What do you all use for nest material?

[Richard *UT*]

THanks for the info, I can get long pine needles all over the place. Anybody who would like me to send some out. I would be more than happy to. That is, Just as soon as the snow is gone

[Jay3]

I'll remember that Richard! Wish we had the long ones. All we have are the short. My birds look at me as if to say, "Yeah...............so what am I supposed to do with that?"

[romanallover]

i put down ling pine neddles, they love em.

[1981]

I usually use tobacco stems, but last year my breeders went crazy and collected a lot of leaves for their nesting material. Just wondering, are leaves bad?

[sreeshs]

I tried using shreds of newspaper once before following Mindy's suggestion But my pigeon showed no interest, may be because they had materials more natural than the papers with nasty news

[jameswaller]

Originally Posted by rackerman

Just curious, what do you all use for nesting material? I know, tobacco stems are good. I know you can get tobacco stems from Foy's, is there some other places where you can get it?

i have plenty of timothy/orchard hay--that seems to make them happy--gives them something to do anyway..sincerely james waller

[spirit wings]

oh just to mention, some places that sell mulch and straw may have pine bales for sale. our local feedstore sells bales for 4 bucks a bale, lasts forever! that is if you do not want to get your own...

[c.hert]

Rackerman: You can get cleaner and thinner tobacco stems from Siegel's 1711 Main Street, Jeanerette, Louisiana 70544....www.Siegelpigeons.com 1-800-437-4436...They will sent you a catalogue as well and you can look through it..
6 lbs for $7.50 plus shipping...c.hert

[rackerman]

Thank you, c.hert!

[rackerman]

C.Hert, I just ordered the tobacco stems from Seigels and it went up a dollar in price and costing me $11.00 to ship to Michigan, WOW $11.oo to ship to me, hope its worth it?

[c.hert]

You will absolutely love it I am sure but just in case let me know how you like it on this post--sorry the price went up--it clean good tobacco stems--very different texture than Foys---but let me know in this thread what you think about them and I will make it a point to follow your thread...c.hert

[Jay3]

I have gotten them from New England Pigeon Supply so don't know how they compare to Siegel's, but most of my birds don't really prefer them. I guess they'd use them more if that is all I offered them, but mine prefer straw or Timothy hay which you can buy bagged and very clean. Of course, you'll get a lot more in the way of tobacco stems for the price, even with shipping. And the tobacco stems help to keep the bugs away. Let us know how they work for you.

Spiritwings--what do you mean by pine bales? You mean they actually sell pine needles that way? Not around here. I can't even find the stiff hay I like right now. It's all the soft flat stuff.

[re lee]

For years I would fabricate the nest in the nest bowl for the birds. I used pine needles Short one and long ones If I found them. Also I would put a small base down first of pine shavings Then the needles. Straw Is bad about harbering insects because it is not solid. 1 to 2 30 gallon trash bags filleds with pine needles Got me through a breeding season. BUT I have a friend that went only to kitty litter And he raise 2 to 3 young birds a year. I just thought I did not like kitty litter BUT it seems to work great for those who do use it

[Jay3]

Yes, that's true about the straw. If you gathered some pine needles, even short ones, I'm sure they'd be grateful for them. I like pine needles.

[rackerman]

C.Hert, will do........