Hi Everyone,

 

Just I was planning to make a nest box for pet type budgies, very much similar to that of Daz. Already done some self home work and need some additional advice/inputs on the same.

 

So far below are the things which I have planned:

 

1) Going to use 6mm external plywood.

2) Nest box entrance hole of diameter 2 inches and entrance perch diameter of 12mm.

3) Flat opening on the top side and also slide opening in the back side.

 

Still I need to decide on the following points, for which I need all of your suggestions/advices/inputs:

 

1) Planning for a little smaller dimension 225mm (h) x 185mm (w) x 187mm (d), 1 inche smaller than Daz dimension, which I got it from one of his old threads on this forum. Daz dimension - 250mm (High) x 210mm (wide) x 215mm (deep). But personally I am not sure whether my planned size is okay for pet budgies or I need to go for exact Daz dimension itself.

2) Length of the entrance hole perch (outside).

3) Whether any perch needs to be made available inside the nestbox at the entrance hole.

4) Read in few articles on the net, that placing a flat step type thing inside the nest box entrance is really a good thing to have, but personally not sure.

5) What should be the base of the nest box inside.

6) Best recommended place for the entrance hole, whether left corner or right corner or center of the nest box.

 

Appreciate your valuable suggestions/inputs as always and any other important points which I might have missed or not aware and needs to be considered while making a nest box.

 

Thanks,

Karthik

welcome back, I don't have the answers to your questions but did you look in the FAQ section under breeding I believe these is an exact topic about this.

1) Planning for a little smaller dimension 225mm (h) x 185mm (w) x 187mm (d), 1 inche smaller than Daz dimension, which I got it from one of his old threads on this forum. Daz dimension - 250mm (High) x 210mm (wide) x 215mm (deep). But personally I am not sure whether my planned size is okay for pet budgies or I need to go for exact Daz dimension itself.

 

- Daz's are BIG I am getting some made up in the same style but smaller not sure of the exact dimension so others can help you out.

 

2) Length of the entrance hole perch (outside).

 

- I have three inche posts on some and on others T bars that stick out about a inch. I have one hen who chews her post off so I have a branch running from the corner of the box to the side of the cage so really up to you as long as one Budgie can perch on it that should be long enough.

 

3) Whether any perch needs to be made available inside the nestbox at the entrance hole.

 

- I don't have any inside the nestbox, some people have steps but i don't have them either

 

4) Read in few articles on the net, that placing a flat step type thing inside the nest box entrance is really a good thing to have, but personally not sure.

 

- I have heard they are good and others say they are bad, I don't have them and untill I see a reason to put them in i will continue to not use them. I think they are suppose to stop the mothers from stepping on the chicks and eggs while getting in and out.

 

5) What should be the base of the nest box inside.

 

- Easy to clean material with a concave

 

6) Best recommended place for the entrance hole, whether left corner or right corner or center of the nest box.

 

- I don't think it makes a difference I have some that are on the left and some in the centre.

 

Please remember I am only new at this myself so most is personal opinions. I am sure other breeders will also give you their advice.

welcome back, I don't have the answers to your questions but did you look in the FAQ section under breeding I believe these is an exact topic about this.

Elly, thanks for welcoming , was quite held up with work. Yes before posting this post I have checked our FAQ section, visited local pet shops and also little searching on the net. Basically I was confused by seeing various dimesions, position of the hole etc....so only I wanted to double make sure that I am in the right path and also thought to take all of experts/experienced members inputs/suggestions.

 

1) Planning for a little smaller dimension 225mm (h) x 185mm (w) x 187mm (d), 1 inche smaller than Daz dimension, which I got it from one of his old threads on this forum. Daz dimension - 250mm (High) x 210mm (wide) x 215mm (deep). But personally I am not sure whether my planned size is okay for pet budgies or I need to go for exact Daz dimension itself.

 

- Daz's are BIG I am getting some made up in the same style but smaller not sure of the exact dimension so others can help you out.

Angelic Vampyre, thanks for sharing your opinions and if possible could you please get me the exact dimension of your nest boxes what you are making.

 

5) What should be the base of the nest box inside.

 

- Easy to clean material with a concave

If I am correct the concave should be made on the separate wood and placed inside the nest box right?

Have left a message with the guy that is making mine and when he gets back to me will let you know.

 

The concave does not need to be on seperate wood/removal pannel however it does make cleaning easier. Most of my current boxes do not have them but my new ones will. Really it is up to you but I would if you can.

Have left a message with the guy that is making mine and when he gets back to me will let you know.

 

The concave does not need to be on seperate wood/removal pannel however it does make cleaning easier. Most of my current boxes do not have them but my new ones will. Really it is up to you but I would if you can.

Thanks and if concave is not on the seperate wood, so do you mean to say it should be attached to base of the nest box itself. If so what is the thickness of plywood/wood you are using for base of your new nest boxes and for rest of the sides.

The base of mine are about 2 inches thick. Still waiting to hear what the sizes are. If you go to your local pet store and get them to give you the measurements of the ones they normally have in they are what I call side opening ones. Then that is about the size of mine.

Whole problem is that here in my current work place we hardly have very few pet shops and in my home town one or two very small pet shops. All these pet shops have majority of dog related products.

 

Generally here we use terracotta pots for breeding, since most of the year the weather in my place is little hot. So here it is very difficult to find a good readymade nest boxes available in pet shops, what they have is of very small size say around 5 to 6 inches (h) x 4 to 5 inches (w) x 4 to 5 inches (d). Also I was not liking the model what they have. Since all of the members are breeding with nest boxes, so just curious to make one with the help of a carpenter by providing a design and to test breed with this nest box.

 

Okay so planning to go for size 7 inches (wide) x 7 inches (deep) x 8 inches (high) same model as Daz using 6mm thick external ply wood. What is your opinion on the planned nest box size.

In the bottom of my nestboxes that Daz made, I use a one inch layer of kitty litter and a large handful of pine wood shavings on top of that. I dont use concaves. The depth of the boxes means that only one hen in thirty tries to remove the shavings.

That is interesting Kaz. I can see how hard it would be for a hen to kick the shavings out and Also would help with Babies being kicked / Falling out of the nest boxes too

My designs are to try to keep the chicks in the nest as long as possible.

 

Plans for the smaller nest box.

Plans for the one I use.

 

 

I also use a 40mm pine base with a large concave to keep the eggs warm and together under the hen.

Thanks for the designs Daz - they are brilliant :budgiedance:

Thanks Kaz and Daz.

 

In the bottom of my nestboxes that Daz made, I use a one inch layer of kitty litter and a large handful of pine wood shavings on top of that. I dont use concaves. The depth of the boxes means that only one hen in thirty tries to remove the shavings.

Could you please tell what is kitty litter, checked in google images and got few pictures of cakes.

 

 

My designs are to try to keep the chicks in the nest as long as possible.

 

Plans for the smaller nest box.

Plans for the one I use.

 

 

I also use a 40mm pine base with a large concave to keep the eggs warm and together under the hen.

Thanks for the nest box plans and interested to know few things on the plan what you use:

 

1) Looks like there is around 6mm gap at the joining location of top and back side, is this for air circulation or I got it completely wrong.

 

2) Is there any specific tool available for making sliding grooves/channels of 3mm deep on both sides or we have do it manually.

 

Thanks,

Karthik

Kitty litter is a substance used in litter trays for cats to toilet themselves. It is usually claybased. You can buy it from petshops and most supermarkets.

Thanks for the nest box plans and interested to know few things on the plan what you use:

 

1) Looks like there is around 6mm gap at the joining location of top and back side, is this for air circulation or I got it completely wrong.

 

2) Is there any specific tool available for making sliding grooves/channels of 3mm deep on both sides or we have do it manually.

 

Thanks,

Karthik

 

 

1) yes but my current back go to the top and I have two 12mm holes drilled for ventilation.

 

2) I use a router to do the grooves.

Kitty litter is a substance used in litter trays for cats to toilet themselves. It is usually claybased. You can buy it from petshops and most supermarkets.

Thanks Kaz, but the problem is that I don't find all these things so easily here in my place. Most of the time I need to look out for some alternative and also which should be of naturally available.

 

Here we don't get pine wood shavings and in my place we can very easily get teak/some forest wood shavings or saw dust. Also some time back I saw one of the local breeder was making use of coconut fibre for breeding African Lovebirds. But personally not sure whether we can use any of these as an alternative to pine wood shavings.

 

Thanks for the nest box plans and interested to know few things on the plan what you use:

 

1) Looks like there is around 6mm gap at the joining location of top and back side, is this for air circulation or I got it completely wrong.

 

2) Is there any specific tool available for making sliding grooves/channels of 3mm deep on both sides or we have do it manually.

 

Thanks,

Karthik

 

 

1) yes but my current back go to the top and I have two 12mm holes drilled for ventilation.

 

2) I use a router to do the grooves.

 

Thanks Daz, so one 12mm hole on each side or two 12mm holes on the back sliding access door.

 

I have showed few pictures of your nest box which I got it from your old threads to a carpenter and he was telling that it is not possible to make 3mm grooves in 6mm thick plywood and for this minimum we need 12mm thick plywood.

 

When it is possible for you, could please show me few pictures of your new nest box model with 12mm holes and also router tool.

So Karth .... How did your nestbox go - Can we see how it turned out ......

Hope you had plenty of babies

Neat still I haven't made one nest box and once done surely will try to show some pictures to you all. Here in my place I am finding little difficulty in finding the right skilled person with all the necessary tools. Soon will try my best to show you all few pictures, please kindly bear with me.

It may be easier for you to- instead of making sliding doors, use a hinged lid on top.

Simply make a box with no top, cut a top to fit and attach with 2 small hinges. I have made similar boxes for my ferrets (but alot bigger) and cant see why it wont work for a budgie nestbox as well, especially if its a tad harder where you are to get the grooves done right

 

(sorry I am bringing up an older topic.)

Thanks Pie for sharing this idea.

Bob Smith uses a hinged back and a slide out internal box with concave...

 

Sorry Karthik, been a way a while.. i'll see if I can get some updated photos of the nest boxes

Thanks Daz and no need to be sorry at all.

 

Wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous Merry Christmas and New Year