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Hi, I have just joined so apologies if this has been asked before. I would really appreciate any advice regarding making bird boxes. I managed to get hold of some 6mm plywood virtually for free and I hoped to be able to use it to make some boxes. My questions are:
Is the wood thick enough? I wonder because all the boxes I see in the shops seem to be twice the thickness....
There is a layer of emulsion paint on one side of the plywood, would this harm the birds if they came into contact with it? I have read that some chemicals in wood stains can affect birds' fertility, does anyone know if these chemicals would also be present in emulsion paint?
I also have a 2ft high fence around my pond and I would like to apply a wood stain to preserve it. Birds often perch on it so I am wondering if there is a wood stain on the market that does not have this effect on birds. I see 'not harmful to animals' statements on some brands but I am sceptical as to what this actually means i.e does 'harm' include long term effects on fertility....?
Thanks very much,
Laurence
Thanks Alan, Yes I was just hoping I could avoid using twice the amount of material. I might end up using it for hedgehogs boxes instead. As for the stains, quite, I feel reluctant to believe the manufacturers when they say it is not harmful.
Thanks very much for the information, i reckon in the end I will either just have to choose one or leave it.
With regards to treating wood for bird boxes please only use water based wood preservatives, there could be issues with chemicals leaching through the wood with chemical based alternatives.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.