Roosting box?

[h2olilee]

I have seven related owl finches that I don't want to breed and everyone says I should remove the nest boxes but I am reluctant to do so because all seven sleep in there together every night and have since they were born, and I also do all my cage maintenance after they go to bed in the nest box. It's much easier and disturbs them way less than when they are out and awake. Plus it just seems natural for them since that's what they do in the wild.

So I had an idea today and not sure if anyone has tried it...? What about a "roosting box" like the ones you can put out for the wild birds (see photo below)? Then they can feel safe a secure together inside a box at night but it wouldn't be for nesting. I have a similar box for my Senegal parrot but there is no front or bottom-- he sleeps in it all the time, even for naps during the day. For the finches I would make it their size and just leave off the bottom so they couldn't build a nest in it, but they could roost in it at night.

Crazy idea or just might work? I think I will try it...!

[cindy]

My owls in both flights are nest sleepers....I do not give them nesting material when not breeding. They seem do do fine with the tube nests and ech bird or birds have a particular nest they go to each night.

The box you pictured...not sure the will go into a small hole, I would make it a square opening much like a open faced nest box and remove the bottom...they might nest in it. Instead of dowels you can make a ledge.

[Lisa]

Looks like it's worth a shot... let us know how they like it!

[Sally]

It's worth a try. I had Owl hens in a cage with no nest, but they had a plastic plant that they would all pile into at night. I thought it was cute until I saw a pile of broken eggs underneath the plant. Pulled the plant, and it was full of eggs. It sometimes takes drastic measures to get Owls to stop laying.

[h2olilee]

Cindy, thanks for the tip on the entry hole--I think I will make it exactly the same as the entry of their plastic Abba box that they love--they're used to that shape and size. I think I will still do a branch inside though, they may still be able to build a nest on a ledge which I want to prevent.

Also I think I will make it more long and narrow with one branch so they can all snuggle together at equal position. Should I make the entry hole above the perch level or below? It will need to hang inside the cage since it will have no bottom so poop can fall to the cage floor (I guess eggs may as well). Hopefully she will stop laying though.

[cindy]

I have an idea...how about using pediperches inside. You can drill a small hole through the box and attach them that way...they like to roodst on those as well or you can use a real branch from outside or a mantansa branch (petsmart) and adhere to the the inside but using a screw, washer nut system. Hang it where the old nest use to be.

[nixity]

It's worth a try. I had Owl hens in a cage with no nest, but they had a plastic plant that they would all pile into at night. I thought it was cute until I saw a pile of broken eggs underneath the plant. Pulled the plant, and it was full of eggs. It sometimes takes drastic measures to get Owls to stop laying.

What are some such drastic suggestions? We are having this problem with ours.. even in all female flights they won't stop laying eggs..

[cindy]

I go to a seed and pellet diet, very little eggfood if any for awhile...veggies and romaine...I don't fine many eggs broken or laid (a few from time to time but not a continous issue). Cutting back on protein seems to work.

[nixity]

We're not giving the flights egg food any more than once or twice a week because some of them are molting juveniles.
I guess for many of them it's been about 5 months since they've bred or with the juveniles they're 6-7 months old now.. so maybe this is just a natural cycle of coming back into breeding condition?

[cindy]

Tiffany, I had no young for a year until my one pair in one flight had two...the others have not produced since last year. This is fine by me.

[DanteD716]

I like the roosting box idea. But you should consider removing the bottom

[h2olilee]

Should I make the entry hole above the perch level or below?

To answer my own question, I found this on a wild bird site:

"Roosting boxes’ entrances are located near the bottom of the box because body heat rises up to where the internal perches are located. Cold air stays near the bottom and away from the birds that are trying to keep warm."

[DanteD716]

Should I make the entry hole above the perch level or below?

To answer my own question, I found this on a wild bird site:

"Roosting boxes’ entrances are located near the bottom of the box because body heat rises up to where the internal perches are located. Cold air stays near the bottom and away from the birds that are trying to keep warm."

sounds pretty smart!