safe to paint/seal breeding boxes

[Jimbojunior]

hi all

i have just set up a finch aviary and plan to have mainly gouldians in there

with the nest boxes has anyone had any experience or recommendations on painting/sealing the woodenboxes with a paint or sealant type product?

i was going to seal the boxes with a clear varnish style lacquer but wasnt sure if anyone has ever done this before and what is the best product to use?

the reason i want to do this is to extend the life of the boxes but mainly so the boxes can be cleaned out and they dont attract bugs etc to live in the cracks of the wood.

any recommendations would be appreciated

cheers
j

[Craig52]

hi all

i have just set up a finch aviary and plan to have mainly gouldians in there

with the nest boxes has anyone had any experience or recommendations on painting/sealing the woodenboxes with a paint or sealant type product?

i was going to seal the boxes with a clear varnish style lacquer but wasnt sure if anyone has ever done this before and what is the best product to use?

the reason i want to do this is to extend the life of the boxes but mainly so the boxes can be cleaned out and they dont attract bugs etc to live in the cracks of the wood.

any recommendations would be appreciated

cheers
j

Hi Jim,i read something on here or else where that gouldians don't like light paint coloured boxes on the inside if they have a choice.All my boxes are painted with clear water base poly? which when dry is water proof and easy to clean or wash. Cheers Craig

[SamDavis]

Following on from Craig's comment - at Finches'14 David Harris described an experiment he'd done where he painted the inside of nest boxes black. I believe the original idea was from the STGF boxes. He found a marked preference for the black boxes. I've never painted my boxes at all but if you're going to paint them then maybe try painting the inside black to see if it does make a difference.

[Craig52]

Following on from Craig's comment - at Finches'14 David Harris described an experiment he'd done where he painted the inside of nest boxes black. I believe the original idea was from the STGF boxes. He found a marked preference for the black boxes. I've never painted my boxes at all but if you're going to paint them then maybe try painting the inside black to see if it does make a difference.

Haha Sam,there you go i didn't read it and it shows i was paying attention. Craig

[Jimbojunior]

ok thanks guys. i was just going to clear coat them but if you think painting the inside black works better i will do that. if i clear coat the outside so they still look wooden then just paint the inside black will that be just as effective?

[SamDavis]

ok thanks guys. i was just going to clear coat them but if you think painting the inside black works better i will do that. if i clear coat the outside so they still look wooden then just paint the inside black will that be just as effective?

Can't hurt to give it a go if you're already going to paint them. I have no personal experience painting the inside black, I'm just relaying what David said at Finches'14. David also installed entry tubes/spouts on the front of his nests to further restrict light. He felt darkness maybe a factor in stopping chicks from being hurled from the nest. A number of breeders in NSW are favouring Gouldian nests with a porch area out front which they feel helps to keep chicks in and from fledging early.

I don't breed many gouldians these days but when I did I just used pretty standard raw ply boxes and I never had an issue with chicks being thrown so I guess you've just got to work out what works for your birds.

[finchbreeder]

Have been having an almost non existant breeding season here with my Gouldians. But one nest seemed to be getting some attention. It is painted black on the outside, untouched inside, and the end is facing into the sun for half the day. Finally got sick of waiting, and opened it yesterday. Only one chick, but what a big baby, and the nesting hollow is right up against the black painted side that faces the sun. Loverly and warm when I put my hand in, and on the outside when I felt it. Maybe that is why a single chick survived this cold winter while I have lost a nest of 3 in a cardboard box on a west facing wall?
LML

[Niki_K]

I seal mine with polyurethane- makes it easy to wipe poop off when i'm cleaning them. I haven't tried painting the insides of mine, but it sounds like an interesting idea. I have previously offered birds nestboxes with a 10cm tube entrance, and they seem to favour that (but it makes it difficult to carry out nest checks)