Nesting

[Harvey11]

I think my Ruddies are nesting above the breeding box they have in the cabinet.They are using dryed grass and paper ect.
Does this mean they are breeding or just roosting in there during the cold nights.????

Harv

[elferoz777]

by the quality of that nest I would guess roosting...then again stranger places have been used as nesting cites...

[Jayburd]

How did they get a big clump of grass complete with peg up there?

[Brett]

Harv put that up there i think,the ruddies are moving grasses ect up to the top.

Bretto

[Jayburd]

I had a suspicion perhaps put in some brush and swamp grass if you suspect they have the feeling.

[Brett]

Will do Jay,thanks mate.

Bretto

[djb78]

Its hard to say what they are doing as mine have built a nest but no eggs. Placing in extra fine grasses and feathers will allow them to finish the nest properly and if only a roosting nest at least they will stay warm through the cold winter nights. If you have a feeling that this may be a nest for a clutch I would start to add a few mealworms in as this will get them used to where the food is which they will feed young

[Tiaris]

Generally they don't build camping nests. The nest box is too big for them. They are showing this by nesting in the much smaller gap above it.

[spoton]

My non-nesting ruddies camp in spare cane nest tubes all of the time.

My nesting ones have preferred to nest in the slightly rectangular cane nest tubes that they have literally stuffed to overflow (almost as bad as a zebra!!!). They had nested in one of the cane tubes and raised a couple of youngsters but this year a couple of pairs of gouldians have decided that they will nest in the tubes instead!!!

I heard babies squawking in the ruddies nest today but as they don't like anyone nosing around their nest I have no idea how many!!! Have to play the waiting game with fingers crossed.