mould in breeding box

Carol · Snr Member Joined: Mar 18, 2006 Posts: 41

Hi Guys
Im a bit worried, in checking on my babies I found that the breeding box is very wet, to a point the lid had mold on it. As I have lost a bird to the mould broblem I dont want any of my babies to be affected. Can someone please tell me why this is happening and what I can do to avoid any problems. Or is this just normal, also can I clean the box or should I just leave them alone.
Waiting a reply.
Thanks Carol

Peter · Foundation Member Joined: Oct 15, 2004 Posts: 599

Hi Carol,

It is normal that the inside of the nestbox becomes wet. Especially in colder seasons. It increases when the chicks become bigger. Their breath causes condensate. I resolve this problem partially by adding wood shavings from time to time.
When the chicks are a 3 weeks old, you can easily remove the chicks to clean up the nestbox.

Karen · Snr Member Joined: Nov 12, 2005 Posts: 221

Carol, what I find helps is having a spare nest box & depending on the amount of mess the babies make I change the fresh nest box with the soiled one every few day having wood shavings on the bottom helps absorb poop & moisture.
I then thoroughly scrub & sterilise the used nest box & by the time it's had a good chance to dry it's ready to use for the next change.

kakasa · Regular Member Joined: Jun 23, 2005 Posts: 24

Hi Carol,
it is quite normal for the inside of the nest box to be damp and some mould will occur in the cooler weather. Considering the amount of bathing Kakariki's do and then hop straight into their nest either onto their eggs or young I sometimes wonder any eggs hatch or young survive; however considering their native habitat they are to some extent just replicating it. As for changing nest boxes my own practice is to just clean them out and replace with new shavings etc. when the young have fledged.

Carol · Snr Member Joined: Mar 18, 2006 Posts: 41

Thanks to you all, That makes me feel alot better. One more thing I had a check of the babies today I found that three of them are about two weeks and the two I could see dont even have their eyes open. As I want to hand rear them can I remove the bigger ones and leave the smaller one with mum or do I need to take them all out at the one time.
thanks Carol

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

When we clean out nesting boxes, I dismantle (panels are cxrewed togeather...water blast, then dry with a large LPG torch, enough to burn the suface of the wood.
Then dampened with a spray of 50/50 vinegar and water.
All nesting material is also dampened with this mix.
When cleaning out flights, these also get sprayed with 50/50 vinegar and water...even as the birds fly I get them to fly thru the mist...
We have never had mould in nesting boxes...or anywhere else in flights.
Dont have mite problems and checking stools for worms every 3 months also shows -ve.