FINCHforum

I usually use coco fiber as nesting material for my zebra finches. Sometimes I give them dried grass/hay. A pet shop here recommended using timothy hay as nesting material. Also the timothy hay they are trying to sell to me is for rabbit/rodent feed. They say some breeders use them. Is it safe?

I sometime use my rabbits hay in the bottom of the cage and they usually likes to play around in it. My doves always used to pic hay directly from my rabbits hay rack and use in there nests.
Only thing I could think of is that timothy hay are rather stiff and long and may be a bit difficult for them to use.

kyro I use rabbit food , I am not sure if it is ''toxic" for them , I doubt , its been a few months since I've been using it and nothing bad has happend, even had a few laughs watching societies try and build a nest with it .

They recommend TH, because they sell it.

I've used TH. The problem is the kinds of stuff in the TH. The leaves work just fine, but some of the stiff pieces are just too stiff to use, and have to be either shortened, so it can go into the nest, or just not used. I end up not using half the bag.

Another option is Burmuda Grass.

I would look thru the stuff the store has for long thin grasses/stuff that the birds can easily move, to build their nest.

I also use coconut fiber. But the stuff that I got is not the sorted straight ones, it is all mixed up, so kinda difficult to use. I just grab a clump, stick it in the nest then try to spread it out to form a bowl. The straight ones would be easier for the birds to use to make their own nest.

My current nest is with sisal. This is because sisal is light in color, thus reflecting rather than absorbing light. This makes it easier to see what is going on in the nest via my nestcam. The coconut fiber was too dark.

Yeah, I wouldn't trust using Timothy hay. The ends of the hay could snap and leave sharp edges that could injure the birds.

For a bird not picky like societys and zebra finches I like to use paper towels cut into thin sheets. many other nesting material can injure birds. I have had coconut fiber wrap around feet etc. When I breed my society finches (just to get rid of their sexual frustration) I use paper towels cut into smaller pieces.

kyro

I used timothy hay with my very first clutch of societies, and it was ok, but I haven't used it since. I really like using coconut fiber.

kyro

Timothy hay is perfectly fine for birdie babies. All these babies and more have survived and are now adults or juvies.

I like the smell of Timothy hay. My birds like to play with it. They eat it. They soak it in their water and they like it for nesting. I also tear up Kleenex for them.

I've tried strips of newspaper and paper towel, but they seem too light. And unlike grass, it is hard to lay them in the nest so it stays in place.

I've used Tim hay when bred my gouldians. I put a little in the best to get them interested /started. Then they go to the pile and build the rest of the nest with it. Haven't had a problem yet. But you do what u think is best for your birds.

I use this - I had some left over from a wreath I made. I cut off the serged edges and pull off the short strands - I cut the long strands. Seems to work great - I haven't had any issues.
We have Timothy hay for our rats, next breeding season I might throw some soft pieces in for them as well.

Whoops - hopefully this link works.