Cleaning nestboxes

[Murray]

Yep, I use nest felts and put a handful of straw in for them. I change the nest bowls for clean ones when I put the rings on them and any time the nests get dirty. Some parents really pump the feed into them, and what goes in has got to come out

[Buster121]

So, if a pair has gone to a lot of trouble to make a big nest, would you still clean out the bowl?
Also with a loose nest a lot of straw and stuff can spill out into the box - do you clear that away?

I would yes and put clean straw in

[Diamond Dave]

Thanks gents - as my ol mum used to say cleanliness is next to godliness but dont think she ever did go to church!

[CHARLTON34]

I clean the boxes out every day & top-up with nesting material, i also change the nest felt between rounds.

[Diamond Dave]

Cheers Dave.

[Murray]

It's a topic close to my heart. I was under pressure to get going this morning but now we are home and I can sit down for a moment,
In my opinion the most important thing you can do to raise good youngsters is keep the nest boxes clean.
If you are fortunate enough to have single pens 1 metre x1metre with an aviary on each one, well that's great.
I don't.
So i replace the soiled paper in the nest boxes every day and put clean nest bowls under the babies every time they need it. If there are a pair of birds super feeding and the babies are super shitting, I'll change the bowl every day for a few days.
One thing I can promise you. If you keep the nest box clean, the pigeons WILL be keener on looking after the babies.

[Diamond Dave]

Thanks Murray, all invaluable advice from someone who thought you should never disturb the nest.
I do have just 1 more important question - would you physically take a parent bird off the nest to clean the boxes/bowls, even if they hadnt been sitting for very long?

[worm]

Forgot to say I have grilles in the boxes and I use felts in the bowls then let them gather barley straw on top.
( some do, some dont)
Cheers Neil and worm.

we're same should of said once shit around bowl it's cleaned every day

[Murray]

Thanks Murray, all invaluable advice from someone who thought you should never disturb the nest.
I do have just 1 more important question - would you physically take a parent bird off the nest to clean the boxes/bowls, even if they hadnt been sitting for very long?

That depends on how quiet your stock pigeons are.
Many of mine I can lift them out of the nest box and put them on my shoulder like a parrot while I clean out the box
Some will leave me with blood on my hands if I try to touch the nest.
The thing is you are the manager, and you will clean out a messy nest box or replace a bowl if you need to. I have one hen that I have to take outside and lock it out for a minute to change the paper in it's box. It gets very angry.
So, yes.

[Diamond Dave]

Blimey Murray, just wondering if you have a wooden leg and an eye patch....