OSRS Crushed Birds Nest GE Guide Profit and Strategies
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), crushed bird’s nests are a valuable item traded on the Grand Exchange (GE), primarily used in Herblore to craft Saradomin brews. This guide dives into everything you need to know about crushed bird’s nests, from their market dynamics to profit-making strategies, acquisition methods, and practical tips for players looking to capitalize on this niche. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or a skiller seeking passive income, understanding the GE trends and mechanics behind crushed bird’s nests can boost your gold stack.
Crushed bird’s nests are created by using a pestle and mortar on an empty bird’s nest, a process that yields no Herblore experience but produces a tradeable item essential for high-level potions. Their demand stems from players training Herblore and engaging in combat, as Saradomin brews are a staple for PvM and PvP activities.
What Are Crushed Bird’s Nests?
Crushed nests are the processed form of empty bird’s nests, obtained from activities like Woodcutting, bird house trapping, or trading mole parts with Wyson the gardener. They’re unnotable but tradeable, with a GE buy limit of 10,000 per four hours, making them a viable item for bulk trading.
Why Are They Valuable?
The value of crushed nests lies in their role in crafting Saradomin brews, which require 81 Herblore and a toadflax potion (unf). Since crushing nests offers no experience, many players skip the tedious grinding process and buy directly from the GE, creating a consistent demand. This opens opportunities for profit, especially for those willing to process nests themselves.
Grand Exchange Market Trends for Crushed Bird’s Nests
The GE is the heartbeat of OSRS trading, and crushed bird’s nests are no exception. Their price fluctuates based on supply, demand, and game updates, so staying informed is key to maximizing profits.
Price History and Volatility
Historically, crushed nests have seen prices ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 GP, with occasional spikes during Herblore-focused updates or events. For instance, an update on September 20, 2018, increased their High Alchemy value to 120 GP, slightly stabilizing their floor price. Checking live prices on tools like GE Tracker is crucial, as cached prices can be outdated.
Factors Influencing Prices
- Herblore Training: High-level players training Herblore in bulk drive demand for Saradomin brews.
- Boss Releases: New PvM content increases brew consumption, indirectly boosting nest prices.
- Supply Changes: Updates to bird house trapping or nest drop rates can flood or dry up the market.
| Factor | Impact on Price |
|---|---|
| Herblore Skilling | Increases demand |
| New PvM Content | Increases demand |
| Bird House Nerfs | Decreases supply, raises price |
How to Profit from Crushed Bird’s Nests
Crushing bird’s nests is a low-effort, high-reward money-making method for players with some starting capital. Here’s how to turn nests into gold.
Manual Crushing for Maximum Profit
Manually crushing nests with a pestle and mortar can yield up to 5,000 nests per hour, netting profits of 500,000 to 1,000,000 GP depending on GE margins. To optimize:
- Inventory Setup: Place the pestle and mortar next to the last nest in your inventory to reduce mouse movement.
- Test the Market: Crush one nest first to ensure the margin between empty and crushed nests is profitable.
- Monitor Prices: Use GE Tracker to avoid buying overpriced empty nests.
Idle Crushing for Passive Income
For a more relaxed approach, let the game auto-crush nests every three ticks, processing around 2,000 nests per hour. This method yields lower profits (200,000–400,000 GP/hour) but requires minimal attention, perfect for AFK players.
Using Wesley in Nardah
Wesley in Nardah crushes noted or unnoted nests for 50 coins each, ideal for players with large stacks but no time to grind. However, the fee cuts into profits, so calculate margins carefully. For example, at a 200 GP profit per nest, crushing 1,000 nests manually saves 50,000 GP compared to using Wesley.
Acquiring Empty Bird’s Nests Efficiently
Before you can crush nests, you need a steady supply. Here are the best ways to gather empty bird’s nests in OSRS.
Bird House Trapping
Bird house trapping on Fossil Island is the most consistent method. With high Hunter levels and mahogany birdhouses, you can collect 8–10 nests per run, with a 65/100 chance of getting empty nests per roll. A strung rabbit foot slightly reduces empty nest drops, so skip it if targeting crushed nests.
Woodcutting
Chopping trees grants a 1/256 chance per log to receive a bird’s nest, with a Woodcutting cape boosting this by 10%. Focus on high-yield trees like magic or yew for efficiency. However, this method is slower than bird houses unless you’re already training Woodcutting.
Trading with Wyson
Wyson the gardener in Falador Park exchanges mole claws and skins for nest boxes, which often contain empty nests. This is ideal for players with excess mole parts from Giant Mole kills, but it requires inventory space or banking to unbox.
Tips and Tricks for Success
To make the most of crushed bird’s nests, combine strategy with efficiency. Here are some practical tips to elevate your game.
Optimizing Your Workflow
Streamline crushing by setting up a dedicated bank tab for nests and pestles. Use a mouse with programmable buttons to automate clicks if allowed by game rules. For bird house runs, batch them with other Fossil Island tasks like herb farming to save time.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Don’t overbuy empty nests without checking GE margins, as prices can crash during high-supply periods. Avoid crushing during major updates that might nerf nest drops, like the 2018 bird house balancing changes that frustrated some players. Always keep an eye on Reddit or OSRS forums for community sentiment on market trends.
Scaling Up Profits
Once comfortable, scale up by investing in larger batches (e.g., 10,000 nests) to hit the GE buy limit. Diversify by flipping other Herblore secondaries like toadflax to hedge against nest price drops. For Ironmen, focus on bird house trapping to self-supply nests without relying on the GE.
Crushed bird’s nests offer a unique blend of accessibility and profitability in OSRS. Whether you’re grinding nests manually, AFKing for passive income, or leveraging Wesley’s services, this method suits various playstyles. Stay vigilant with GE prices, optimize your nest collection, and you’ll turn this humble item into a goldmine. Happy crushing!