As summer approaches, those readers who have dogs may be experiencing flying fur as their pups shed in preparation of hotter days to come. My Labrador Golden Retriever cross is shedding with every step she takes. The solution is to take her outside daily for a good brushing.
Quite by accident, I discovered a natural reuse opportunity for my dog’s fur. As I was brushing her out recently, the breeze picked up errant furs and spread them around the driveway. Within minutes, the house sparrows fluttered down and started collecting the dog hair for their nests.
We had more fur than the birds needed. So what to do with the excess? I put it in my compost pile. That’s right, your dog’s fur is an organic material perfectly acceptable for composting. Don’t take my word for it – even the American Kennel Club endorses composting fur!
We told our dogs that their fur was making nice soft nests for the squirrels and bunnies :)
ReplyDeleteI brush my cat everyday and she has the softest, fluffiest fur I have ever felt. I always release it out the window (she’s an indoor only cat) to either compost or for the birds to use. It never seems to go to waste cause I never find it when I am outside doing yard work, etc.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately not all pet fur is safe for birds to use in their nests! If a pet's fur has been treated with flea and tick preventative medicine, the fur brushed out can be harmful to birds, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology! https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/whats-good-nesting-material-to-offer-birds/
ReplyDeleteThen compost the fur, the compost pile can handle it that is its job
ReplyDelete