This article explains my journey from making my own nest boxes and building breeding cabinets and chicken coops to selling nest boxes online to creating MrBirdBox, handmade and custom nesting boxes.
After breeding birds for many years, I found that there is a lack of quality nest boxes readily available. Most next boxes are made from MDF or chipboard and will last six months to a year. The aviary looked untidy with parrot boxes chewed through.
Finding good quality nest boxes
Occasionally I found good quality nest boxes at shows or markets, only to then not find them again when I needed additional stock. I also found that the designs tended to be the same with not much choice. Those better quality boxes often were made with better material but still looked a little underwhelming. I wanted my aviary to display my love for birds and wanted to create a look that suited. As I could not find what I was looking for, I started to make my own. From aviaries to boxes and cages.
The king quail nests
The defining moment was when I wanted some nests for my king quails. I could not find anything in the marked. Most breeders let the Quails lay eggs all over the cage and then collect and incubate them. I prefer a more natural approach. I love watching the hens hatch the eggs and dote on their chicks. It gives me great joy to watch my birds rear their offspring. I tried to build a small nest that imitates the Quails preferred breeding habitat in dense grass, sheltered from predators.
Those little nest boxes were a hit almost instantly, not only did they look great in the cage but the quails started to lay in them to my surprise. At first I still found the occasional stay egg but over time they started to lay exclusively in the nest box. I was able to hatch king quails naturally in the past and was curious how the boxes would perform. Sure enough, one of the hens went broody and stated to sit on the eggs to my delight. After another week a second hen took up residence in the other half of the double nest box.
After 19 days the first king quail babies started to hatch. I had great success with the hatch rate. I can now watch my quails raise their chicks in an outdoor aviary, knowing that I will have healthy babies, integrated in the flock.
Selling online
Since I made some extra nesting boxes for my quails, I put them up online for sale. They were a success and I sold a few via online market places.
Armed with a few designs and nest boxes I had made, I decided to offer these nest boxes online for other avid breeders and bird enthusiasts.
Creation of MrBirdBox
All that was missing was a website, a place to sell the items and a good name. BidBox came to mind but it was dominated by movie franchises. As I make these nest boxes myself, I decided that MrBirdBox is a fitting name.
With local manufacturing, I can offer custom designs or nest boxes for specific requirements at a fair price as MrBirdBox handmade and custom nesting boxes.
MrBirdBox is a small but growing business operating from residential premises. You are welcome to visit us at our workshop at 21 Jocarm Avenue with prior arrangement to look at materials, discuss the best option for your bird setup or to pick-up your order if you don’t want it delivered.
Welcome to MrBirdBox. If you cannot find what you are looking for, we will likely be able to make it for you. Use the contact us page on the website, email us at info@mrbirdbox.com.au or call us on 0420 488 962.
Yours Sincerely,
MrBirdBox