Nesting Materials - Pine needles & shavings

[Lee]

I put in my 24 gourds a layer of pine needles and then a layer of pine shavings on top of the pine needles. It just seems the softer pine shavings may help the nest building. Does anyone have any experience with pine shavings or cedar shavings with pine needles? Tks for sharing your experience....

[Dave Duit]

Hi Lee,
A combination is not necessary, but I don't think there is harm in using both at the same time. I have heard that the eggs may settle down under the wood shavings, running a risk. Whereas, soft white pine needles do in fact work as an excellent pre-nest material because it is superior in wicking away moisture and is flexible enough for the parents to manipulate the needles to form their own nest style. I'm a white pine needle user, so I may be a little biased.

[1 Ron Vasser]

Wood shavings get wet and sour. I use to put pine needles in their nest but after a few years of watching them remove them and add their own I just put them around my plants now and they built. They seem to prefer to build their own.

[flexauger]

I was just pondering using pine/cedar shavings this year, i noticed tractor supply had compressed bundles of those and some other artificial materials to use in hamster/rabbit cages. Sounds like it mite not be the best idea though. i have used chopped up sage grass and actually used lawn clippings sometimes, never really thought about pine needles but they sound more sanitary than anything else, guess i will trek up the hill to some big pines and rake up a bucket or two and give em a go this year. thanks all for the tip

[Dave Duit]

Overall, soft white pine needles are the best nest material you can provide.

[flyin-lowe]

As others have said, any wood shavings will retain moisture. Pine straw won't hold moisture and drains very well. Not saying the martins won't use them but I have heard of babies getting chilled because of shavings that have gotten wet and don't dry out.