This week's project...

[John Rumm]

So a mate says "If I brought round my Dovecot, could you mend it?"

So I thought its worth a look.

"What's wrong with it?"

"It got left outside!"

(which one would have thought was not unexpected for a bird house you are supposed to mount on a pole in the garden)

So did a bit of a post mortem on it... yup its pretty shagged beyond sensible repair. Not helped by its original builder starting with a subframe of non water proof ply, before giving it a roof that would be as effective at keeping the rain out as a colander!

So I suggested that I use it as a rough pattern, and build a new one from scratch.

Here is how it came out (and the remains of the old one):

another view:

Click images for a bigger view.

(I can do build instructions if anyone wants them)

Remind me not to make a hexagonal building again!

Mostly built from scrap - 4m of 4x2 resawn to make shiplap, and some 1" x 1.25" timber for the framing. Some reclaimed exterior 1/2" OSB for the interior partitions, floors, and roof boards, and 5 roof slates chopped up for the roof, with some real lead flashing. The finial was a cut down and reshaped part of a table leg.

[Jonno]

John Rumm scribbled

Duck island next ?

[John Rumm]

Might not be a daft idea... every year, we get a pair of the most stupid ducks come and camp out on our pond. Every year they lay their eggs on the top of the wall that surrounds it, such that they are either eaten by the first bit of passing wildlife, bake in the sun, or simply roll off and smash; give them an island and they may manage to reproduce... still not exactly selection of the fittest!

[Tim Lamb]

In message , John Rumm writes

Nice:-)

Word of warning to the unwary.

White Doves breed and are very much attached to their place of birth. Initially 2 becomes 4 seems innocuous but 4 to and 8 to 16 brings hard words from annoyed neighbours.

Of course more rural dwellers may appreciate a source of protein:-)

>

[Brian-Gaff]

Sounds like he was ripped off. What indeed was the point of building an outdoor item out of non waterproof materials.

What exactly is the point of these things in any case, surely not self respecting dove would use such a device? Brian

[Tim Lamb]

Mallards lay 10 or more eggs in a clutch. The odd mishap will not affect their survival:-)

[Andy Burns]

A friend of mine managed to persuade "his" to move on, seems they're more attached to food provided elsewhere than place of birth ...

[Tim Lamb]

Hmm... we had in infestation in an old hay loft. No food provided.

[ARW]

But they cost £1645. Best just hide it in the expenses as a pond feature.

[Huge]

We've had one nest behind the "Bear's britches" outside our front door for the last 2 years.

[John Rumm]

Quite possibly - the original was not cheap either. The design was also at fault since there was no flashing to protect the roof joints - so there was always going to be water ingress at the angle changes. Since the original roof was just made from softwood feather edge, it also started to cup and that just made matters worse.

A layer of roofing felt under it would have made a world of difference.

Don't know - not really my thing.

[dennis]

How do you get in to tie the chicks leg to the frame?