|
|
Building a bird box
Heated bird house
Measurements for the free bird house, bird box, nesting box, roosting box and heated bird house plan will be to build a home for a medium sized bird and other small pets.
The measurements can be adjusted to suit the size of your pet.
Heating a birds house and how to safely warm a bird box requires a heater that is specifically made to warm a birds home.
Materials and heaters required for the bird home plan will be described on this web page for building and heating a bird house.
All measurements for the bird house plan are in the Metric system and the measurements bracketed are for the Imperial system.
roost box heater
A small roost box heater that is suitable for spot heating a birds nesting box or nest.
The tiny heater will keep a birds warm at an economical operating cost.
Small pet homes are easy to warm for with the miniature pet heater.
Mounting the heater directly onto the pets cage wall or floor will warm the immediate area and transfer the warmth into the pets home.
The compact roosting box heater can be used free standing or fixed permanently to the pets home.
A transformer or battery (not supplied) may be used to operate the miniature heater for small pets at a very low cost. The compact heater currently costs no more than a few cents per week to operate.
The roost box heater heater is weather proof, safe to operate near water or in a humid environment and will not rust.
price $17
The plans for the bird box can be modified to suit most pets.
Descriptions of the plan are for a birds home but the pets enclosure plan is suitable for building a birds roosting box, bird house or a birds nesting box and require only slight alterations to the the bird house plan.
Your pet will also enjoy the comforts of a heated home.
Fitting a heater for birds can be done while building the bird box.
Building the bird box
The bird box plan commences by measuring and cutting out the bird box base. This is followed by the roof and sides of the bird box.
The last panel sections that are cut are the front and rear panels of the bird box plan.
Cutting of the bird house panels are carried out in this order to reduce the amount of wastage from the plywood sheets used to build the bird box plan.
Bird box heater
The bird box heater pictured is an ideal heater for a bird box, roosting box or bird house.
Heating the floor or wall of the pets home is the safest and most economical method of warming your pet.
A nesting box with a substrate that the bird has used to line the box can be warmed through the bottom of the floor similar to under floor heating in house flooring.
Warming birds and small pets will help to reduce the harsh conditions of winter. The bird warmers are ideal for keeping your pets warm and comfortable.
The pet heater for heating a bird house is weather proof and will operate in any position.
A low voltage transformer or battery (not included) may be used to operate the heater and ensures that the pet heater will warm a bird house reliably and economically for long periods of time.
Mounting the bird box heater is a simple job requiring no special skills or tools.
The roosting box heater is a contact heater. It is placed upon a suitable surface and will warm the interior floor of the pets home through heat transfer.
The price of the heater for birds is only $48
Assembly of the bird house
Assembling of the bird house will start with the bird house base and then both sides of the bird house.
The internal framing of the bird house plans front, back and roof will be the last panels that are assembled for the bird house.
Modifications to the bird house plan can be made at any time.
A heater for birds is ideal for the bird house plan. There are suitable pet heaters for birds found Here
It may be easier for the pet owner to build the bird house plan by fixing the framing to the panels before assembling the pets home if alterations to the building plan requires strong panels that do not flex during construction.
All joints of the bird house will be glued, nailed or screwed.
This will result in a durable pets home that will withstand constant relocation.
A bird house heater will complete the pets home.
Painting the roosting box
Exposed edges of the roosting box will require dressing.
Counter sinking nail and screw holes. Topping and filling any holes and cracks on the roosting box structure will ensure a structure that has a professional finish.
Sanding and painting of the free roosting box plan will complete the building of the pets home.
Building a nesting box
The tools required to build the nesting box plan are a measuring tape, claw hammer and pliers.
Claw hammers are standard hammers but with a slotted opening on one end. They are used to remove nails that bend accidentally when being hammered into the nesting box plywood or framing.
To cut the wood used in the construction of the bird house a hand saw can be used.
If a jig saw or rip saw is available the building of the nesting box will be easier.
Marking the outlines of the roosting box panels can be done by using a carpenters pencil or a pencil that has a hard lead center.
A square will be required to mark lines that are at right angles (90 degrees).
Small squares will need lines extended with a straight edge.
Roosting box heater can be included at any stage of building the bird house plan.
A nail punch that will be used to recess the nail heads below the surface of the roosting box panels.
Small pets are often boisterous so any sharp protrusion and edges must be covered or removed to prevent injuring your pet.
When sanding the wood in preparation for painting the nail heads will not tear the sand paper or be exposed to spoil the finish of the roosting box.
The type of wood framing that is selected for the roosting box will decide what form of screw driver is needed.
If a hard wood is used for the internal framing of the pets home a star head screw driver and star head screws that are zinc plated or galvanized are a better choice.
Star screw heads allow more pressure to be applied when inserting the screws into the bird house frame.
If the free roosting box plans is for a pets home located in a humid area then all fittings should be galvanized to protect them against corrosion.
nesting box for birds
Wood rasps can be used to bring the nesting box panels to a flush fit and a sanding block to produce a good finish.
A power sander would be suitable for the dressing up of the birds home panels. Start the sanding of the nesting box with a course grade sand paper and finish of with a medium or fine grade sandpaper.
Nesting box heaters are weather proof and easy to fit.
To paint the nesting box to a good quality finish a paint brush and paint roller plus tray will be required.
The paint for the nesting box and any pets home should be an exterior grade of paint that is lead free.
Building a bird box
The bird box will be built to house a medium sized bird with a height of 250 millimeters (10 inches).
Building the bird box will begin with the bird box base and then the sides, back, front and finally the roof.
The length of the bird box base will be 300 millimeters (12 inches).
The width of the bird box base will be 300 millimeters (12 inches).
Internal framing is placed on top of the bird box base and flush with the edges.
Screw, glue and nail the internal framing of the pets home from the underside of the bird box base and into the framing.
The internal framing of the bird box is fixed from the bottom of the free bird box plan's base and into the timber framing to reduce splitting of the plywood lamination's.
The sides of the bird box are positioned flush with the bottom of the bird box base.
A bird home heater can be fitted at this stage of the bird homes construction.
Bird house sides
The height of the free bird house plans side will be 350 millimeters (14 inches) at the back and 400 millimeters (16 inches) at the front.
The length of the bird house side will be 300 millimeters (12 inches)
A compact bird house is better for natural climate control. A bird house or small pets house will remain warmer in winter by trapping the pets body heat. Pet heaters fitted to the pets home will operate efficiently in a pets home that is the correct size.
When transporting birds in a bird cage to relocate to their new bird house the transporting cage can be fitted with a bird cage heater to relax the birds while in transit.
The sides of the bird house plan are placed with the shortest end of the sides positioned towards the back of the bird house.
This will allow water to run off the roof towards the back of the bird house during rain. All fasteners should be driven into the bird house framing from the outside of the panels and forced below the surface of the plywood side.
Plans for a roosting box
The second side panel of the roosting box plan will have the same dimensions as the first roosting box side panel.
If the sides of the birds roosting box panels have a textured surface then ensure that the identical surfaces on the bird box sides are facing outwards or into the interior of the roosting box plan.
Build a bird box
The height of the bird box back will be 350 millimeters (14 inches) plus the thickness of the floor panel
The width of the bird box back will be 300 millimeters (12 inches) plus twice the thickness of a side panel.
If a bird builds a nest in its new home a bird nest heater can be used to help in the incubation of the birds eggs.
Stability to the bird box plan will eventuate once the back panel of the bird box is fixed to the bird box base and sides.
Keep all the edges of the bird box back flush with the edges of the sides and base of the pets home.
Check that the bird box plan structure is square before fixing the bird box back onto the other bird box panels.
Build a bird house
The height of the free bird house plans front will be 400 millimeters (16 inches) plus the thickness of the floor panel.
The width of the bird house plans front will be 300 millimeters (12 inches) plus twice the thickness of a side panel.
A bird heater should be installed in the bird house to keep your pet warm in the cold weather.
Cut the doorway opening into the front of the bird house before fixing the front panel to the bird house plan structure.
Framing for the front panel should already be fixed to the bird house base at this stage and a section of the front framing is then cut out the same size as the bird house front panel opening.
Build a roosting box
The length of the roosting box roof will be 400 millimeters (16 inches)
The width of the roosting box roof will be 350 millimeters (14 inches)
An overlapping edge is designed into the roosting box plans to prevent water or snow from hitting the roosting box walls. The overlapping bird box roof will also direct the rain water and snow away from the bird house.
The door opening of the roosting box plan will be flush with the bottom of the roosting box floor and have a height of 300 millimeters (12 inches) and a width of 150 millimeters (6 inches)
A door can be fixed to a small pets home if it is to house a pet that is vulnerable to predators. A bird box or bird house will require clear doorways or detachable doorways that can be enclosed when required.
Pet heaters that are displayed on this web site can be built into the pets home or used free standing.
The pet heaters can be found Here
DISCLAIMER
To build and heat a birds home and small pets enclosure the materials you use will be the deciding factor on the useful life of the bird house.
The use of any material that has been coated or treated with chemicals that may be toxic to your pet should be avoided.
Pets cannot be constantly supervised and it is not unusual for them to attack their enclosures and resting areas.
Face the opening of the bird house away from any prevailing winds.
When using tools to build the bird box or bird house ensure that the proper safety equipment and safety procedures are used at all times.
Read and understand all instruction books that are supplied with any tools and always maintain a clean and safe working area.
Never work around children or unrestrained pets or let them in the work area unsupervised.
The free bird house plans and free bird box and roosting box plans supplied are for personal use only and have all been built and tested for strength and operation. To my knowledge they are correct and accurate.
The plans are supplied without warranties and guarantee and you acknowledge that you use them and operate all tools and equipment at your sole risk.
The choice of bird house plan, roosting box plan or any other building plans for small pets found on this web site and the suitability for the chosen project is entirely your responsibility.
You agree to indemnify petheaters from any claims, damages, personal injuries and expenses in regards to any building projects and plans found on this web site.
All the free building plans are for personal use only.
© Copyright 2009 pet heaters bird box bird house roosting box bird house plan BIRD HOUSE HEATER
BACK TO PET HEATER
Heaters for a birds house
Constructing and heating a bird aviary
|
