budgerigarsherewecome 0 Posted August 4, 2011 Member ID: 4,634 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 14 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 54 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 470 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/09/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: September 23, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 is nesting material essential in a nestbox? Link to comment
Maddy 0 Posted August 4, 2011 Member ID: 5,779 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 41 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 497 Content Per Day: 0.09 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 3,455 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/12/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2019 Birthday: 07/08/1989 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Its a good idea. It keeps the eggs from rolling around a lot, and also keeps the chicks warmer when they hatch. Depending on what you use it can help absorb some of the chicks waste so that less of it gets stuck on them. Some hens like to chuck every last bit out of the nest box before they lay, and you usually just let them go. But when the chicks hatch its a good idea to put some in there, as by then the hen will be too occupied to throw it out anymore. The most popular type is wood shavings, but I hear of others using rolled oats, like the type you'd find in the grocery store. Link to comment
maesie 0 Posted August 4, 2011 Member ID: 3,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 120 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,386 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 27,580 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 18/11/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 27, 2013 Birthday: 20/04/1979 Share Posted August 4, 2011 When I bred, I used to use wood shavings. They used to throw most of them out, but as I cleaned as needed, I'd replace them. As Maddy said, once the chicks arrive they usually keep most of them in. Also... chicks poo A LOT!!!!! Once chicks arrive I usually put newspaper on the bottom of the nest box (I cut a whole lot of pieces to fit), so put a piece on the bottom and then add wood shavings. I found it much easier to clean then trying to scrape poo off the bottom. The other thing is though... some hens like it some don't, so maybe try and see how you go. Having some nesting material when the chicks hatch can also help avoid splayed legs too, which is a big positive! Link to comment
splat 0 Posted August 4, 2011 Member ID: 3,340 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 202 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,891 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 27,770 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 17/04/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 19, 2014 Birthday: 13/05/1958 Share Posted August 4, 2011 i use pine wood shavings from the pet store, I know some breeders use lucerne chaff, which I would too but the bags are to big for me to store. I have used it when some friends gave me some last year and I found it much better the wood shavings and plus on it is that the hen can nibble (eat) it. Link to comment
~ Charly ~ 0 Posted September 20, 2011 Member ID: 6,913 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 11 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 44 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 350 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 20/09/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 10, 2012 Birthday: 24/05/2000 Share Posted September 20, 2011 No, it is not essential. However, if you do wish to use nesting materials, use something edible as they will chew on the nest materials. I would say something like uncooked rolled oats, flakey bran or wood dust/shavings. When I used to breed, I did not provide the hen with any nesting materials. They do seem to chew the inside of the breeding box up though, so they make their own wood dust really. Link to comment
Dave_McMinn 0 Posted September 20, 2011 Member ID: 3,092 Group: Global Moderators Followers: 0 Topic Count: 103 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,831 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 21,560 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 13/01/07 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2018 Birthday: 23/05/1975 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I am yet to see any budgie chew through enough wood to make "wood dust" adequate enough to equal shavings or another type of product in the nestbox. Link to comment
Daz 0 Posted September 20, 2011 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Wood Shavings from a pet store or left from my wood turning. Link to comment
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