Owl Nesting House
My son and I built a Barred Owl Nesting House over the weekend for a school project (used the BT3100 for all the cuts except for the opening for the owl). It's rather large, 24" tall x 13" wide, made from some 3/4" birch plywood I had laying around. It's all put together but what kind of finish should I put on it. Of course it will be mounted outside year round. I have some primer and exterior dark brown paint. Will that work or should I use something else? Should I finish the inside of the box the same or leave that unfinished? Thanks
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I like rustic in my yard and would not finish it. If you prefer having the exterior finished, I would suggest water based products and allow a week or so to cure. If it is not a the nesting season in your part of the country and the structure will not be used for a while, the curing time could probably be skipped.
I would leave the interior unfinished. Although, cable and a TV would probably be appreciated if you are planning on furnishing. Might be a welcome distraction to the birds while hatching the eggs. No time for TV after the hatchinglings arrive. Owlets are hungry little devils!
The birds will remodel to suit and may ingest finish products. Also, I know of no product that will stand up to the ravages of UV over time.A man without a shillelagh, is a man without an expidient. -
Thanks for the response Warren. I wanted to finish it, on the exterior especially, just so it will stand to the weather better.
After I posted the initial message I thought about just sealing it with Thompsons water seal or a like product. What do you or anyone else think of that idea?Comment
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Barred Owl Nesting House
Are the plans for the Owl House available?
Tony
I used to be an Owl................
It's a Scout Leader thing......Comment
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I use a water based product called "Polyshield Outdoor." It withstands the snows and rains better than anything water based I've used before.
What kind of owls are you trying to attract? Forget the question, just reread your first post.
You can get the product at www.thewinfieldcollection.com in quart and gallon size. Use at least four coats on the horizontal surfaces. I'm sure there are other products, but this one really seems to withstand Alaskan winters well. I still have to resurface each year on some things because of the UV. We get hours and hours of direct sun in the summer. Probably two years worth in four or five months compared to down in America.A man without a shillelagh, is a man without an expidient.Comment
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plans
Here is a link to a set of Barred Owl Nesting House plans. The plans I used are not exactly the same. Instead of a round opening pictured in these plans the opening I used is shaped like a slice of bread. Other than that they are very similar.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/wabarrowlplan.html
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/waowls.aspComment
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I have seen a UV resistant poly. Not sure if that would work better than what Warren said, just passing on what I saw.Ric
Plan for the worst, hope for the best!Comment
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About Owls
This has nothin to do with building an owl nest; but is sort of funny in a related way! The high desert of Idaho host a large population of "burrowing owls"; absolutely cute little buggers about the siZe of a banty hen. Where I worked you had to traverse a long walk to get to the oher site with a chainlink fence next to the path and open desert on the other side. The mother/father owl (never did tell them apart) would sit on the fence overlooking their burrow. When you walked by as long as you didn't make eye contact they would just sit there. A friend of mine who was bald as a cue ball had to go between sites one time and asked about the owls. I gave him the advise of not looking at them. Well guess his curosity got the better and he came running back with blood running down his face and neck. "****'d owls attacked me" When asked if he'd looked at them; "Well they were so cute just had to peek"
They had attacked the most logical spot-his bald head! From then on he took my advise.
RuffSawn
Nothin' smells better than fresh sawdust!Comment
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