Concave??

[Kalps]

Do you have to have this in the nest box as i read somewhere that you can alternatively use about 3 inches of woodchips.

[Amy]

I personally don't have a concave and just a light dusting of wood chippings.

But the hen may prefur to have no wood chippings and take them out. Let her be comfortable, also you could put old feathers in there.

[Bea]

The concave is good as it makes it much easier for the hen to keep all the eggs together.

[Amy]

You could also make a concave out of the woodshavings.

[Bea]

Yeah but many hens rearrange or toss out the wood shavings anyway.

[sweetheart]

after breeding for many years I have never come across a bird that would choose shavings over the concave nesting box
I think thats most budgies really do prefer it
In my first breeding attemp many years ago I found that any boxes with out concaves were rejected even with shavings

at the moment all my breeding pairs have tossed out any shavings and like a bare nesting box
I hope this helps

[ETAHoffman]

I've never used anything but the boxes with concave blocks. Even with them, however, an occasional egg will get rolled out to a corner of the box. The concave bottom really helps keep the eggs close together and, therefore, warm. I normally put a couple of tablespoons of seed in the nest box right from the beginning. That helps to prevent the eggs from rolling.

Another hint..... If possible, try to buy nest boxes with removable concave blocks AND a few extra blocks. That way, you can always have a clean one ready to use should the box become a little too messy. I've never had a hen complain when I've switched babies and/or eggs to a cleaner block.

[Amy]

I use seed to!

[Joey]

The concave bottom helps the mother to keep all eggs in one spot. Wow! many people use wood shavings, I dont because I heard that dust from the wood shavings eritates the birds. Even in the wild the budgies nest in tree trunks and bite out a concave bottom but throw out all of the wood shavings.So I guess you could put wood shavings inside there but you definately need a concave bottom!Why not?

[breeder]

i use 3 inchs of wood shavings the hen trys to put it out i put it back i win when the first egg is layed she stops if the hen gets scared of the nest duing the night the wood shavings help keep a bit of heat in

[Amy]

I think your thinking of sawdust, that irritates hens.

[Kalps]

wow so many replies and with great info.............ok im going to use the concave idea!!! and yeh it does make sense that they would throw out the woodshavings after they bite out a concave at the bottom.:D ;) :cool: :budgie: