Foam/Artificial Nesting Bowls

[Kyler]

I have always wanted to make foam/artificial nesting bowls for my martins. Rick Cruz is the one that I got the idea from. Many people have seen his videos on YouTube of him doing nest replacements and just how easy they actually are. This is my first attempt at making the tool used to carve the bowl out of 2 inch insulation foam. I’m not sure exactly how this is going to work but I figured I would give it a shot. I started with a 8 inch plywood saw blade. After cutting it down to my dimensions I welded a small piece of square stock so that I could use my drill press. I’m in the process of painting it so it doesn’t rust in anyway.

I will be making a jig for my trio houses to hold the foam while I cut the actual bowl shape. I will be making a video on the process if it is a success.



Kyler,

[Dave Reynolds]

.Kyler ..... Well done.... It looks like it should work great... impressive...

Dave

[Kyler]

Alright this is my first try. Before I buy a whole 4x8 sheet of 2 inch foam I just wanted to make sure that it works. So I decided to stack a few pieces on each other to see. I would say it is going to work. The only problem I have is it isn't a smooth cut. It leaves these these little ridges. I personally don’t have a problem with them but I would like them to be smooth. I might try to come up with a way to sand them down. What do you guys think?









Kyler,

[Archer]

The little ridges are not a problem. I see something else for you to consider. The nest you have made looks great but may be too deep. When the weather gets hot during the day, the nestlings move away from each other to stay cool. In the evening or night they move back together for warmth. If the nestlings crawl out of the nest during the day, will they be able to get back into the nest at night? If you would remove the top layer of the three layers of foam and the rest of the cavity is filled with nesting material to that level, they could move back into the nest. Sometimes the adults will drag the young out of the nest accidentally, how do they get back in? I use Styrofoam nests too, they are one inch deep.

[Kyler]

Archer,
Thanks for responding! I was waiting to see what you thought about them. You have a really good point. I didn’t think about that. I was actually going to use 2 inch foam because that is what Rick Cruz used with his. But I like that you use the 1 inch. I will definitely try it and see how it works. The first one was a test. I will definitely make them more shallow. How deep would you go? Half inch or something like that?

Kyler,

[Archer]

That sounds about right. The martins will do some scratching themselves as well. Besides being warm, the benefit of having a styrafoam nest bowl is to keep the eggs together. Some sub adults pairs don't make a good nest, and if you have a flat floor, the eggs roll all over the place, and then you get poor incubation and hatching. When do you get your first arrivals?

[Kegger]

Kyler;

nice nest bowl. If you still need help making a smoother cut, I can give you some
tips on how to do so. I like this idea also for myself. Not sure if its a good idea
for SW Florida though, maybe too hot. Kegger

[Kyler]

Archer,
Yes that’s the main reason why I’m trying these for this year. I have been averaging at least 8 or 9 pair of SY’s every year. I trying to help them be more successful in the long run. I have always had nest trays in my trio M12K’s but in my trio castles I would like to have something. I personally don’t use the subfloors so in many of the SY’s nests the eggs were laid right on the cold aluminum. They usually just used what I pre-nested with. So I’m hoping these will help the eggs from rolling and also allowing the SY’s to not have to make much of a nest. My martins usually arrive late March!

Kegger,
Thank you! To be honest with you. What do you think about the foam bowls to keep the nest cooler? I’m not sure what houses you have but I have Trios and I’m also thinking it will make the nest slightly cooler because it is keeping the eggs/nestlings of the floor? Just a idea!

Kyler,

[Kegger]

Kyler;

not sure what to think about foam nests keeping young at comfortable temperature here in sw florida
this will be my first attempt with a trio like house 9 cavity made of 1/2 pvc with 1/4 ext plywood
i have vented well, average temp here april to july is probably 90 with humidity building up to
shower daily by mid june. my site is over water(live on a salt water canal) . my thoughts
were to make nest tray pie shaped with 2 different diameter nests. (eggs to 15 day olds, and a larger
size for older chicks. mike

[Kyler]

Finally got some inch foam. I decided to make a new jig to hold the foam in place while I cut. I made some for the original 6x6 compartments and some for the Trio Mini and Trio Castle compartments. They definitely turned out better than I though they would!

















Kyler,

[deancamp]

Very nice. Those should do the trick.

[Archer]

Very nice indeed. If you want to further improve it, reposition the nest bowl into one of the back corners, as close as you can. I have noticed the martins like the confined space in the corner. Most nests are off the center line and favor a corner. Just my observation.