Rolled Oats as nesting material?

[Hezz]

This was a suggestion made by a number of Australian breeders in an article I read where someone was asking what to use/what not to use for budgies' nest boxes. Has anyone heard of them being used or used them themselves?

To me it seemed like a cheap and easy alternative to sourcing appropriate nesting material for breeding birds. I'd love to find out your thoughts.

[mizloco]

If it got wet would they get porridge?

[Deleted]

Yep and they are eatable, but i wouldn't say wood chippings are expensive.

[Hezz]

Apr 1, 2013 7:53:18 GMT @corie said:

Yep and they are eatable, but i wouldn't say wood chippings are expensive.

I had no idea, @corie, hence the question. Rolled oats are super cheap and easily sourced. Where do you get you shavings from? D'you buy them in bulk from produce stores, on-line or what?

Is there a down-side to using oats? My birds don't eat the rolled oats, much as they like the original seed. Too bl#@*y well fed!

[Deleted]

I buy bulk from pet shop, i brought 5kg over a year ago and i'm still not half through it.

I use rolled oats in my softfood mix, downside of using in the nest is they absorb really well and can get quite messy and soggy and you wouldn't want them to eat them then.

[BudgiesBuddy]

I am concerned too about the eating issue as it becomes dirty and soggy.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Apr 2, 2013 4:55:04 GMT @corie said:

I buy bulk from pet shop, i brought 5kg over a year ago and i'm still not half through it.

I use rolled oats in my softfood mix, downside of using in the nest is they absorb really well and can get quite messy and soggy and you wouldn't want them to eat them then.

Mine 5 kg bag has not finished since 18 months or so

[Hezz]

Really!!! I thought you would go through a huge amount of shavings. Okay, forget that one then.

[BudgiesBuddy]

A breeder told me once that he uses rolled oats because hens don't throw them out like they do with wood shavings. But even he was unhappy with eating issue.