Nesting Box

**lilcatdog** · 11-23-2006, 08:36 AM

Morning! Just a quick question!
The nesting box is very foul smelling,I read a post i think about cleaning the box out,but do i wait till the baby is ready to leave the box,or can i clean it out then put the baby back in ? What do i clean a wooden nesting box with? Problem I wount be able to put baby back in the box will be wet.Need to do something and fast! Can i maybe take baby out and keep her warm then very quickly vaccum it out>?

**Finch** · 11-23-2006, 08:43 AM

Are there any wood shavings in there or any kind of bedding? If so, take the baby out, take all the bedding out, and replace it with new bedding then put it all back in place.

**NavetG8r** · 11-23-2006, 09:18 AM

Yeah, if you just replace the bedding it should be enough until the babies are done in there. If you have a wire brush you can knock off any poop sticking to the sides. Then you can give it a good washing/disinfecting after the babies are all done using it. You don't want the babies out of the nestbox for very long until they're ready to come out on their own or you pull them for handfeeding.

I usually just pick out the poops and soiled shavings each day. Sounds gross but it helps keep the smell down and decreases their chances of being exposed to nasty bacteria.

**lilcatdog** · 11-23-2006, 02:12 PM

Yeah that sounds like the best thing to do but like i said in one of my post mom throws it out so the box has been empty since birth will it throw them all off if i put some in now?

**libertygirl2007** · 11-23-2006, 02:28 PM

just try putting some in there, I have oatmeal in with mine. some people say it is a bad idea but it has never hurt mine and my one cockatiel just eats it till her heart is content and it absorbs very well. I also feel it is softer. ( no pun intended)

**NavetG8r** · 11-23-2006, 02:52 PM

You can try adding some nesting material but to avoid what happened to Joey, try adding a little at a time each day and put it around the edges of the box, not near the eggs. Maybe mom will drag it around the eggs herself once she realizes it's no threat to her or her eggs. I've never heard of using oatmeal! Wow that's a neat idea. So long as she doesn't eat it after it's been pooped on by the babies.