Double D
101 posts
Jan 10, 2006
12:51 PM
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Will tobacco stems in the nest bowl rid adult birds who sit the nest of lice or will they only cause the lice to move up higher on the birds or will they make any difference at all?
I read that they do but I don't know how much. Thanks in advance for your responses.
Darin
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
327 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:00 PM
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Yes, the tobacco stems seem to rid the birds of most every feather pest. But they need to be fresh. Fresh pine needles will sometimes do the same thing if they are still rich with pine oil. I only use dried tobacco stems and really like them. So do the birds..lol.
Brian.
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Double D
104 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:08 PM
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Brian - I got some coming from Jedd's, should they work?
Darin
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ROLLERMAN
22 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:10 PM
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yes they do help cut down on the lice. i have been useing them for a long time. you will find that they are very stiff so birds make a very lose nest with them. what i do is i soak the stems for a day. and lay a bunch in clay nest bowls and stack them one on top of each other. that way they form into great ready nest . then i just toss some straw or pine needles on the floor and they finish nest. when the young are about 2 weeks old i put a new bowl under them and that bowl stays in till next round is 2 weeks old. i also hang pest strips in loft.
al
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fhtfire
283 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:12 PM
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D,
I use the real long pine needles. They seem to keep the bugs away and mites away.
rock and ROLL
Paul Fullerton
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Double D
105 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:15 PM
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How common is it for the birds to use their own larger size feathers to line the nest with?
Darin
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
330 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:15 PM
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Al, you change your nest bowls every two weeks?
I leave mine in all breeding season. I use the paper ones and cut two quarter sized holes in the side. This allows air to move around under the bowl, thus drying it out. I can even use some of the paper bowls the following year because they stay so dry and the baby crap outside of the bowl.
On the tobacco stems Darin, I use the ones from Jedds too. I break them in half and throw a bunch on the floor. You definitely should break them in half though.
Oh, and when they use their own flights and tailfeathers for nesting material, I classify that as loft maintenence..stuff I don't have to clean up...lol.
Brian.
Last Edited by MCCORMICKLOFTS on Jan 10, 2006 1:17 PM
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Double D
106 posts
Jan 10, 2006
1:17 PM
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Awesome! Thanks for the tips Brian. I appreciate the responses guys!
Darin
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motherlodelofts
535 posts
Jan 10, 2006
10:48 PM
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The good thing about tobaco stems is if you run out of chew you just rob a pinch out of a nest bowl,I prefere no youngster in the nest at the time though.
I use long pine needles , they are kind of bitter and poke the inside of your lip, but they make decent tooth picks and good nest material.
Scott
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Ballrollers
218 posts
Jan 11, 2006
2:46 PM
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You sure you're not related to Clay Hoyle?! LOL! Cliff
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J_Star
189 posts
Jan 17, 2006
5:01 PM
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Did not know that our rollers enjoy smoking tobaco. I will keep an eye on them next time. Shame on them...
Jay
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