Plastic bucket nestbox.

This is a very low cost design for a nestbox being based on a low cost one gallon type plastic bucket. These usually come in various colours and have a clip on handle (which is easy to unclip).
The principle is to have the open end of the bucket attached to an aviary wall and then a hole is cut in the bottom of the bucket to form the entrance for the birds.

Construction is quite straightforward and should not take too long to complete.
An offset hole is made in the bottom of the bucket, a hot soldering iron is ideal for this as a saw will tend to crack the plastic.
A second smaller hole is made below the larger entrance hole so that a short wood perch can be attached. This perch can also protrude inside the bucket to provide an inside perch so that birds entering do not drop directly into the nest area. A more sophisticed shelf can be added to the inside, again to provide a rest place for birds entering/leaving.
This will need to be carefully cut from wood shelving or a piece of plywood to fit inside the bucket, matching the shape of the tapering sides of the bucket. Two screws through each side of the bucket into the wood shelf will be sufficient to hold it in place.

The handle is removed (by unclipping it) and three screws are used to screw through the rim of the bucket to attach it to a wood area of the aviary wall. Straw, sawdust and other nesting materials can be placed in the bucket either before or after it is attached to the aviary.
(Save the handle as it makes an interesting curved perch or can make a swing or suspended toy) 


                    top
       #
       # +    <--- screw through rim of bucket
       # ------------
       #             ------------
       #                         -----------+
       #                                    |
aviary #                                    |
 wall  #      Plastic bucket                  
       #                                      entrance hole
       #                                    |
       #                                    |
       #                       xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx   perch
       #                                    |
       #                                    |
       #                                    |
       #                                    |
       #       nesting material             |
       #oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo  |
       #0000000000000000000000000-----------+
       #             ------------
       # ------------
       # +    <---- screw through rim of bucket
       #
       #

                          bottom


Nestbox image 2

















































Page owner: <dgd@kcbbs.gen.nz>
Last modified: 12 July 2000