Saturday fun with my hands

[Dramoth]

Way back when... I used to be quite handy with my mits and because we have the avairy of zebs, I started thinking of making some breeding boxes for either zebs or some other breed (those painted firetails I was talking about in my other thread.

So I got busy today, goit some timber and put in a bit of hard graft and this is the end result... I just have to make the nesting box and put the wire on it, but it's getting there nicely now

I am going to put the nesting box on the side with a slide in panel to block off the hole to the rest of the cage so I can do nest inspections through the lift up hatch on the top of the box.

I am thinking of staining the MDF with a natural timber stain and paint the edge covers with some sort of colour to make it look bright.

[debbie276]

Very nice and very similar to the ones my husband made me years ago.
best of luck with them

[cindy]

Love weekend projects, have fun!!! Post when it is completed!!!

[lovezebs]

Dramoth

Looking good!!!

I'd like to put in an order of 10, to start off with..... Oh shoot, I forgot you're half way across the world....

Good luck, and have fun

[Jen]

Dramoth
Wish you were my neighbor!!! Nice work. You are VERY handy with your mits!!! Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Dramoth]

Damn... Sunday just got blown away thanks to crappy weather

That being said, I got the wire onto the cage and the remaining edging attached. All I have to do now is cut out the wire for the door, make the nest box and it will be ready to start painting.

@lovezebs I have the contact name for a finch (and budgie and canary) breeder in the local area so I might go and see him and see how much of a market there is for making them. If I can get the costs down low enough to make a profit off them, I might see about making a few now and then for some pocket money.

[lovezebs]

Dramoth

Sounds like a good idea to me.
I'm sure there are people out there, who would love to buy them. Just have to figure out the prices of materials, and labour., so that you're actually making a profit.

Good luck

[Derk]

Dramoth

I would be interested in seeing pictures of how you attach the wire. A friend on mine made similar boxes and then stapled on small chicken wire. It definitely works, but I would like something...oh dare I say it...a little more pretty.

[Dramoth]

Derk I am using 6.5mm square mesh with staples holding the mesh to the box with some pine corner molding over the top to hide most of the staples.

It looks pretty good

[Derk]

Dramoth
Thanks for letting me know. I have also thought of using some moulding, but I get all paranoid about bacteria getting trapped in that tiny space. I was hoping there was some simple option I had not thought of. I have seen people drill holes and fit cage fronts (or tight mesh shelving) into cabinets but that means a lot of tiny holes. I wonder if silicone would make a tight seal? Do you worry about these things?

[Dramoth]

Derk

If you are worried about dirt and much building up under the molding, I would suggest using a neutral silicone to seal up the molding around the wire mesh. Having worked as a glazier before, I know that neutral silicone doesnt seem to let bacteria build up.

[Derk]

Dramoth
When you state "neutral silicone" do you mean "neutral cure silicone?" I ask because I know next to nothing about silicone. I do remember I read a thread where someone mentioned aquarium silicone.

[Dramoth]

Derk

It's the same stuff Mary I worked for so long in the industry that even now, 23 years later, I still use the jargon. You are correct, it's neutral cure silicon. They can use the acid based silicon because it sets faster, but for fish tanks and bird cages, neutral cure is the best.

[Derk]

Dramoth
Thank-you for the clarification.

regarding your quote in your signature - My birds helped me survive Post-traumatic Stress and depression. I seem to find a lot of bird owners enjoy them for the stress relief. Glad it helps you too!

[Dramoth]

Got distracted from what I was working on this morning and ended up making the door and opening surround after I managed to get the wire put on yesterday before the rain set in.

All wired up now with the door in place.

And the door... it's a bit wonky, but considering that I did this adhoc, I think that it turned out ok for my first one The next one should work out fine.