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THE BREAD-BIN NESTHOME
THE BREAD-BIN NEST A compact nest with two compartments suitable for a small budgie hen. Originally designed for outdoor use and includes under-floor heating in the nursery room, heating in the main room, lights and a water supply. The front window is eminently suitable for monitoring the chicks prior to flying the nest. This is a sophisticated and reliable nest which can double up as an effective HOSPITAL if needed. Along with experience of using POWER TOOLS, experience in ELECTRONIC CONSTRUCTION is also needed for the LIGHTING and HEATING control systems.
The water system is part of an automatic water supply system for the whole aviary and can be substituted by a simple feeder bottle.
The main housing consists of a high quality BREAD BIN with a hinged top and a circular window in it. This bin used to be available from WILKINSONS HARDWARE STORES UK but has been discontinued. Similar sized un-windowed and non-hinged-lid versions are widely available and these can be used instead. The fitting of a window is fairly straightforward. The nursery is made from a wooden BISCUIT container which unfortunately has also been discontinued. This box was an almost perfect fit for the nest and also had a window in the side. This was ideal as the interior lamp would illuminate the rearing area without having to fit a lamp in the box itself. However, constructing a nursery room is also straightforward. NEST WITH WATER, LIGHT BUT NO HEATING This version is suitable for indoor use. CONSTRUCTION: Start with a board made of hard wood 2 to 3 cm thick. From this cut two blocks, 12cm wide and 20cm / 10cm long. The 20cm piece will serve as the bed. Chisel out a 15mm dip in the bed to cover as wide an area as possible. Fit a piece of plywood to one end such that it is 12cm above the bed. On the opposite end fit another piece of plywood such that it is 5cm above the bed. Fit a piece of plywood to one end of the 10cm piece such that it is 12cm above the block. Glue a 6cm x 6cm thick piece of wood (called the baffle) to the center of the board and back piece, When hardened,glue and screw the chicks' roof to the baffle, which can be made of hardboard. When set, glue the two blocks together and finally glue and screw the two remaining side walls (which are made of plywood) to the base. These walls should also be 12cm above the base. The entrance hole in the front wall is 45mm diameter. When complete, the unit is placed at the back of the BREAD-BIN such that it can be withdrawn from the side hatch. A 300ml BUNNY WATER BOTTLE can be fitted in the same position as the WATER TROUGH inlet. The nest LAMP consists of a standard torch type bulb (M.E.S 12V 100mA). This bulb is fitted in a special screw down holder available from electronics stores. The cable is taken through a false ceiling and led out through the back. WARNING! This is a THEORETICAL DESIGN and NEVER been tested. Observe regularly particularly before night-fall for LOST / UN-FED chicks in the chicks part. With the hen being so close this is not likely to happen but if so put it with the hen and seal off. 
HISTORY. The nest had been made available to the flock for five years and was placed on top of a wardrobe next to a BRICK-WOOD nest in a BEDROOM AVIARY. This nest was of the type having two compartments. The overwhelming majority of hens chose this nest to raise their young and this is the recommended design. The unit however worked well as a HOSPITAL. (AUTOMATIC HOSPITAL EMPLOYING A THERMOSTAT) which may have contributed to its lack of popularity. One hen laid but no eggs hatched. The same hen laid in other nests but all eggs were clear.
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