Dove Cote | S4 E12

The villagers of Colonial Williamsburg might not be called bird lovers today, at least not in the conventional sense. Norm learns this first hand as he inspects the inner recesses of an elaborate dovecote in the backyard of one of Williamsburg's historic homes. With space for up to 48 nesting birds, the dovecote housed tethered squabs until they were ready to be plucked from the nest for the family meal. Norm's version of the dovecote is smaller and is actually a perfect accessory to a garden or country landscape.
Season: 4 | Episode: 12
Original Air Date: March 21, 1992
To purchase the measured drawing:
www.newyankee.com/episode/dov...
Visit our website at: www.newyankee.com
The New Yankee Workshop is a co-production of Morash Associates, Inc. and WGBH Boston
#NewYankeeWorkshop #NormAbram #woodworking #howto

[@PeterGoode1]

Who ever is getting these formatted and posted to KZbin, thank you!!!

[@newyankeeworkshop]

You're welcome!

[@andydudas2376]

one of the most impressive aspects of this show is how long and unbroken virtually all of the takes are. Norm is so affable and sharp, it gives the feeling of each shot is just one take. Like how seldom was there a take 2...While in the opening segment at Williamsburg, I think I heard the very first time Norm repeat/correct himself. Such a pro.

[@newyankeeworkshop]

That's a Russ trademark. He trained as a theater director and loves long continuous takes. Plus it helps when Norm knows his subject cold and didn't have to think about what to say.

[@mrpiccolo23]

@@newyankeeworkshop I love this style. It's quality educational television. It's really a shame new media tends to favour instant gratification and quick content turnover. I recently also found Larry Haun's videos (1992) and Ron Sutton's (1980s). Good stuff.

[@paullosasso7147]

Release the norm out takes!

[@drewzuhosky6826]

@@paullosasso7147 There probably are no bloopers from this series. With Norm being well-versed in carpentry, this may have been a one-take show.

[@EMWoodworking]

30+ years later and still a great show.

[@ninthplanet3040]

Never obsolete or irrelevant - Norm Abram. I just love watching and learning from him.

[@swannyburger5866]

Those are some lucky birds. A house built by Norm.

[@sciwolf359]

I’ve never heard of a dove box before. How awesome! Pretty, darn smart to have the dove raise your meat for you.

[@kevindivine2869]

TBH, Norm said in later in interviews that this was the one project that he always wondered what he was drinking/thinking to do this. Over the years with the DVD business they hardly ever sold this episode or the plans to go with it. By far, according to PBS data, the least popular episode of an otherwise popular show.

[@greencello599]

Nice project for those who like to provide for the birds.

[@needfuldoer4531]

The frame could be adapted into the world's sturdiest dog house, too. Skip the internal partitions, add another floor joist and a solid floor.

[@jeremyhuggins8796]

I hope you keep the plans available! This is one of those projects I would build just to say "I built that." Love this channel.

[@newyankeeworkshop]

Plans are listed in the expanded description above (if available) www.newyankee.com/episode/dove-cote/

[@ODgreenery]

​@@newyankeeworkshop your work is truly appreciated.

[@Soper20]

Norm must have had a hot date the first night, he slammed the framing of that thing together at light speed!

[@131dyana]

Love the bird house. We do not eat the doves but we encourage them to live here instead of messy pedgins.

[@wdwtx2.0]

That's a snazzy bird house.

[@brischnoor]

I have loved The New Yankee Workshop scene I was 5

[@godbluffvdgg]

The birdies will be happy... They can have killer parties in there!

[@gregoryenste8459]

My cross street is dovecote, never knew what that meant.

[@charlesa3374]

My HOA would simply love this! sarc/ Great job as always Norm...

[@jennydavis4198]

Dove Cotes date back to medieval times they were a place to keep doves or more usually pigeons for meat, feathers and dung. they were very popular in manor houses and "monastic Granges "

[@aramis295]

Norm, that's a lot of nails you were driving into those pieces!

[@kevindivine2869]

On interviews in later years, Norm gave this the What Was I Thinking stamp. Apparently, of all the projects they've offered plans for, nobody ever ordered one of these.

[@kkupsky6321]

I fear when he says “miscellaneous” he means the slaves stayed in there 🤦‍♀️. Pigeon for dinner? Haha. I love this show so much.

[@AgungMangku-no9mx]

Good

[@areareare9953]

The local coyotes would call this an "In-and-Cote".

[@danf4616]

Impressive how almost every project is built twice. Kind of like how Bob Ross did each painting 3 times for his show.

[@paulholmes1303]

It's good to see a radial arm in use. Mine is a 1957 Craftsman, have rebuilt it with new motor bearings, pulled the arm apart and honed the arm cylinder, etc. and I'm running it on 240V power. Cuts through oak and treated pine like butter, and a true indicator of how America used to make quality tools. And to those that consider a radial arm dangerous, use the right blade!! Negative angle blades are the only blades to be used. Finally, one feature lesser know on an original Craftsman Radial arm, is the use of the other end of the motor spindle as a drill press and router tool.

[@aramis295]

It is good, all right! In fact, I've even seen Norm use a molding head in that vintage Craftsman saw in season 1, and that worked out well. The current saw is a Delta 33-890, 12" (1990 series).

[@batarang87]

​@@aramis295 the 1990 12" Delta Radial Arm Saw is the oldest stationary machine in the shop, the current Delta Unisaw Table Saw arrived at the shop in 1994 which replaced the 1966 model.

[@mrpiccolo23]

Repairing power tools... can be tricker than expected and requires even more tools! I have a 1983 Skil 5501 HD on the bench in pieces now.

[@jameswortner6135]

I too am a Craftsman Radial Arm Saw fan. Mine is a 1989 version still loved/maintained and used in 2023. The versatility of this tool is appreciated today. I sold Craftsman tools at Sears as a part-time salesman in the late 1970s/early 1980s - paid for my college education. Still have all my old Craftsman hand tools and most of my old corded power tools as well. They don't make them like they used to, that's for sure!

[@aramis295]

@@jameswortner6135 Aha! Sadly, Sears has gone out of business in our local state, but obviously, Craftsman is still existing in Lowe's, where I've looked at the various tools, including a pancake air compressor for the pneumatic nailers and other accessories.

[@bozobaz30]

The smoke house was next to the laundry makes sense lol

[@roloworm1501]

It probably does make sense, actually. I'm guessing that they used the ashes from the smokehouse to make lye soap for the laundry!

[@MisterTee2010]

Cool

[@andrewahern3730]

I’ll name my first pair Norm and Russ

[@lap456]

Big bird house.

[@rlamb007]

Rumor has it they only sold one set of plans - Can anyone verify? Love these Videos - Bring back so many memories. I can remember watching them live every Sunday afternoon on my local PBS station. Always wishing I had all his tools!

[@newyankeeworkshop]

It's certainly not our most popular plan :) but we've sold a few just today.

[@rlamb007]

@@newyankeeworkshop Great news - It was just New Yankee Folklore. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

[@mrpiccolo23]

There's an interview with Russ and Norm out there that this information came from regarding the popularity. I can't track it down right now.

[@rlamb007]

@@mrpiccolo23 I knew I heard it somewhere - Let me know if you find it. Anyway - No disrespect intended with my comment. I enjoyed watching this episode much like all the others!

[@batarang87]

Here's to hoping the Ladderback Chair episode has been found, because it's the final episode of Season 4. My aging 1992 VHS recording is on it's last legs, I need to check it since I haven't in 10 years

[@newyankeeworkshop]

You're going to have to wait. We don't have a digital version of the Ladderback Chair, but Russ is hunting it down :) We're going to skip it for now and move on to Season 5.

[@HachikoThePoochInugami]

They have finally found it!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqOtn3xvmrN6eqs

[@4HBirtcher]

I wouldn’t have a dove coat in my yard! However making the same structure you can actually use for a doghouse!

[@ezee2daz]

It's a little strange seeing 18 penny and 8 penny nails used in the framing. It seems everyone uses screws now since impacts became popular. Thanks Norm, I'm a retired carpenter after 35 years local 250.

[@GeezerGramps]

Should have put a For Rent sign on it. :-)

[@BillMulholland1]

👍

[@robertjwilliams3532]

Don't worry! The pidgins will show up and like rabbits, before you know it, you will need another cote!!😃

[@TheMomanslm]

Had read long ago that this was the worst selling project for the NYW so I tried to buy it but it wasn't available and was told it wouldn't be. So glad to see it shared now.

[@newyankeeworkshop]

We just had to rescan the plan. Have fun with your build!

[@bfrancioso]

12:35 I see Norm was worried about bees making a nest in that spot. Couldn't bees make a nest in any of the open nesting spots as well?

[@jalenjose3905]

Wow, that is at scaled imagine full scale, how long would take to build one.cutting hamering by hand

[@torowazup1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼😎

[@paulgar8]

Well, did any birds actually nest in it once it was installed?

[@newyankeeworkshop]

Yes. We'll share an update on it. It's right behind the workshop and still standing.

[@myoutdoorlife3833]

​@@newyankeeworkshop this is my new favorite KZbin channel! I used to watch these shows over 30 years ago! I'm anxious to see the dove house update! I'm also hoping you add the video of that awesome toybox with built in checkers board project! I always wanted to build one!

[@anonymously241]

Is the Bird 🐦🕊️ hotel still standing? 😊

[@newyankeeworkshop]

Yes!

[@ODgreenery]

​@@newyankeeworkshop I have no doubt it is. Post a video of it!

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

How do you keep the squirrels out?

[@mrpiccolo23]

I read somewhere recently that perches are actually unnecessary and make a great place for a squirrel or other animal to stand and reach in for a treat. I don't know much about birds so I'm not sure how accurate that is, or if there are types of birds that actually would use them.

[@rons3507]

If I remember correctly, Norm said in an interview that this was his least favorite project he did on the show.

[@areareare9953]

And he had to do it twice!

[@adammutolo5800]

How much does that weigh?!?!

[@MARKLOCKWOOD2012]

where Norm is resting his hand 🖐️ the hole 🕳️ by his thumb i’d put some weather caulking some way to seal it. bees 🐝 especially carpenter love wood once the make a bee line pun or no pun intended love to burro inside making chambers that look like ant routes they chew day/night chewing kicking out the dust plug or spray no good the re make a new hole entry and exit they bring in pollen weakening each framing of our car port my parents home was built using cedar plus each board foot each spring gets filled with pollen over time what will happen the frame gets eaten away weaker hasn’t collapsed yet i’m sure it will

[@connieb6161]

Isn’t that a lot of dead space in the center?

[@user-bu1fk3bu2w]

pbs

[@bobliptak6309]

Wouldn't the chemicals in the pressure treated lumber be harmful to the birds?

[@mrpiccolo23]

My guess would be no less harmful than it is to us, especially if not airborne as dust.

[@bobliptak6309]

@@mrpiccolo23 '''' but we don't sleep on pressure treated lumber!

[@mrpiccolo23]

@@bobliptak6309 If you look before he closes everything in, none of the surfaces the birds would be exposed to are pressure treated.

[@Monkey_Snot]

Using the Philips screws is bugging me lol.

[@Kevin-mp5of]

Not as much as the misspelling of Phillips is bothering me…

[@alaskankare]

so the purpose of this cove is not to be able to harvest them?

[@HachikoThePoochInugami]

I think so. This is handy in the Philippines since doves and pigeons are used for racing... also as pets.

[@ericjohnson9119]

No glue🤔

[@Monkey_Snot]

Would you glue your deck in your backyard? It's meant to be outside all year, so glue wouldn't allow it to expand and contract properly.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

I would a quail but no way would I eat a dove. I've had mourning doves at my water baths and feeders. They are monogamous and the male and female would hang out together at dusk

[@cabman86]

Here is Louisiana we call them winged rats.

[@dougvalkema4762]

In Michigan, "winged rats" is what We call seagulls.

[@davidhensley76]

I'd rather have bats.

[@Billy_Dino]

aka chinese pantry