Making a nesting box (a nest where birds lay and incubate their eggs) for parakeets is an easy and fun project for you. Whether you plan to breed a lot of parakeets or keep just one, you can easily build a good habitat for a cage. With the right tools, you can put together a house that your parakeet will love.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing Materials
Step 1. Buy some wooden planks
The nest/petarang must be made of wood. Parakeets love to chew and will tear boxes out of cardboard or paper quickly. Go to a hardware store and buy some wooden planks to make the cage.
- Plywood/plywood will give the best results.
- You will need wood that is at least 1.5 to 2 cm thick, although it can be thicker.
- You need to cut the wood into 4 planks measuring 30.5 cm x 35.5 cm and 2 boards measuring 35.5 cm x 35.5 cm. Overall, it is approximately 1260.25 square centimeters (0.13 m2), so make sure you buy at least that amount of wood to ensure sufficient material.
Step 2. Purchase or prepare the necessary tools
You will need some tools to make a parakeet box. If you don't have one, buy one at a hardware store.
- Circular saw. If you don't buy wood that has been cut to size at the hardware store, you'll have to cut it yourself. The best way to get a neat and straight cut is with the help of a circular saw.
- Rotary cutter. The tool works like an electric saw. You will need it to cut a circular entrance to the bird's nest.
- Electric drill. You'll need to drill to make several holes to assemble the box, so an electric drill is the best option.
- Hammer. Later you will have to put the squares together, so a hammer is needed. Also remember to prepare some nails.
- Ruler or measuring tape. You will need it to measure exactly the wood you are cutting.
Step 3. Purchase the necessary safety equipment
You should never operate a power tool without wearing proper protection. To ensure safety, it is recommended that you provide some safety equipment before starting the project.
- Eye protection. Goggles (a type of protective eyewear that covers the eye area completely) are necessary equipment when using a saw or electric drill. Dirt can fly into your eyes and cause pain and injury.
- Ear protector. Power tools tend to be noisy, and prolonged exposure to such noise can damage hearing. Earplugs or special earmuffs will prevent any hearing problems.
- Gloves. When handling wood, you could injure yourself or get splinters. Prevent any avoidable injuries by wearing a pair of thick work gloves.
- Dust mask. Sawdust will fly around you when you are sawing or drilling. The powder can get into your lungs and cause irritation. Wear a dust mask to protect your lungs.
Part 2 of 2: Making a Box
Step 1. Cut the wood to the right size
You can buy pre-cut wood at a hardware store, or cut it yourself. If you are cutting yourself, you will need 4 35.5 cm x 30.5 cm planks for the sides of the nest. Then you also need 2 pieces of board measuring 35.5 cm x 35.5 cm for the top and bottom.
Be sure to measure carefully before cutting. Use a craftsman's pencil to mark the wood so that your cuts are straight and accurate. If you mess up, you may have to go back to the hardware store for more wood, which will cost you more time and money
Step 2. Make a round hole on one side of the board
The hole will serve as a way to get into the box. Using the rotary cutter, make a circle that has a circumference of 7.62 cm on either side of the board. Position the hole close to the bottom of the nest so the parakeet can walk in properly.
Remember, the formula for the circumference of a circle is pi (3, 14) x the diameter of the circle. So, to get a circle with a circumference of 7.63 cm, you will need a diameter of 2.41 cm - rounded up to 2.54 cm
Step 3. Secure all the sides and the bottom of the box by nailing them together
It would be much better if you made the top of the box open/moveable. That way you will be able to clean it easily. To clean the box, occasionally lift the top of the box.
- First, use nails to hold all the sides of the box together. Place a nail in the bottom corner and another nail in the top corner on each side.
- Then secure the base of the box by attaching one nail to each of the four corners.
- Be sure to keep the nail straight as you hammer, or it will stray from the center and penetrate the inside of the box. If this happens, remove the nail again and try again.
Step 4. Install the perch under the hole on the outside
Provide a perch so your parakeet can land on it and into the box. Cut a few square centimeters of wood and use wood glue to stick it just below the hole you made.
Step 5. Drill a hole to secure the top of the box
A simple way to make the top of the box easy to lift/move is to screw it down with wires. You just need to make a few holes with the help of an electric drill.
- First, make holes on both the right and left sides of the box. Then, drill through the top of the box to make a corresponding hole.
- Attach the top of the box, then pull the wire through the holes you made.
- Tie the wire to secure it to the box. Now, you can easily untie the wire and untie the top of the box when you want.
Step 6. Decorate the base of the box
Birds often place natural materials in their cages for comfort and safety. You can imitate this by placing some feathers, straw, or wood chips in the box.
