Do Birds Use Dog Hair for Nesting Material?
“Can I put out dog hair or other pet hair for birds to use in their nests?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Gary Smith of Seattle, Washington.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “Many kinds of birds, including chickadees and chipping sparrows, regularly use animal hair in the soft lining of their nests. However, most experts today advise against putting out pet hair for birds because there are so many variables. Residue from pet shampoo or flea treatments might be harmful for other creatures, and some breeds of dogs and cats have such long, strong hairs that small birds could become tangled in the strands. That doesn’t mean it’s necessary to clean up any hair a dog sheds in the yard, but we don’t recommend putting out bunches of it specifically for the birds.”
Will Dog Hair Keep Birds Warm in Winter?
“After we brush our dog, we set the clean fur out for birds. Does the insulation help them in winter?” asks reader Jane Carter of Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Though it’s not generally advised to put out clumps of pet hair for birds, Kenn and Kimberly say, “Many birds use animal hair as nest lining material if it’s available; for example, in the past, chipping sparrows were famous for using horsehair in their nests. Most birds only use their nests for raising young, and they don’t sleep in those nests at other times of the year. However, bluebirds roost in boxes during the winter, and a well-insulated nest left over from summer might help them on the coldest nights.”…