I would like to ask a question, the reply might be very obvious, but I was looking on the wild rossendale site and it was mentioned about putting out nesting materal and one type said cat hair, is this the hair/fur from a domestic cat or something else? Also what type of container do you need to put nesting material in and where in the garden do you place it? Many thanks Eleanor
Yes, cat hair is just that. Our cat, Meg, moults from time to time and we brush her to help stop the fur matting (she's quite old and not quite flexible enough to reach her rear end now!). We just put the brushings out in one of the Dog Rose bushes and birds take it from there. You could probably put it in a wire feeder too.
I live next to an equestrian centre,and when they groom the horses i collect hair and leave it around the feeding stations,after the breeding season i find it in nests and nest boxes.
Thanks Jim for your reply, I have an Abyssinian cat, who has a very thick coat therefore I have an abundance of cat hair, I will start putting his fur out to see if the birds take it, is there a time of year when is best to put it out? Which birds are most likely to take it? Regards, Eleanor.
Hi The short answer in "NOW". The birds are readily taking away the nesting material and should carry on taking it right through to at least July.
I have noted Greenfinch,Great Tit, Blue Tit and Coal Tit all taking the horse,cat and alpaca hair away. I use old peanut feeders and stuff it in nice and compact.
Rather ironic isn't it the birds taking cat hair to use in nests!
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Yeah it is ironic the birds using cat hair, thats why I questioned whether 'cat hair' really was domestic cat fur. I have now groomed one of my cats and the fur is out there ready to be taken, so I will see what happens! Eleanor
They really do use a lot! I have just groomed the cats again to fill the feeder, the blue tits have taken most of it, they have nested again in our garden, its really nice to see them taking it into the nest box.
Sadly I have non of the nestboxes in the garden being used. Whats more frustrating is that I have cameras in 4 of the boxes and nothing for the last two years have used them!!
On the theme of nesting material I have found an old feather pillow has been very popular with the birds to use as well.
-- Edited by Ste Rush on Thursday 30th of April 2009 07:32:34 PM
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