Tobacco stems, Anyone ever do this?
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threelilkids
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
- Location: Denham Springs, La
- Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched
I have finch and to keep mites and ants or bugs out we put tobacco stems in the nest under the nesting. I was thinking about doing this in the martin's nest. Has anyone heard of this? or tried this in the Martin nest? It sure works in the finch and other nest boxes. I also have trouble with ants in the Bluebirds nest, this should work on them too. I have been using 7 dust, but want to change to the tobacco stems. What do ya'll think? Mary
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Tim Mangan-Kansas
- Posts: 1728
- Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:25 am
- Location: Kansas, Pittsburg
- Martin Colony History: 2016 - 22 Pair
Years ago, I read an article regarding the use of tobacco leaves to rid nests of mites. As I recall, it was a certain kind of tobacco leaf. I ordered some and placed them in my gourds under the pine needles. It did NOT work and never used them again.
Licensed Bander
2015 - 14 Pair - fledged 68
2014 - Moved to Kansas - 7 Pair, 35 eggs, 28 fledged in first year
2010 Thru 2013 - Moved-Tried to start new colony
2009 - 46 pair, 217 eggs, 178 fledged
2015 - 14 Pair - fledged 68
2014 - Moved to Kansas - 7 Pair, 35 eggs, 28 fledged in first year
2010 Thru 2013 - Moved-Tried to start new colony
2009 - 46 pair, 217 eggs, 178 fledged
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eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
NEVER heard of this
Johnny
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threelilkids
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
- Location: Denham Springs, La
- Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched
Not the leaf but the stem. Works great for small birds and parrots. I may put some in the Bluebirds housing this year as I have a bad mite and ant problem with them and no problem in the martins, but I do put 7 dust in the houses of the Martins. Mary
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William Bagwell
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 1:23 pm
- Location: North Central Georgia USA
- Martin Colony History: Long interested in Purple Martins, pole up 2017 retired 2024 and trying harder this year!
Have no idea if tobacco works to control mites, or if it is wise to use if it does work... For what its worth, did observe a crow make repeated trips to a large outdoor ashtray and fly off with a cigarette butt. Assume it wanted them for its nest.
In other news got my massive wooden pole up yesterday! Going to add cross arms today and get my six plastic gourds up. They have starling resistant entrances so should be safe to put up early. Still have a lot of work on my natural gourds before they are ready to hang.
In other news got my massive wooden pole up yesterday! Going to add cross arms today and get my six plastic gourds up. They have starling resistant entrances so should be safe to put up early. Still have a lot of work on my natural gourds before they are ready to hang.
Pole up 2017, retired (and trying harder!) 2024, Purple Martins since ???
I have tried it. The martins did not like it and would toss it out. I had to put it under the nest trays to keep them from tossing it. It seemed to work for a while, but it does rain a lot here and there were mites later in the season.
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Interesting question. You would think that a naturally occuring plant would be an organic solution as a miticide/insecticide. I googled tobacco and bird toxicity and a number of articles indicated various toxic effects attributed to tobacco when used around birds. Diarrhea, respiratory issues, eye irritation, cardiac irregularities and others were identified.Some toxic effects were attributed to the nicotine itself and others to various fungi common to tobacco. It is probably not a good idea considering that nestlings would be exposed 24/7 for up to 30 days after hatching.
If this was more commonly known, it might cause a few more to give up the habit.
Ed
If this was more commonly known, it might cause a few more to give up the habit.
Ed