Nesting Material Hopper

The birds can use almost anything to make a nest. If they have open loft they will collect twigs, grasses, feathers, anything they can pick up. Most fanciers do not allow open loft for breeders. They are kept in the loft as they are far to valuable to take the chance that they could be lost to a hawk or other predator. Many are birds purchased for the specific purpose of developing a family and would be lost if they were free. I lost two imported birds mostly through my own carelessness. Two hens from the Netherlands because I did not notice they went into the young bird section that is next to the breeders.

Often the nesting materials are simply thrown on the loft or avery floor for the birds to pick up as they want. The only problem with that is that they can collect droppings from other birds in the loft. If one of them is sick it's possible the sickness can be passed on to the youngsters in the nest. Here is a simply way to reduce that possibility. It's what I do and it seems to work reasonable well. It can be filled with hay or whatever you choose. The birds will pull what they want from between the wires and leave a little on the floor that can be returned to he hopper.

Made from a piece of the 12 inch wire shelving cut to whatever length will suit where you want to place the hopper and a couple pieces of 1 X 4 pine or any piece of wood you have available. If you have bare studs in the loft the 1 X 4 isn't required. Just fasten the shelving on the studs close to the loft floor where the birds can reach it. The wire shelving can be easily cut with a bolt cutter and fastened in place with the plastic fasteners available from the shelving manufacture.

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A very nice copy made by a new flyer in Venezuela.