I was speaking to a joiner friend yesterday evening and said that I'd ordered some of the woodcrete bird boxes and he came up with the idea of using off cuts of faux wooden planks that buildings are sometimes made of these days. He clad a porch in grey a couple of years ago. The bits were binned but could have been made into bird boxes. Just an idea if anyone knows a joiner.
I am guessing anyone trying to make some woodcrete boxes at home would not want to make more than a very few as they last for such a long time. I do not think anyone is planning to go into mass production to sell. There are plenty of cardboard boxes around with the increase in online shopping. Even the boxes pet food pouches come in could be an option as they are pretty strong and about the right size. A bit of ingenuity with compost sack plastic to line the boxes before pouring in the wet mix could be an option. I am trying to think outside the box here. Literally. And I know not everyone has pets to buy food for. They might have a friend who has a pet who would be willing to give them an empty box or two or three.
I was speaking to a joiner friend yesterday evening and said that I'd ordered some of the woodcrete bird boxes and he came up with the idea of using off cuts of faux wooden planks that buildings are sometimes made of these days. He clad a porch in grey a couple of years ago. The bits were binned but could have been made into bird boxes. Just an idea if anyone knows a joiner.
Cedral board and Hardiplank are the two main makers of that cement board, it's a good idea! They're basically 'woodcrete', by another name. Finding some offcuts would be difficult though.
I was trying to think of ways to make a box that did not involve sawing, screwing etc. Sticky tape and mud pies are more my kind of thing. I have been drawing some sketches of a possible former made from pet food boxes which I reckon could work. My problem was getting hold of sawdust but then thought, "the pet shop sells it" as bedding for small animals. Problem solved. 1 bag cement,3 bags sawdust, some water, an old compost bag, cardboard boxes, sticky parcel tape, scissors and tape measure if you want to be pernickity about accuracy, and Bob's your uncle. The roof of the nesting box will be separate to lift off for internal access, the whole thing would have a flat back with a hanging hole for a screw or nail. A small bottle/toilet roll tube etc. for the bird doorway. The instructions I saw said the woodcrete mix should be fairly stiff so easy to mould rather than pour. Birds will not mind if there are a few ventilation holes in the creation or the final finish is a bit rough. That would make it easier for them to hold onto whilst inspecting the new des. res. After all, they build themselves nests with no roof and sit in them in the pouring rain. Possibly a short length of an empty biro or similar under the front door as a perch. I will think about central heating and furniture later! I used to be an avid watcher of Blue Peter.
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Just an idea if anyone knows a joiner.
There are plenty of cardboard boxes around with the increase in online shopping. Even the boxes pet food pouches come in could be an option as they are pretty strong and about the right size. A bit of ingenuity with compost sack plastic to line the boxes before pouring in the wet mix could be an option.
I am trying to think outside the box here. Literally.
And I know not everyone has pets to buy food for. They might have a friend who has a pet who would be willing to give them an empty box or two or three.
Finding some offcuts would be difficult though.
I used to be an avid watcher of Blue Peter.
@Joyce Goldenlily sorted! 👍
😉
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.