FINCHforum

Hey all.

I am just wondering about outside the cage nest boxes. I currently have the wicker nests (http://www.tradepar.co.uk/details/fpi-4 ... -1336.html) but have always been interested in the outside the cage nests. I am here to ask how easy it is to modify your cage for an outside nest, or if you guys buy cages that have those few bars missing for the nest. I am used to a big aviary for breeding, so I am new to the selective breeding with flight cages. With the wicker baskets 1. they take up room in the cage which I never feel is big enough even though its a flight, and 2. I just feel the box nest would make the birds feel more secure in the cage. If you guys modify your cages to hold the outside nests or if you have pics/ a site on how to do it or really just anything I would be interested in hearing about it. Thanks.

Also if you guys do buy your breeding cages any links to sites of where you get yours would help, unless you buy them at shows. Any info helps. Thanks!

With breeding cages it is very simple they have a door on each end, so I open the door and attach the nest box.
In order to attach them to the wall in my aviary, we made a hole in the back and attached hooks to the wall to hang them up.

Yeah I would see how that would work if they were breeding cages... Lol but these are just regular flight cages with no door at either end to open and attach a nest. I was hoping that not everyone bought a breeding cage with the extra doors at the ends. But thanks for your insight Janine.

I have seen people cut enough bars to make a hole big enough for the birds to get into abba nest box mounted on the outside.

The side doors on my breeding cages were too low, so I used a dremel tool w a cut-off disk and cut the vertical bars, leaving an opening just the size for my nest box. I used a piece of folded plastic to cover the top of the cut bars. I will see if I have a pix of it. If not I will try to get a pix tomorrow.

ac12 wrote:The side doors on my breeding cages were too low, so I used a dremel tool w a cut-off disk and cut the vertical bars, leaving an opening just the size for my nest box. I used a piece of folded plastic to cover the top of the cut bars. I will see if I have a pix of it. If not I will try to get a pix tomorrow.

Thanks! Will look forward to a pic!

I have cut bars out and hung nest on the outside. I now order breeder cages from this site. If you order 3 cases or more they will give you the wholesale price and quote you the actual shipping to your door, I am in the panhandle of Florida and find them to be pretty reasonable. The price listed on their site is the retail price and includes shipping. To get wholesale call and talk to Roxy.
http://www.countryfeathers.net/

After browsing the internet for some ideas I stumbled upon this. (http://www.raptorstuff.co.uk/breedingboxplans.htm) Does anyone have anything similar to this, or have used something similar to this? What do you guys think of that type of cage idea? Interested in your opinions. Thanks.

http://www.raptorstuff.co.uk/breedingboxplans.htm

Interesting idea!! I wonder if the birds can hear each other in their "pods" enough to be a distraction? The cage idea seems fine though I would want mine quite a bit bigger. I've seen designs like that often, it's the "nest pods" that I haven't seen before.

If you give it a try let us know how you make out.

Yeah I too have also seen designs like that without the nest pods as well. I'm still searching the web on other designs and still finding different things it is just amazing how many different things people come up with! Does anyone else use home built cages similar to the ones shown? If so can you give any insight on how easy they are to clean? And like I said before would still LOVE to see some of your setups and to hear your opinions! Thanks.

JR,
I have tried most every kind of set up. Homemade from metal storage shelves to fancy european cage banks.
I would highly recomend to build something like this.

It has dividers that can be solid for privacy or cage wire for feeding chicks through the wire. The dividers can be removed for 6 foot flights or into 24" breeding flights...12 of them. Though I usually divide into 2 breeders, 36" as pictured. Dividers are great for catching birds also.
The paper rolls are pulled along the trays...clean up is quick
The slide out grates can be pulled and washed.
As far as nest boxes, I like to hang them on the front for super easy inspection and most times the birds don't even know you are peeking. I put fresh millet on the cage bottom and when they are consuming it I peek, band, etc.
I like removable plastic nest boxes because they get nasty/dirty. I remove nesting material and soak in a bleach water , scrub. rinse and they are as good as new. I have many different plastic designs. I also have wood but never feel like they get clean enough....and if I soak them the wood warps.
The advatage of long, narrow flights is that you can have 4 as pictured, making 24 feet of flight space within a 7 foot wall space
Finches need the horizontal space more than the vertical.














I saw where a fellow had screwed large rubbermade tubs on the wall and added cagefronts and trays...it was an awesone idea...I'll have to try and find those pictures for you.
Anyway this is a purchased bank but you could easily build one out of wood or sheet metal.

WOW!!! Love that setup! Thank you for you input! More things to consider for my future building plan. I think I'm going to try to incorporate as many designs as i can to make something very useful, efficient, bird friendly, and user friendly! When I finally put all the pieces together I will have to show you guys and see what you think! I love the pictures they are helping me immensely! Keep the ideas, and your designs coming guys I really appreciate it!

Don't forget you folks in the states ...this place sells cage fronts over there...the only one I've found.I strongly recommend if you are building your own breeding cages...particularly the all wooden European type.That you buy the fronts first,and then make your cages to fit.Wood can be chopped and changed much easier than wire fronts.These fronts come with nestbox doors...all you have to make is the nest boxes with two hooks on the front to hang on the wire.

http://www.simbadsbirds.com/quiko-cage_ ... cages.html

I've posted pics before of cages available in the UK...here are some again to give folks a clue as to what we use over here.

Here is my setup.
I cut the hole in the left side panel in the upper rear corner, just below the horizontal bar.
The horizontal gray plastic piece is U shaped and covers the ends of the vertical bars.