T-14 Nesting Trays

pear · Sat Feb 14, 2015 1:02 pm

What are the opinions on using Nesting Trays in the T-14..... Yes or No?

MingjoMartins · Sat Feb 14, 2015 1:27 pm

Ummm, best invention ever! Absolutely YES!

rrmartins · Sat Feb 14, 2015 8:01 pm

I built all of mine . 1x4 cedar for the back board, and 1/4 cedar plywood for the bottom and sides. Use Titebond 3 glue on all seams. Cut little strips of cedar and put on the side to bottom seams, to have a good glue joint. I used a air stapler but brads will work, just to hold together till glue dries. Then just slope sides down a little from the back to the front. It's easier to slope the sides before you put it together. Glue seams are stronger than the wood, wood will split before seam breaks. Wood glue dries slow and soaks into the wood good. Then paint them to seal the cedar.

Sorry I missed the question. Martins don't mind them and they make nest checks super easy. Also helps cleanup at the end of year.

~Ray~Gingerich · Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:18 am

Nest trays are the best thing going for nest checks, I wouldn't be without them. The only thing you have to watch out for is sometimes the female will stay in the nest and then hop over the end when it's pulled out, this happens with older nestlings too. I think if the backs are built a little taller it helps.

pear · Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:07 pm

Ok Nest Trays it is... Thanks Guys

Junior07 · Mon Feb 16, 2015 8:38 pm

rrmartins,

I'm wondering why you paint your cedar nest boxes? Shouldn't they weather just fine? I thought that was the whole purpose for using cedar.

A friend of mine and myself just made 56 nest boxes as you described. I Don't plan on painting mine.

rrmartins · Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:13 pm

Junior07 wrote:rrmartins,

I'm wondering why you paint your cedar nest boxes? Shouldn't they weather just fine? I thought that was the whole purpose for using cedar.

A friend of mine and myself just made 56 nest boxes as you described. I Don't plan on painting mine.

It helps protect the wood from the acid in their waste. Plus 1/4 ply is pretty thin to begin with. Makes it a lot easier to clean at years end. I do a lite bleach pressure wash on mine and their done. Maybe not needed, but their so small, it does not take much time to slap some paint on them. I tend to go a little overboard on things, but it has to help them last longer, I would think. Mine are five years old now. Glad I could help you out on easy construction.

Dave Duit · Mon Feb 16, 2015 11:13 pm

Nest trays are the best thing since sliced bread. I make my own trays from western cedar and tite bond wood glue and small pin type nails. They hold up great over the years. I can even use a high pressure hose at the end of the year to clean the trays.