in a crevice or a hole of some sort.

The only way to know for sure is to wait.