What do you all use for nest material?

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by Jay3

So many different ideas on what to use. Guess it would be interesting to try different things and see which ones work best. Of course it would also have to be something they like to use, and my birds really love gathering the stuff they use for nesting. And I enjoy watching them. Makes them feel better that they are building their own nests. For me, if they can't build their own nest, that just isn't natural enough, but hey, that's just my opinion.

so true! all my little sticks and twigs around my beech tree magically disappear! but for my "shut ins" they love the hay! and pine needles when I buy a bale of it.

[Jay3]

Wish we could buy a bale of pine needles around here. All you guys who talk about the long pine needles, and you talking about buying bales of needles. Think I'm living in the wrong area. LOL.

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by Jay3

Wish we could buy a bale of pine needles around here. All you guys who talk about the long pine needles, and you talking about buying bales of needles. Think I'm living in the wrong area. LOL.

they don't have loblolly pine trees in Mass? those are the ones with the long needles.

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by spirit wings

they don't have loblolly pine trees in Mass? those are the ones with the long needles.

Never heard of them. Is that really what you call them? Eastern pine, white pine, scrub pine (really short needles), Lord knows what else, but the needles are about 4 inches long.

[Jay3]

I Want Loblolly Pine!!!

[re lee]

Originally Posted by Jay3

So many different ideas on what to use. Guess it would be interesting to try different things and see which ones work best. Of course it would also have to be something they like to use, and my birds really love gathering the stuff they use for nesting. And I enjoy watching them. Makes them feel better that they are building their own nests. For me, if they can't build their own nest, that just isn't natural enough, but hey, that's just my opinion.

Maybe so But I always made a nest for the birds. That way I new a decent nest was made. Then sometimes would throw a little bit of pine needles down In open loft nesting. So the birds could add a few to the nest. My birds had individual breeding holes/pens

[Jay3]

That's fine, it's just that I think letting them make their nest is important to them. They really enjoy it, and want to do that. If they were free they would do that, and I figure they deserve that much. But not everyone will agree, and that's okay. Individual choice. Some do make a better nest than others, but that's okay too.

[Crazy Pete]

Go to the carpet shop get the free scraps 1/2 in cut to the size of nest bowl, cut another same size with a whole in the center, Then go to tractor supply and get some seven dust. Sure it may hold a little moisture, scraps are free cut 50 of em. When you feed your birds you take the eggs out domp the scraps and put 2 more in. You have a never ending supply of nest material, any color will do they are just going to poo on it. I do that for my Houbens and they don't seem to care.
Dave

[BTut]

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 bought tobacco stems and did not like them i felt they were too hard on the babies now i use hay its much softer

[Jay3]

I thought so too, besides, my birds don't like them as well as straw or timothy hay.

[Keith C.]

During the molt, my pigeons personal favorite nesting material seems to be feathers.
When I scrape the lofts and put the scrapings on the compost pile, house sparrows take all the visible feathers.
When I had exotic pheasants in some of my lofts, my pigeons would put surprisingly large sticks in their nest that they got from the brush piles that the pheasants nested in.

[soymi69]

I go to Walmart and buy a bag of red cedar shavings it only cost about $6.00 and it is a natural pesticide and gave out nice cedar smell in the loft, I can also use it to put in the shipping box when I'm shipping some birds out and I also put it on the training crate.

[BTut]

Originally Posted by soymi69

I go to Walmart and buy a bag of red cedar shavings it only cost about $6.00 and it is a natural pesticide and gave out nice cedar smell in the loft, I can also use it to put in the shipping box when I'm shipping some birds out and I also put it on the training crate.

i have used ceder in the past with small animals and i was told to switch to pine shavings it was eaiser on the animals skin i do not know if it would be the same for birds but if it works who knows

Bill tut

[Jay3]

Actually, cedar is bad for birds, an irritant to their skin, and can cause respiratory problems. Pine chips aren't great either, but cedar is worse.

[soymi69]

Originally Posted by Jay3

Actually, cedar is bad for birds, an irritant to their skin, and can cause respiratory problems. Pine chips aren't great either, but cedar is worse.

I have been using Red Cedar for over 3 years now I even used it when I use to breed Lovebirds and Cockatiels, my birds are expose to it from the time of hatching till they are road train, I never have respiratory problem on my birds and will always recommend it to everyone.