Posted October 14, 201014 yr Just thought I would share with you the breeding cages I am currently making. A bigger project than I first thought, but I am getting there! Any ideas where I can improve would be great! Here they are First day Day Two What it will look like with fronts on I Still have to add my mesh to the raised platform I have made and get my cleaning trays made up. Then make the nesting boxes! The list goes on.... What is the best size for nesting boxes? Ideas would be a great help! Thanks guys
October 14, 201014 yr they look great but if i could make breeding cages id make mine bigger than most as i feel sad sometimes when i see hen come out and flap wings in one spot to exicize id have made just two cages out of that one of three but you have done a fantastic job size box well im still tossing that one up myself
October 15, 201014 yr Buick_87 - have a look at this thread, I found it useful when designing and building my breeding cabinets and nesting boxes http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=11715 The nesting boxes on page 2 are a bit of overkill if you ask me. I used 9mm plyboard for the base and the sides and 7mm plyboard for the sides and top. I then have a slide-out piece of 19mm pine board which I cut a concave into. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. I bought the timber for my breeding cabinets and nursery last weekend and will start construction this weekend.
October 15, 201014 yr Here are some pictures of the nesting boxes I made As I mentioned, I used 9mm plyboard for the base and the sides and 7mm plyboard for the sides and top. I just used PVA glue and panel pins (small nails) to piece it all together. I cut the hole using a 50mm drill bit, drilled a smaller hole a stuck the dowel through so it rested about half way, so half the dowel is inside the box and half outside. I've used MDF for the sliding back door, but I'm going to replace it with 4mm plyboard as I've since discovered MDF is not safe I then cut a slide-out piece of 19mm pine board which I cut a concave into. I still have to attach a piece of plyboard at the back to provide a safety so the eggs or chicks don't fall out if they're up against the back door. I cut down some old fly screen frames to use as my sliders for the back door. This allowed me to use thinner, lighter wood for the sides, as I didn't have to go to the trouble of routing the sides. Anyway - that's how I did it! Next task is to build my breeding boxes.
October 15, 201014 yr Author They look great doc! After seeing those I will have to change my plans with mine! Haha thanks heaps for that!
October 16, 201014 yr No worries at all Buick_87. I cut my timber for my breeding boxs yesterday and I'm about to go and put them together. Just a couple of questions if you don't mind. How are you attaching your wire fronts to your boxes? (I've got exactly the same cage fronts as you by the way!) I bought some staples and thought I'd try and nail them on. Hopefully this works and I don't have to go back to Bunnings and buy the staple gun! I'm also using some sheet metail to make the trays - what are you using? I'm not actually going to use a 'border' around where the bottom of the cage front is - I'm just going to bend the sheet metal to make a big lip at the front, then do smaller lips at the back and sides. I'm going to set my cage fronts so they sit above the top of the box, so I can then attach my nesting boxes to them (I'm using small hooks screwed into the front of the nesting boxes. How are going to attach yours?
October 17, 201014 yr Author More than happy to help doc! I was going to attach my wire fronts with screws and washers. Will pre-drill the timber edge so it doesnt split when i screw into it. Yeah I am also going to use sheet metal but I am going to get mine made up. I have made a mesh bottom as you already know but I will make the front edge bigger than the rest so it looks neat! Havent really decided how I will attach my nesting boxes yet as I havent made them, but I was thinking of either using the screw and washer method again by screwing them from the inside with a cordless drill.(sorry if that doesnt make sense. Just think that way will be a bit more sturdy! Hope this helps, cant wait to see your breeding cages!!
October 17, 201014 yr Looking good Buick! Where did you get your wire fronts from? We had Lonsdale Bird and Fodder make our trays, they cost about $15 ea.
October 17, 201014 yr Author Thanks sunnie! I bought them off eBay. Lindirect or something like that. I will find out exactly if you like? Could I grab the number of that place. Might get them to make mine. You have helped me numerous times today! Haha
October 17, 201014 yr More than happy to help. That's what it's all about Lonsdale Bird & Fodder Store Location Unit 8, 59 O'Sullivan Beach Rd Lonsdale SA Business Hours Mon-Sat: 9AM - 5PM Sun / Public Holidays: 10AM - 4PM. Phone 08 8326 2960 Fax 08 8326 7443
October 17, 201014 yr Lentradirect is where I got mine - $12.95 each. No postage to pay for me as they're located about 5 mins. walk from my work - very handy! More than happy to help doc! I was going to attach my wire fronts with screws and washers. Will pre-drill the timber edge so it doesnt split when i screw into it. Yeah I am also going to use sheet metal but I am going to get mine made up. I have made a mesh bottom as you already know but I will make the front edge bigger than the rest so it looks neat! Havent really decided how I will attach my nesting boxes yet as I havent made them, but I was thinking of either using the screw and washer method again by screwing them from the inside with a cordless drill.(sorry if that doesnt make sense. Just think that way will be a bit more sturdy! Hope this helps, cant wait to see your breeding cages!! Thanks Buick_87. I ended up attaching a bit of 2 x1 to the side of the boxes and used horseshoe nails and staples to attach them. It worked out quite well, although I only got one finished. The screw and washer idea soungs good though - I might try that on the next boxes, which I will do this week. I moved the completed one into my shed before taking any photos, but I'll put some up when I make my next one.
October 17, 201014 yr Thanks sunnie! I bought them off eBay. Lindirect or something like that. Lentradirect you meant Lentradirect is where I got mine - $12.95 each. No postage to pay for me as they're located about 5 mins. walk from my work - very handy!
October 18, 201014 yr Thanks Dave - the nesting boxes are 250mm high, 220mm deep and 220mm wide. I went off the specs on this thread: What size do you use? Edited October 18, 201014 yr by The Black Doctor
October 19, 201014 yr Not sure what happened with that link Jimmy, but yes you're right, it's Daz's thread. Try this link: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=11715
October 19, 201014 yr Author Just another update on my progress with the breeding cages. I havent been able to get to them every night so the progress has been delayed a little. Today I put the mesh flooring in and attached one of the wire fronts. I still have to get the tin trays made up and make the nesting boxes, but getting there slowly. Here it is. Hope they look okay.
October 19, 201014 yr They look great , well done, when I made my cage fronts I used plastic fly screen clips that you use to keep fly screens on the window of a house , they come off very easy that way for cleaning etc.
October 20, 201014 yr Finally finished my second set of breeding cabinets! I've made it so I have the ability to turn two breeding areas into one nursery/quarantine cage by having a sliding divider And with one of the nest boxes attached Next time I'll be using something a bit less flexible for the base, as the plyboard has a tendency to bend, which will make it more difficult to fit the metal trays. I still have to make the trays and the divider - my task for the weekend. Anyway, it's all a learning experience and I'm sure these will do me for the first few seasons!
October 20, 201014 yr Great job! Nothing beats being able to look at something with pride and say, "I made that!"
November 1, 201014 yr Author I made my nest boxes today so I thought I would share them with you and get your thoughts on them. 200high x 170wide x 150deep I used fly screen framing so I could slide the back of the nest box up for viewing etc I made a sliding floor with sides so the chicks/eggs dont fall out. Its hard to see the concave bottom I made in it. Its deep enough trust me.Haha View with the sliding back off Hope these look okay? Any ideas for improvements would be great! Cheers
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