Natural Dried Grasses for Waxbills?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:11 pm

I was at WalMart tonight and almost bought some dried natural grasses to put in the Waxbills cages (Strawberries and Fires). I didn't end up buying any.

Would it be a good idea to add some or just a waste of $? We have no grasses around at this time of year - it's all under more than 2 feet of snow.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:34 pm

I think it would be alright if isn't dyed.They might like it

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:40 pm

Definitely no colouring - I made sure of that. Maybe I'll get some this weekend.

franny · Post by **franny** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:53 pm

Liz, I'm sure they will like it. I bought a "bale" of meadow grasses at Petsmart. It was in the rabbit/guinea pig section, next to the bales of small animal bedding that I use for the cat's litter.

This meadow grass hay smells nice, though not as strong as the timothy or alfalfa, but it's a nice mix of smaller grasses without so many heavy stalks. I thought the waxbills would like it and I was right. They LOVE it. They've used it as well as the coco fibres for nest "improvements". And it also has some grass heads with seeds still on, and they seem to enjoy foraging through it.

Once they started sitting on the eggs I stopped putting it on the bottom though, since I was afraid they would cover the eggs. But most of the time I pull a few handfuls and scatter around the bottom (over top of the paper). I was going to put it in a holder, but they do so enjoy snooping around on the bottom... so I remove the stuff that's pooped on and replace the rest every second or third day, if there's not too much old eggfood, etc. scattered on the bottom.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:56 am

Thanks for the tip on the hay at PetSmart - must be cheaper than ordering it from the USA too.

This grass is not really hay nor for use as nesting material but rather as a dried "plant" (no soil - not even in a pot of any kind). I'll attach it to the side of the cage so they can perch in it or hide in it. I would attach it so it is upright of course. Will get a pic this weekend.

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:59 pm

dried grasses are really good for building a nest , its a pitty you can't get them outside at your place , even now in winter here i can find them and getting me a handfull they love it , specially the not complete dry ones .

ray

franny · Post by **franny** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:29 pm

L in Ontario wrote:...This grass is not really hay nor for use as nesting material but rather as a dried "plant" (no soil - not even in a pot of any kind). I'll attach it to the side of the cage so they can perch in it or hide in it. I would attach it so it is upright of course. Will get a pic this weekend.

You might want to check out Michaels (Arts & Crafts store). I got some plastic grasses that look very real, and comes on a stalk with several blades/stalks spreading out from it. Very real looking, and easy to clean. I have it attached to the back of my cage, but I tied it up close to the wire so they woudn't perch in it!

Thought they'd poop on it less. But I kind of like the idea of having it set up so they can maybe perch in it instead. When they finish with this clutch, I'm going to try to re-arrange to give them more hiding places and more privacy. Guess I'm a bit anal about them pooping on the plants... but I really should just "get over it", and give them more plants!