Execs: Progressive design utilizing strong high-insulating materials. Quick access for cleansing. Out there in a variety of kinds, colors and designs. 10 12 months assure.
Cons: A bit on the heavy aspect… though as soon as in situ that’s not likely a difficulty and the load really makes the field extra secure. Not 100% positive of the eco-credentials of the concrete ingredient of the fabric used.
Worth: €24.99
The Woodstone vary of nest packing containers by Vivara/CJ Wildlife gives an progressive twist on conventional picket nest field designs. Constructed from a novel mixture of concrete and pure wooden fibres, these packing containers are robust, long-lasting and supply excellent insulating properties — making for happier birds and extra profitable broods.
Ranking: Extremely Beneficial
Woodstone® Seville 28mm Nestbox Full Evaluation
Nest packing containers are available all types of sizes and styles, however they’re all a lot the identical. 4 partitions, a roof, a flooring and both an entrance gap or open entrance to permit entry to potential residents. It’s uncommon to see something actually progressive relating to nest packing containers. So I used to be intrigued once I obtained one in every of CJ Wildlife Eire’s new Woodstone nestboxes to overview on the location.
This was in contrast to any nest field I’d ever seen.
Woodstone packing containers are forged from what seems to be cement or concrete, however a more in-depth look reveals there’s extra occurring right here. The fabric is definitely made out of (and I assume the clue is within the identify) a intelligent mixture of concrete and sustainable FSC licensed wooden fibres. In different phrases, it’s made out of concrete, blended with sawdust.
The result’s a fabric that’s robust, hard-wearing, has excellent insulating properties and is breathable. That ticks quite a lot of the correct packing containers for the proper nest field. An excellent nest field has to maintain birds… and their eggs and chicks, dry and at a temperature that doesn’t fluctuate an excessive amount of via the breeding season. A very good nest field ought to keep cool sufficient on hot-summer days, and retain warmth when it’s cooler exterior, or when mum or dad birds are away foraging.
Wooden does an incredible job of that, which is why the overwhelming majority of nest packing containers in the marketplace are manufactured from wooden. The one downside with wooden is that it doesn’t final, notably within the Irish local weather. As a result of you possibly can’t actually deal with nest packing containers with probably dangerous/poisonous preservatives, picket packing containers can deteriorate rapidly. You’ll get a couple of seasons out of them, possibly 4 in case you’re fortunate, however then you definitely’ll have to exchange them.
Woodstone packing containers are completely different. They don’t deteriorate or degrade, gained’t rot, are impervious to the Irish local weather, and, after all, in contrast to picket nest packing containers, they’re impenetrable to predators. In addition they are available a variety of sizes and styles, a number of colors, and with completely different entrance choices to go well with completely different hen species. There are even speciality Woodstone packing containers for species like swifts, home martins and even kingfishers.
So in principle, Woodstone nest packing containers make sense. However what about in follow?
Utilizing Woodstone nest packing containers.
The very first thing to notice is that this stuff are heavy. They’ve a big heft, so that you’ll have to ensure you repair them securely. Fortunately, they arrive with a tree-friendly chrome steel hook that merely screws in, and the nest field hangs simply from that (there’s additionally a wall-plug included if you wish to connect it to a wall). Because of its weight, the nest field stays put, even in robust winds, so there’s no want for extra fixings.
For cleansing, the entrance panel is removable. You merely rotate the 2 steel fasteners anticlockwise, and take away the entrance plate, giving quick access to the physique of the nest field.
Conclusion
This Woodstone Seville 28mm nest field has changed a picket nest field that had seen a lot better days right here at IWHQ. It’s been up a couple of month, seems to be nice, and has proven no indicators of ailing results from the wind and rain of an Irish January and February. To date there have been no guests, however it’s nonetheless just a little early but. A pair of blue tits used the earlier nest field in the identical location yearly, so I’ve excessive hopes they’ll take up residence on this upgraded des-res as soon as the breeding season kicks in.
In case you’re in search of a nest field improve, or only a new nest field that can stand up to the rigours of the Irish local weather for a decade or extra, take a look at the Woodstone vary on the Birdfood.ie web site.
