Colorful nesting boxes not only offer safe shelter for birds, but are also suitable for decoratively enhancing the garden. Although retailers offer many models in different designs, self-made nesting boxes are even more enjoyable. You can let off steam artistically when designing, as long as you take the following aspects into account.
What paint should I use to paint a nest box?
When painting the nest box, you should use environmentally friendly paint or linseed oil and avoid chemical wood preservatives. The paint must be weather-resistant and not harmful to the he alth of the birds. The choice of color is up to personal preference, natural colors are recommended.
Painting requirements
Despite all your creativity, you must not forget that a nesting box is primarily intended to provide a bird with a safe place. To avoid endangering the he alth of the birds with a coat of paint, you should never use chemical agents. Your paint or varnish should also be weather-resistant so that color pigments from the wood do not settle into the nest material. It is equally dangerous if birds inhale paint particles. The primary purpose of painting is to impregnate the nesting box material against mold formation due to moisture. Strong-smelling paint deters the animals from moving into the nesting box.
Appropriate means
- environmentally friendly paint
- linseed oil
Inappropriate means
Wood preservatives
Painting the nesting box
What color?
Unlike humans, birds are fortunately not particularly picky about the appearance of their home. The artistic design is therefore entirely up to your preferences. The animals only pay attention to the structural aspects; there is no color that particularly attracts or deters them, as you know from flowers and insects. Let your creativity take over your mind and body. A colorful wall with various nesting boxes brings color into the garden. Basically, however, natural colors are recommended so as not to attract the attention of playing children who could disturb the birds while they are breeding.
Procedure
- Painting is the last step of building the nest box
- Before checking that all edges are well sanded. The birds could injure themselves on rough wooden areas
- Paint your nesting box the color you want
- Waterproof the nesting box by applying a moisture-repellent varnish
- Do not hang up the nesting box until it is completely dry
