Nesting material

[Old-clucker-55]

Now that everyone is getting ready for the breeding season I was wondering what you use for nesting material. I used to use long pine needles.I was told that they were like tobacco stems and would help keep bugs out of the nest. I would get a branch and peel them off and throw them on the floor. The bird would do the rest. Good luck in the coming breeding season!!

 

[CindyinSD]

I just put in some clean bedding, but I use deep bedding, so it's all around. I bought my geese some alfalfa because I thought they might nibble on it. I don think they do. They like nesting in it, at least.

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

I used to gather a whole bunch of the twiggy branches from burr plants that grow out back on some unbuilt land that the main gas line runs through and break them up a bit and give them to the birds (minus the burrs of course haha). The birds absolutely loved them and made some wonderful nests out of them. Too lazy most of the time now and just use straw nowadays... works perfectly fine and is cheap. I tried hay in the past but some of the babies got tangled up in it so I don't use it anymore. Some birds build poor nests no matter what you use, and for those I usually recommend to add either some sand or clay kitty litter in the bottom of the nest to ensure the babies have something to get a sure footing on so they don't end up getting splay legs.

 

[jak2002003]

I use dog food / water bowls, and wrap them up with damp newspaper. I put them in the sun to dry out the paper, then use them as the nests.

I make a lot of them, and when the nest are looking a bit too dirty I just put in a new paper covered dog bowl and put the squabs in it, then throw away the soiled newspaper off the old bowl and make a fresh one.

I find it keeps things tidy, without sticks and twigs getting all over the place, and its easy to keep the nest boxes clean. The paper also keeps the nest dry and provides the squabs with a good grip so they don't get splay legs.

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

I’ve been using alfalfa, as well as the inside bark of a cottonwood tree.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I use everything. Recently, my favorite bedding has been corn cob in a wooden frame. put the cob 3-4 inches deep. The birds will 'dig' out a nest, and lay. They stay clean and avoid splayed leg. I also like pine needles, which come free to me.