HOW TO MAKE A NEST MATERIAL HOLDER

Misso · Post by **Misso** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:23 am

With the Breeding Season soon to start for my Gouldians, Im wanting to make something to hold the Nesting Material. Pictured is Swamp Grass which i use for the Nesting Material. i lay a basic foundation and let the pair finish off their nest. last breeding season i had the extra material stuffed in a log, but it did'nt work well. I have read other breeders use Wire Baskets.

Anyone have pictures?, because i would like to make some wire baskets or similar to put in the aviary which allows the birds to pick out the grasses to build their nests.

Jarryd

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:57 am

I use these on the OUTSIDE of the flights, the birds pull the grass etc through the mesh...stops them pulling all out in one go...or soiling the contents.

Misso · Post by **Misso** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:11 am

poohbear wrote:I use these on the OUTSIDE of the flights, the birds pull the grass etc through the mesh...stops them pulling all out in one go...or soiling the contents.

Is that made for Birds or did you make it? or was it used for something else?

Did the birds just cling on to the wire to grab at it? should i mabey ad a perch at the front??

thanks for your imput

Jarryd

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:34 am

I use a lot of jute nesting material and I put into a bag that garlic comes in and then hang in cage they pull it right Through the holes in the bag.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:54 pm

The wire holder is made for nesting material or greenfood....I put it next to a perch.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:19 pm

I love the look of that swamp grass--it looks very fine. I haven't seen it around here, but will do a search for it. Bet my finches would prefer that to the much coarser coastal hay I have been offering.

Misso · Post by **Misso** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:44 pm

Sally wrote:I love the look of that swamp grass--it looks very fine. I haven't seen it around here, but will do a search for it. Bet my finches would prefer that to the much coarser coastal hay I have been offering.

Yeh i like it. i think there are a couple of different names for this Grass, depending on where you live.

williep · Post by **williep** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:37 pm

Misso you can easily make an holder similar to poohbear with the mesh we use to build aviaries. I use a similar construction for my aviary which I hang in my aviary. My birds have tried nesting in it once but gave up when the other birds raided all the nesting material.

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:11 am

I went to petsmart and picked up a rabbit treat holder. Its used for holding carrots and apples and stuff. It seemed so perfect for the finches and their nesting material. I paid 4.95 for this. For me, this was a perfect product for my needs and the price was exceptional for the hard metal wire construction. Well worth 5 bux. It even has a little chain to hang it from the top of the cage!!

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:11 am

poohbear wrote:I use these on the OUTSIDE of the flights, the birds pull the grass etc through the mesh...stops them pulling all out in one go...or soiling the contents.

What a great idea.

Where did you find that Poohbear? I've been putting the coconut fiber on the top of my cage so it wouldn't get soiled like you suggest. My finches fly up and pull it down to fill their nests with the eaten Millet and everything else I offer them. They have 4 different bamboo nests available. All of them are full.. hehe.. That is going to change in the future.

I just installed a full spectrum light above the cage (on a timer). One of the lamps i'm going to put in my aviary when I finally build it.

I think that made a difference, since they are settling in. Harriet has been keeping close to the nest. Bosley is a stud and keeps singing to her. hehe..

probably too much info.. sorry..

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:40 am

Get a piece of chicken wire and make it into a cylinder.mine are aprox 40cm long and 15 to 20 wide.Some people have them a metre long and half a metre wide.The bigger ones are used as nest sites aswell.
I also use a mixture of swamp grass as you have.

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:20 pm

gomer wrote:Get a piece of chicken wire and make it into a cylinder.mine are aprox 40cm long and 15 to 20 wide.Some people have them a metre long and half a metre wide.The bigger ones are used as nest sites aswell.
I also use a mixture of swamp grass as you have.

where do you place it? on the side? on top? I see from Poohbears pic that it is on the side. I want to place something like that in my aviary and I'm still designing it.

I am using coconut fibre as many have suggested and I place it on top. They have no problems pulling it down from the ceiling of the cage and stuffing it everywhere. I am curious about the swamp grass though. Is that a better nesting material? Native to Australia only?

Thanks for all the replies.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:30 am

If you want it to be a holder only (Small) the top of mine are about half way up the avairy.If you want it to be used as a nest site aswell(a large one) put it at the birds prefered nesting height in the wild.This type i beleive would only be suitable in a avairy situation not cage.