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PICAS USA Modular Nestbox

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« on: March 21, 2009, 02:52:52 pm »

PICAS USA Modular Nestbox
for a printer-friendly version:Page 1Page 2Page 3
The Design Based on the PICAS-approved plans, this nestbox is designed to be stackable.

It can be the basic component to building a larger dovecote. The Material Materials Needed:
1/2 inch plywood exterior grade
1 4'x8' foot panel
1 x 2 inch lumber -
2 eight-foot pieces
Wood Screws 1 inch and 1.5 inches long
Paint or stain -odor free, non-toxic, exterior



Plywood
Pieces1 x 2
PiecesAssemblyNOTE FOR CLEANOUT HATCHES
These initial plans do not address cleanout hatches in detail. We will present variations at a later date. If you are building a single module as we did for the prototype, you can set the bottomless nestbox on a sturdy shelf. Then to clean, just lift or tip the box to access the compartments. For a permanently mounted nestbox, cut access hatches either in the bottom panel (easiest to clean) or in the back, using small flat hinges and suitable latches. For PICAS' large, commercial dovecotes, the central area is hollow. An access hatch large enough to accomodate a maintenance person gives quick and easy cleaning access. See PICAS plans for this design (link is on the main HABITAT GUIDELINES page.
We did find it useful to cut hinged doors in the two inner partition walls. This allows the pigeons access between the cubicles. This way, we were able to provide food and water in a cubicle adjacent to a determined female's nest room.FRONT ASSEMBLY
Measure and mark the bottom of the front wall as shown at the bottom of the image. These will be your alignment points for the door centers and the partition wall braces. Cut openings for three cubicle doors as shown. The important thing is to keep the basic dimension of each opening and each cubicle a standard 4" x 5.5" (rectangles, curves, or fancy cuts OK.)
Position the end wall braces and roof brace1/2" in from the outer edge (allowance for side pieces).
Screw braces to front wall.REAR & SIDE ASSEMBLY
Measure and mark the bottom of the back wall as you did the front for the partition braces (optional: mark door openings if you want to cut access hatches in the rear).
Screw braces to back wall.
Position the side walls against the back wall end braces and roof brace.
Screw side walls to braces.
MODULE ASSEMBLY
Position interior partitions against the interior braces of the back wall. Screw partitions to braces.
Position front wall against the side walls and partitions. Be careful to line up walls against braces.
Screw side walls & partitions to front assembly braces.
ROOF & TRIM ASSEMBLY
Position roof so that rear & side edges align with walls evenly. There will be a 4" overhang on the front.
Screw roof to roof braces.
Add 36" roof trim piece to front wall. Add decorative trim over the doors if desired. These may be glued with an exterior grade adhesive.
The bottom two levels of this dovecote are simply modules stacked. A whimsical freeform design was added to the top. A feeder/waterer (shown to the right) was designed to go with these in the pigeon aviary.

For security, screw the modules to each other. For a suitable attachment strip, cut four 1"x2" strips 24.5" long each. Position vertically at both ends of either side. Screw to the two modules' sides. Paint or stain to match front trim pieces.
MOUNTING BOXES
The heavy weight of these nestboxes requires sturdy mounting. Large dovecotes are often mounted on steel piers. See SOLUTIONS section: British Soulutions for examples.
The single nest boxes modules in this construction project were set on tables constructed of 2"x4" lumber or on cantilevered shelves as shown.
The base should allow for a landing platform at least 4" wide in front of the openings.







1 x 2
PiecesAssemblyNOTE FOR CLEANOUT HATCHES
These initial plans do not address cleanout hatches in detail. We will present variations at a later date. If you are building a single module as we did for the prototype, you can set the bottomless nestbox on a sturdy shelf. Then to clean, just lift or tip the box to access the compartments. For a permanently mounted nestbox, cut access hatches either in the bottom panel (easiest to clean) or in the back, using small flat hinges and suitable latches. For PICAS' large, commercial dovecotes, the central area is hollow. An access hatch large enough to accomodate a maintenance person gives quick and easy cleaning access. See PICAS plans for this design (link is on the main HABITAT GUIDELINES page.
We did find it useful to cut hinged doors in the two inner partition walls. This allows the pigeons access between the cubicles. This way, we were able to provide food and water in a cubicle adjacent to a determined female's nest room.FRONT ASSEMBLY
Measure and mark the bottom of the front wall as shown at the bottom of the image. These will be your alignment points for the door centers and the partition wall braces. Cut openings for three cubicle doors as shown. The important thing is to keep the basic dimension of each opening and each cubicle a standard 4" x 5.5" (rectangles, curves, or fancy cuts OK.)
Position the end wall braces and roof brace1/2" in from the outer edge (allowance for side pieces).
Screw braces to front wall.REAR & SIDE ASSEMBLY
Measure and mark the bottom of the back wall as you did the front for the partition



MODULE ASSEMBLY
Position interior partitions against the interior braces of the back wall. Screw partitions to braces.
Position front wall against the side walls and partitions. Be careful to line up walls against braces.
Screw side walls & partitions to front assembly braces.
ROOF & TRIM ASSEMBLY
Position roof so that rear & side edges align with walls evenly. There will be a 4" overhang on the front.
Screw roof to roof braces.
Add 36" roof trim piece to front wall. Add decorative trim over the doors if desired. These may be glued with an exterior grade adhesive.
The bottom two levels of this dovecote are simply modules stacked. A whimsical freeform design was added to the top. A feeder/waterer (shown to the right) was designed to go with these in the pigeon aviary.

For security, screw the modules to each other. For a suitable attachment strip, cut four 1"x2" strips 24.5" long each. Position vertically at both ends of either side. Screw to the two modules' sides. Paint or stain to match front trim pieces.
MOUNTING BOXES
The heavy weight of these nestboxes requires sturdy mounting. Large dovecotes are often mounted on steel piers. See SOLUTIONS section: British Soulutions for examples.
The single nest boxes modules in this construction project were set on tables constructed of 2"x4" lumber or on cantilevered shelves as shown.
The base should allow for a landing platform at least 4" wide in front of the openings.
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