Live chickens and wool batting
I am a beginner / intermediate quilter. I just finished a quilt with wool batting. Wool is expensive and I hate to toss unusable in the trash. I was wondering if chickens would use it in their nests for winter. My friend has a few chickens and thinks if there were any chemical's in the batting since the chickens walk around in chicken poop battings should not hurt them. Would chickens use this to line their nests? This has been a hot topic among us suburbia quilters. Thanks Judy
|
I have chickens, and have never seen them make a nest. If I have straw in the nest box, they'll scratch it to make a dip to set in. They will scratch dirt to make a dip to set in. But they do not bring material into an area to build a nest. Some people I know save up tiny scraps to fill dog beds they make for shelters, perhaps this would be a more appropriate use for it.
|
I'd think it would be good in pincushions and mug rugs.
|
Chickens do nest but they are not gathers like birds that fly. And when I suggested about throwing some of my scraps out for birds I was told it was not a good thing to do by Rangers in Yosemite. Can't remember the exact reason but was told not to do it, so I don't anymore. I agree with Zozee, use it to make other smaller items. A friend of mine took my left over batting for purses.
|
Originally Posted by quiltingcandy
(Post 7348987)
Chickens do nest but they are not gathers like birds that fly. And when I suggested about throwing some of my scraps out for birds I was told it was not a good thing to do by Rangers in Yosemite. Can't remember the exact reason but was told not to do it, so I don't anymore. I agree with Zozee, use it to make other smaller items. A friend of mine took my left over batting for purses.
That's what I understand..... |
Originally Posted by Geri B
(Post 7349015)
Re: thread/fab scraps for birds nests......a no- no because thread could wrap around fledglings legs, throat......and scraps of fabric do not dry as quickly as the dried foliage, grasses, twigs the birds naturally use, hence pneumonia.....
That's what I understand..... |
How large are the wool scraps? I was going to get rid of some batting scraps and then realized I could cut them down into 6.5" squares for a rag quilt cut with the Accuquilt rag quilt die. Wool batting would work well for this purpose.
It's true that fabric scraps (and even cotton batting scraps) are not good for birds. They retain moisture too long compared to twigs and grasses, which means that baby birds develop pneumonia. I don't save really small scraps of batting and fabric anymore. Some people do collect them and, when they have enough, use them to stuff small pet beds. Some animal shelters will take that type of pet bed (call first, though, as shelters vary in what they want). |
Assuming your batting is needled (sort of like felt, but fluffier) you could sew the pieces together. Wool is a great filler for pot holders.
|
Don't know about chickens but it would make fabulous pages in needle books.
|
If you don't want them,offer them for sale on this board. Someone will want them!
|
I sew together the larger pieces to use in baby quilts. Smaller ones I use for FMQ practice sandwiches, zipper pouches and other small items.
|
Until you have almost been hit in the face with a dead bird dangling by a thread or string wrapped hanging on a pine tree limb, wrapped around their little leg...you may not understand the "harm" of donating your scraps to the nest-building cause. No, i have not left scraps out for the birds but, yes, i was almost struck in the face by a that dead bird .
I can only imagine the terror of a long and frightening predicament that poor bird suffered. Leave nature alone! They survive just fine without our percieved good deeds. Sandy |
I actually burn my snips and strings (cotton or wool only) in my wood stove. Leaves no icky residue (like polyester) and burns down to a fine ash. This has been okay'd by my chimney sweep (who actually took some home for his stove!) as being safe to do since I have a very basic stove. Just a thought...
My chickens always roosted in pine shavings. They dig a hole and plunk themselves down into it. They had access to roosting boxes, but preferred the shavings. My gals always laid their eggs in these holes. Never used straw or any other medium but shavings for them. They free ranged during the day and only slept in the chicken house at night. So this was my 2 cents....:) |
Another option is pet beds. I put my smaller scraps of batting in my scrap bag, which I then sew up as a pet bed.
|
It would not be a good idea if there is any chance that it could become damp or wet. You would not want your chickens nesting in something that could hold water the way that wool can.
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:01 PM. |