Bbrbck t1_iue44gf wrote on October 30, 2022 at 5:14 PM

Can you give them lint from your clothes dryer? I read such a tip back in the 80s, and have been doing it ever since. But is this really a good thing? Is it bad for the birds? Or other creatures?

CrimsonPromise t1_iue6ziq wrote on October 30, 2022 at 5:33 PM

Dryer lint isn't good for them. They're soaked with whatever chemicals you wash your clothes with like detergent and softener. There's also a risk of baby birds getting entangled with the fibers, or the adults birds getting their feet caught.

Also unlike fur if your clothes have synthetic fabrics like nylon, it wouldn't break down over time, so you're really just introducing fine strands of plastic into nature.

That_Dirty_Quagmire t1_iuekwkr wrote on October 30, 2022 at 7:04 PM

Dryer lint is also EXTREMELY flammable. Makes great kindling for a campfire.