Aussie Finch Forum

Hey all,
Just been assessing my bird shed, and I have discovered I'm on my last bag of swamp grass.
I have found a seller of it in Melbourne, but as a rule I'd prefer not to be having to pay $12 postage for swamp grass every few months in season.

Since the members of the local finch club inform me there are no local patches of it, I was wondering about alternative nesting materials. I remember reading in an old just finches about a guy in SA who's BR doule bars build nests almost entirely from shredded newspaper, for example. I was wondering what else people have used?

The hessian bags that we buy finch mix in, when pulled into threads seem quite good, I tossed a little in there this morning, and they've completely draped the feeding cage in it!! I'm not sure why though.... it looks a little like a white Ghillie Suit (http://www.ghilliesuitshop.com/ultralig ... oncho.html for those not familiar)

The red faces and plum heads in particular have been playing around with it. It also has the added advantage of easy-location nests!

Anyone got any ideas?
J

Any pliable grasses work Hesion is good for cup nesters but wont hold form for dome nesters.

Normal meadow hay,felt and old carpet in bottom of nestboxes,Wood shavings,Turkey and Ostrich Feathers,

Those ghillie ponchos look like something a Doomsday Prepper would buy!

Jayburd thats not a nylon hession bag your talking about is it? If it is I would remove it as it tangles finches legs in it..

Regarding alternative material...couch grass works well...

Thanks guys
Hmmm, not sure, I'll take it out just in case. Shame though, looked as if they liked it. It's the stuff the 20kg finch seed bags are made of? Thanks vettepilot

Jayburd here is a link to real Hession (Jute) http://www.furfeathersandfuzz.com.au/in ... ductId=317

Ah - definitely not that then.

I've got a few feed bags full of something a lot like swamp grass, J., you're welcome to have one.
When I go to Wagga to work it collects on the fences with the wind, and you can scoop it up by the armful.
I have an abundance of pasture hay, too, if you want some of that.