If I put lint from my dryer outside, will the birds find it and use it for their nests?

Question

If I put lint from my dryer outside, will the birds find it and use it for their nests?

Good answers... so most of you are saying yes. But then I'm thinking about the rain thing and that I don't want it to make the nests soggy. Hmmm....

Answer 1

Yes they will. My daughter does it.

Answer 2

My mother always does this, but only in the spring when the birds are making their nests. The lint "disappears" but I can't say for sure if the birds took it for their nests!

Here is an article that tells how you can help a bird build its nest:
Note: It says NOT to give them dryer lint because it falls apart in the rain...

Birds build nests from early spring through the summer in which to lay their eggs. Finding materials to construct nest can be a time-consuming process -- you can help.

Collect construction material that birds use to build nests, such as:

Cotton Batting
Cut Dried Grass
Hair (Pet or Human)
Fabric Strips
Feathers
Short Sticks
String
Yarn
Horse Mane & Tail Combings

A few hints to help make life easier for the nesting birds. The string, yarn and fabric strips need to be less than 6" in total length -- for ease of weaving. Do not cut dryer fabric softener sheets into strips because the softener may be harmful. Avoid offering lint from the dryer, while soft to the touch it may fall apart in the rain. Never use fishing line.

Place the construction materials in an suet basket or plastic mesh bag so they are easily accessible but will not blow away. Hang your nesting materials on a fence or on a tree branch, near a bird house.

Maintain a muddy spot in your yard or garden for barn swallows. They will use the mud to construct their nests not far away.

Place a feeder and birdbath close to an active bird house -- it's like a corner store for the family. Nesting parents alway need a quality food source and this will help assure a strong start.

Answer 3

Most definately they like it because it is lite and easy to carry plus it is easly woven between twigs and whatever it may choose to make its nest. I must commend you on doing this a lot of people around my area have quite being nice to are winged friends do to the bird flu epidemic. Thanks to our waste they still can find food, in the winter land fills are an excellent source of food for birds and other animals. You keep putting that lint out you may attract an unusual bird or 2. I have been visited by a bald eagle who wanted to cool of in my daughters little pool. Frankly i was frightend by the size or what it might do...lol But yes leave your lint out and teaer up strips of old cloth they will use that too. Also leave them some peanuts out still in the shell put out a bunch see what happens!

Answer 4

make a wig lol or do no longer use a dryer, then you definitely does no longer have lint :P my dad and mom all started limiting the dryer use to easily getting out the wrinkles in cloths after drying on a cloths line and that they saved $one hundred greenbacks a month on the electrical powered energy bill! with that funds saved, you may pass on a $1200 procuring spree on the top of the 365 days...hmmm, maybe you ought to use all of that each and every boxing day :P

Answer 5

i would avoid putting it out for use by any animal. when i was a kid we often found dead mice who had been chewing on the lint, using it to build nests. our assumption was that the leftover chemicals from washing did them in. you CAN make fire starters from it, or add some wallpaper paste and use it as a modeling compound for kids.

i have had success putting out hair clippings for birds to use in nest building, though. this year i even found a nest made using a bunch of horse hair from a mane or tail. since i've never seen a horse around here, i'd love to know where it came from!

Answer 6

Among other things, i have seen birds, especially swallows, use such things as lint, dried leaves, or even twine that has been left behind. Im no bird watcher, but I have been around them doing such things. My family farms in the mississippi delta and some of our shops have ample nests

Answer 7

Those who know these things seem to be saying "No". Some might not find it appealing, some might. I always put out pieces of red yarn so I can see it easily from the house. A couple of times, I have even looked at nests in my yard and it's pretty cool to see one of my red yarn pieces woven into them.

Answer 8

If you are just wanting to do something with the lint mix it with glue and cover a jar or something...it drys hard.

Answer 9

that is a good qustion.they also use other Items to fill up the outer part of the nest with items such as yarn, string, plastic's, so there is more hard matter to fill it in.

Answer 10

I would think they would and their nests get wet when built so if they mixed itwith branches and grass I think they would do that when they make the nest.

Answer 11

Yes, they love lint. They actually come up to our dryer vent outside and pick it out of the little holding basket.

@ Julie, I really like your answer and your tips. Thanks! :-)