Nesting material

[Kymba]

I was grooming my two Alsatians today and wondered if i could put all their fur i remove out for Birds to use as nesting material????
If so what can i put it in to keep it dry for them or do i even have to keep it dry ????

[snowdrop]

Hi kymba.

Dog brushings are ok. Every nest I,ve looked into at the end of the season has a cosy bottom covered with brushings from my dogs. I have even added the combings from my own hair.

Each spring I hang small bunches of fur/hair on the trees in my garden. There,s a small problem with that though. After watching me from their bedroom window last spring one set of neighbours are convinced I am performing some sort of magic ritual and therefore I must be a witch. (sigh.)

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by snowdrop

Hi kymba.

Dog brushings are ok. Every nest I,ve looked into at the end of the season has a cosy bottom covered with brushings from my dogs. I have even added the combings from my own hair.

Each spring I hang small bunches of fur/hair on the trees in my garden. There,s a small problem with that though. After watching me from their bedroom window last spring one set of neighbours are convinced I am performing some sort of magic ritual and therefore I must be a witch. (sigh.)

Nothing wrong with that Snowdrop!

Yeah, animal hair is great for birds nests. You can even buy untreated sheep wool now at pet shops to hang out for birds. Leave piles of dried grasses and twigs too.

[Ollie]

Hi Kymba, we put the hair from our dogs an Airedale Terrier and Standard Poodle out for the birds. Don't think it matters too much about keeping it dry but we put ours in a peanut feeder to stop it blowing away and the Sparrows etc use it.
Roger

[Garden Carpet]

I too put out the hair from my chihuahua and terrier. I also leave the lint from the tumble dryer for them. I leave the dryer till there is a nice felt mixed with dog hairs. For the birds benefit... of course!!
jaki

[Twizzle]

Hi All
I keep British Birds and found an interesting fact just last summer. My Neighbour has a Horse and she kindly brought some horse hair home for the birds to nest with. I watched and they took it but to my surprise they only took the lighter coloured hair and left the brown ones. I wouldn't mind betting that wouldn't happen in the wild.

Twizzle

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Hi Kymba, we put the hair from our dogs an Airedale Terrier and Standard Poodle out for the birds. Don't think it matters too much about keeping it dry but we put ours in a peanut feeder to stop it blowing away and the Sparrows etc use it.
Roger

That's a brilliant idea Roger putting it in a peanut feeder, thanks for the tip

[badgerwatcher]

I've wondered about the fluff from the tumble dryer, Jaki. It seems a shame to waste it, but will the detergent or the static electricity harm birds? Also, I spray my dog, (not excessively) with flea spray. Most people use some flea treatment. Any danger there? I don't want to kill all my lovely birds.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

I've wondered about the fluff from the tumble dryer, Jaki. It seems a shame to waste it, but will the detergent or the static electricity harm birds? Also, I spray my dog, (not excessively) with flea spray. Most people use some flea treatment. Any danger there? I don't want to kill all my lovely birds.

I'm no expert on this but I would think that as long as you use one of the spot on flea treatments that you just put between a dogs shoulder blades there should be no problem with putting out the hair for the birds. If you spray the dog all over I certainly wouldn't put it out untill at least a couple of weeks after spraying.
Roger

[badgerwatcher]

I do spray her all over, Ollie, and wouldn't put freshly sprayed hair out, but you think after a few weeks it would be safe?