Heather in the nests

[DOVEScot]

Has anyone used heather in the nests, I heard it was a good deterent for lice ect :-/ :-/ :-/

[ALF]

Has anyone used heather in the nests, I heard it was a good deterent for lice ect :-/ :-/ :-/

 

NAW ;D ;D ;D

[REDCHEQHEN]

Lavender is a deterrant - as is eucalyptus - haven't heard anything about using heather though. I do have eucalyptus in the garden and a club member was round last year when we were clipping the bush back - and took all the cuttings away - we'll keep the next lot ourselves !!  ;D

[Guest]

Yes spot on, heather is an insecticide.

 

I've got it in my front garden, out of birds reach just now, been meaning to replant some in back garden, but haven't got round to it. Would like it there for birds to bring in themselves, they bring in leylandii clippings just now from back garden hedge, so bringing in a bit of heather shouldn't be a problem for them and might bring a bit of luck too.  ;D

[DOVEScot]

Good thing quite easily dried,  it stays dry as well :-/

[Roland]

;D

Has anyone used heather in the nests, I heard it was a good deterent for lice ect :-/ :-/ :-/

 

Think some Scots smoke it like .... and confused it with Tobacco stalks   ;)

[DOVEScot]

;D

 

Think some Scots smoke it like .... and confused it with Tobacco stalks   ;)

 

Aye at least we are not smoking what you are on ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

If it is good then I am happy becuase we stay next to a hill covered in it ;)

[Guest]

The natural source of pyrethrum the insecticide mostly used in pigeons is the flower of the same name. Daisy-like flower, (purple centre, white petals I think) usually sold in all the newspaper flower catalogues as an annual bedding plant. Had it in my front garden when I lived in Larkhall in early 1970's, but again, never got round to using it in the loft - not that I can remember anyways.

[THE FIFER]

Has anyone used heather in the nests, I heard it was a good deterent for lice ect :-/ :-/ :-/

 

 

no, but i have mint in the garden and cut the old stalks before they start to grow and the stalks are good to put in their nestbowls, it keeps lice etc at bay, or some crushed garlic under the bowl.

 

 

[DOVEScot]

It's amazing the different herbs and plants that can be used, we have a large herb area, I wonder if the curry plant could be usable :-/

[hicky]

some years ago my dad used to swear by pine needles to keep lice away

[Guest]

Our friends 'across the pond' swear by pine needles. Wondered if my trimmings from leylandii would have same effect as them and keep insects at bay? Birds certainly seem to want these trimmings, they bring them in themselves.

[DOVEScot]

Our friends 'across the pond' swear by pine needles. Wondered if my trimmings from leylandii would have same effect as them and keep insects at bay? Birds certainly seem to want these trimmings, they bring them in themselves.

 

When they bring them into the nests themselves are they prone to lice or not would be the answer

Looks like our country is full of alternatives to buying tobacco stalks

Heather, Lanvender, Mint, Pine needles to name a few ;D ;D ;D

[Guest Thunder Birds]

Bracken is good too!

[Tic eye Hen]

Nope but I do use Lavender, mint and eucalyptus.

 

Seems to work!

 

[chickadee]

Nope but I do use Lavender, mint and eucalyptus.

 

Seems to work!

 

I think we'll have to give the lavender a go, the loft must smell lovely when they use that. ;D ;D

[chickadee]

Went into the loft yesterday to see the birds starting to build nests out of tobacco stalks and heather, so we'll see how they get on with the heather, I'll maybe ask next door if we can have some of her lavender also. ;D

[THE FIFER]

u can get small bottles of eucaliptus at the chemist, and put drops under nest bowls, or anywhere in he loft, smells good and good for the birds nostrils,

[chickadee]

u can get small bottles of eucaliptus at the chemist, and put drops under nest bowls, or anywhere in he loft, smells good and good for the birds nostrils,

 

Thanks fifer, I'll give that a try, I'm of to asdas the night so I'll see if the chemist bit in there sell any.

[chickadee]

We have now got some lavender from next door, smells absolutely georgous, have put it in the loft, so we'll see what they choose, we'll certainly have a lot of calm birds about. ;D

[chickadee]

 

 

plus its really cheapabput 98p per bottle i think compared to the proper loft sprays which are nearer a tenner

 

So you've tried this out too and like it. We put lavender stalks in the loft today and what a powerful smell it has, just hope the birds like it. ;D

[chickadee]

 

So you've tried this out too and like it. We put lavender stalks in the loft today and what a powerful smell it has, just hope the birds like it. ;D

 

Yes the birds seem to like it as they have some in their nests allready, and they smell devine. ;D

[Guest neil]

purple heather is the best nesting material i have ever used,just pull off the top of the heather and when in the nest the purple flowers break down to a very dry dust,no mites ticks or anything in all the years i have used it.

I never dry it but i pick it on good dry blowing day and put it in the loft and in no time the birds build huge nests

[chickadee]

purple heather is the best nesting material i have ever used,just pull off the top of the heather and when in the nest the purple flowers break down to a very dry dust,no mites ticks or anything in all the years i have used it.

I never dry it but i pick it on good dry blowing day and put it in the loft and in no time the birds build huge nests

 

Well I hope its dry on sunday cause we're off tae the hills for some more heather. ;D

[sammy]

 

Well I hope its dry on sunday cause we're off tae the hills for some more heather. ;D

 

i thats what yi want us to think ;D ;D ;D