Mickeydredd Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 this is the style of tawny box my mates are making these days. sizes: 300 x 300 x 550. Hole is 150mm I will try to look out the kestrel/tawny style box if I can find the old laptop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiny tim Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 These are the same type of boxes we make as mandarin boxes around the ponds ,we have had tawnys in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 30 minutes ago, Mickeydredd said: this is the style of tawny box my mates are making these days. sizes: 300 x 300 x 550. Hole is 150mm I will try to look out the kestrel/tawny style box if I can find the old laptop! / does he sell them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted November 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 This is really useful, thank you very much everyone! Building starts tomorrow. Is there any difference between round holes and square? The materials' diameter would make a square hole easier, but if a circle's preferred I'll do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted November 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 ...Strictly on this evening. Building starts this evening then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted November 29, 2020 Report Share Posted November 29, 2020 On 28/11/2020 at 16:54, chrisjpainter said: This is really useful, thank you very much everyone! Building starts tomorrow. Is there any difference between round holes and square? The materials' diameter would make a square hole easier, but if a circle's preferred I'll do that. I think the round hole may be more forgiving on feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted November 29, 2020 Report Share Posted November 29, 2020 On 28/11/2020 at 16:14, billytheghillie said: does he sell them? I don't think so. Spoke to him earlier and he has pretty much given up now. There are pretty easily made tbh and don't have to be perfect, just watertight if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted November 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2020 (edited) 17 hours ago, Mickeydredd said: I think the round hole may be more forgiving on feathers. I shall forgive their feathers then and make it round Edited November 30, 2020 by chrisjpainter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted November 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2020 (edited) That's enough of all this planning nonsense. Time to get cutting. Pallet wood isn't the easiest stuff to work with. They're festooned with nails and the individual panels are often split because of them. They are also often warped from weather. Happily I got hold of two good'uns. They were also longer than some. At 120cm, I was able to just saw through the panels and not bother to remove the corner nails, just leaving the centre nails to be removed. The first job after nail removal was to make width as well as length, so turning these... into these Each join was given an extra long dowel and glued for extra strength. Because of the warping, they're by no means perfect, but good enough. The wide panels were then put under pressure to let the glue dry. Once dried, I could start putting it all together. On one side, I have put an access hatch, so it can be inspected without having to use the front hole. It's angled to make it easier to remove. It will have a locking mechanism on it, once I've worked out what sort to put on! All fixed together it looks like this. I will fill some of the more egregious nail holes and it'll get some shed roofing stuff on it too. It'll get some plaining and sanding, as well as some kind of preserving paint over it. The final question will be whether I need to install an exercising beam, but that will depend on where it will go. It may not need it. I shall report back... Edited November 30, 2020 by chrisjpainter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 30, 2020 Report Share Posted November 30, 2020 Looking good so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted November 30, 2020 Report Share Posted November 30, 2020 Looking good! We just used to make the lid the access, just took the driver with us when we went to check them and it was just a case of two screws to remove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 I've given up waiting for the council to get back to me, so I've pressed on with a ratchet strap technique. The door's now got a latch on it and I've put some concave ribs on the back which should help it hug to the tree a little tighter. It'll be attached from above as well, as there's a convenient bough above it so I think it should be secure enough. @Mickeydredd do you think drainage holes in the base are needed? It will have shed roof felt on the roof, so it should be reasonably watertight and it'd stop bedding making an escape if I didn't have them, but if they're wise to have, I'll whack 'em in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoy Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Looking good Chris. I would put drain holes in. We used to knock them up outa all sorts. Tea chests were good, pipes, plastic barrels to. Light and don't rot. Always tried to get a box/nesting tray up if we done barn conversions. If you need any more info have a look on SOS Suffolk Owl Sanctuary site. Lot of info about birds, box's, sites etc. Not a fluffy lot and tell it as it is. Used to share a roost wood with one of them. He supplied the steel carts and had the birds to feed his. Always willing to help with advice and rescuing birds! Even over weight little owls, that pigged out on voles and got to fat to fly. . . . Needing help themselves though. Just too keep running at mo because of covid. NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Hi Chris Unless you are not confident of your build being waterproof then I personally would not bother with the drainage holes. If the box isnt pretty much dry inside then the owl wouldn't use it if other sites are available. We never ever put them in. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 2 hours ago, Mickeydredd said: Hi Chris Unless you are not confident of your build being waterproof then I personally would not bother with the drainage holes. If the box isnt pretty much dry inside then the owl wouldn't use it if other sites are available. We never ever put them in. Good luck! It's got roof felt over the top of it and the roof slopes down, so it should be sound. Now to have a low wind, low rain day so I can get the thing into the tree! Meanwhile, a chap up the road had dumped this onto his skip. 'It's only going into landfill, so go for it' was his reply when I asked for it. Why do people just chuck this stuff out?! There's plenty of good wood on it to get some life out of it! I'm thinking little owl box, this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Looks good Chris, I've got to ask though, why were you involving the council? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Mice! said: Looks good Chris, I've got to ask though, why were you involving the council? Thanks! The tree it's going in has a TPO on it. Technically any work done to the tree must be agreed upon first and then performed by an accredited person. The preservation covers anything that the council might deem destructive to a tree. They're not going to care about a bluetit box that needs one small fixing point, but a big ol' owl box that would need three separate fixings with fairly sturdy bolts might be a different matter - I just don't know! So on the grounds of better safe than sorry, I contacted them first, as they love slapping fines on people who do things without consulting them, even if, as in this case, it's got an obvious intention of creating a positive impact on wildlife They've still not got back to me, so it's going up tomorrow! It'll be secured with ratchet straps front to back and suspending paracord (200kg B/S) top to bottom, so if the council do ever get back to me, I can either take it down and no harm's been done to the tree, or replace the straps with bolts should that be acceptable. It's got to go up soon as breeding season's not that far away and they prospect for a while first. If it's up now, there's a chance it might be used as a day roost, then as a nest site come the spring. Edited December 8, 2020 by chrisjpainter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 8, 2020 Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 I see, hope you don't have a jobsworth turn up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 (edited) Well, it's up! Still no word about the tpo, but never mind. Access is good right to the hole and should be even in full summer. The hole is at 4m up, looking east. It's supported by straps that run round the whole box (One high one low) and 200kg cord from above between two boughs. I've not put an exercise beam in, as I think there are enough nearby natural ones, but I could add one should anyone think otherwise! The tit nest box is also getting shifted so that won't be an issue for either owl or tit! Edited December 9, 2020 by chrisjpainter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 9, 2020 Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 I look forward to it being occupied. Good work, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted December 9, 2020 Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 That looks great. It's good to give something back. Lets hope the owls find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted December 12, 2020 Report Share Posted December 12, 2020 Looks good Chris, no need for the fake branch as they will use that branch below the box and then spread out in the tree/s from there. We never fitted a fake branch to that style of box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 It's funny since seeing this thread I've seen quite a few boxes up. When the squirrels move in can we have a picture 😅😅 Looks good Chris, be interesting to see what moves in first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted December 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 27 minutes ago, Mice! said: It's funny since seeing this thread I've seen quite a few boxes up. When the squirrels move in can we have a picture 😅😅 Looks good Chris, be interesting to see what moves in first. Live or dead? I have acquired plenty of soiled ferret bedding and have cunningly spread some soiled bedding around the opening, so it should smell pretty ferrety. I'll redo it every so often to keep it fresh and mustelidy to deter the little blighters. If that fails I have a straight line of sight... Oh and should anyone be interested, TPO's are not a concern. The council never got back to me (kell soopreez), but returning from a fishing trip I happened on a chap doing tree surgery. The bulk of their work is on TPO'd trees and he told me it's not an issue. It doesn't count as damaging the tree and as long as you're not removing branches to do it, there's no issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 29 minutes ago, chrisjpainter said: Oh and should anyone be interested, TPO's are not a concern. The council never got back to me (kell soopreez), but returning from a fishing trip I happened on a chap doing tree surgery. The bulk of their work is on TPO'd trees and he told me it's not an issue. It doesn't count as damaging the tree and as long as you're not removing branches to do it, there's no issue. Well that's good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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