If your bird box is going to be sited amongst flowers you may want to pick brighter colours. The 15 Best Gifts for Animal Lovers in 2020. You should have a nice complete bird box now, so it's time to get out the paints and give it a personal touch. Painting the wood a bright color and decorating it with designs makes for an attractive birdhouse, but the birds don't really care. Try using eco-friendly, organic paints and stains that are kind to the environment and kind to birds. This page contains affiliate links. They are pesticide-free, herbicide-free, and entirely non-toxic. Baby birds and their parents are at their most vulnerable so if you are providing a bird box for them it is important to ensure that it is a safe environment in which to bring up young chicks. 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,142. Chia Seeds: How Do They Benefit My Pet Bird? Beware the term “organic paint,” too. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Make sure that the exterior of your bird box is only painted with bird-friendly lead-free paint, stain or varnish. Another misleading issue is while the base paint may be free of VOCs, some color tints are not. These cookies do not store any personal information. Do not use paint on the interior of the bird box. Indoor air is considered to be three times more polluted than outdoor air. Latex paint is water-soluble, which makes it one of the safest options for use in birdhouses. I think the main reason that people don’t try to paint older bird cages is because of what they’ve heard or read about the harmful effects of lead, zinc, and so forth. Now it's the fun part that you can all get stuck into! The odorless ECOS products are suitable for use in a baby’s room or for people’s homes who have chemical sensitivities, asthma, and allergies. Look for wood that is between 1.5 an 2 cm thick to give the birds the insulation they need to keep warm. We recommend 24 hours for the primer to dry, then three thin coats of gloss, allowing 24 hours between each. 49. For this reason, if you have young loved ones or pets in the house, then you might want to be very picky about the paint you splash on your walls. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Step 1. Birds, other pets, and even young children have much faster respiratory systems than the average adult human, meaning they cycle more air in and out and thus may be prone to more airborne dangers. For the best results, select a latex paint designed for exterior use and apply one or two coats to the outside of your birdhouse. Hollows for nesting and shelter Young trees do not have hollows, but, as the tree ages and matures, hollows may develop. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Once you have painted your bird box leave it to dry thoroughly for a few days before hanging it up. We recommend ECOS Gloss paint for painting bird cages. Whether you need to ship a loved pet or you must provide for your bird sales safety and transport obligations we are there for you. If you are familiar with the expression, "a canary in a coal mine," then you are aware that birds have been testing our air quality for centuries. Predators, bad weather and illness can all present a danger to young bird families and these tips will help make your bird box a safer place. > Bird Boxes > Bird Box Safety. Patricia is a freelance writer who has published articles about birds online and in print for over a decade. $36.84 $ 36. If you are buying or making a nest box the best woods to use are hardwoods such as oak, beech, or cedar. The product a household with a companion bird would probably be most interested in is their ECOS Pet Dwellings Primer. $21.99 $ 21. Dark coloured bird boxes will absorb heat and the temperature inside could rise to dangerous levels on warmer days, either suffocating the chicks inside or encouraging the growth of toxic bacteria. Though not recommended, he did live to tell about it. However, as pressure-treated wood is not recommended for bird box construction you may choose to paint yours to help preserve it and extend its life. The preservatives penetrate deep into the timber which makes it more durable and able to withstand damage and exposure to the elements. £10.37 £ 10. You do not want to introduce any fumes to your house that could harm your birds, pets, or young ones. The company manufactures many different types of paints and paint products including paints, primers, varnishes, and stains. But softwood bird house made of pine or plywood can rot quickly in wet weather and so may last longer with a coat of paint. Making a bird box is one of the many ways you can create nesting habitats for birds in your garden. Make sure you site your nesting box at least two metres off the ground, away from predators, strong sunlight and wind. Brown, greens, or greys are ideal if your box is hidden amongst foliage, or you could paint it to match the fence or wall you secure it to. A canary's respiratory system is so sensitive it could detect odorless carbon monoxide and hence warn miners of a potentially deadly leak. They do have paints specifically for bird dwellings, reptiles enclosures, as well as dog house paint. 2” paint brushes. 4.3 out of 5 stars 408. We own more than 750 pigeons ourselves, so we understand the importance of quality care and safety when we ship our boxes to you. Baker Ross Mini Wooden Birdhouses (Box of 4) For Kids to Decorate, Arts and Crafts. The biggest problem is the time required for the paint/finish to fully cure. Birds aren’t too fussy about their accommodation and will be quite happy to nest in a painted bird box. Dubleir DIY wooden bird house nest,Bird Nesting Box Hanging DIY Birdhouse Kit Children Adults Paint Your Own Wild Bird Nest Box,2 bird nests,12-color paint, 3 pens, 2 ropes, 2 glue,1 paint plate. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a safe or non-toxic stain or sealant that I can use on bird houses that will not cause harm to the birds, their eggs, or the fledglings. For more information please see our disclosure here. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They will be come unbearably hot and will also be visible to predators. This range is safe for the exterior of rabbit hutches once dried, but, as standard, they advise not to paint the interior where the rabbits could gnaw on the wood and ingest the paint. You will need: A selection of Cuprinol Garden Shades tester pots. If your bird box is going to be sited amongst flowers you may want to pick brighter colours. The best colours to use are muted, natural colours that blend into the surroundings of your garden. Last year I put up a couple of bluebird houses on my land, and was pleasantly surprised to have a couple Eastern Bluebirds move right in. Do not use bird boxes that are made of metal or other insulating materials. These paints have been found to contain toxic solvents such as turpentine. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It's only available in Wilkinson and the colours available from store to store vary, but it's the cheapest option and sometimes they have offers making it even more cost effective. This will mean any potentially toxic fumes have time to disperse. Make sure you use a water-based latex paint and avoid lead-based paints or creosote that are toxic to both birds and other wildlife. You may choose to apply a layer of polyurethane or some type of natural sealant to repel moisture and preserve the color of the paint. By using our site you consent to the use of cookies. Make sure you use a water-based latex paint and avoid lead-based paints or creosote that are toxic to both birds and other wildlife.