How deep should bird boxes be?

28 mm for great tits, tree sparrows and pied flycatchers. 32 mm for house sparrows and nuthatches. 45 mm for starlings.

Should a bird box have a perch?

Bird boxes in your garden do not ever need a perch to assist small garden birds entering the hole. The presence of a perch will only help predatory larger birds to enter the box with ease to then steel the eggs. If your bird box has a perch you should remove it or buy a new box.

Should you remove old nest from bird box?

We recommend that old nests be removed in the autumn, from September onwards once the birds have stopped using the box. Use boiling water to kill any remaining parasites, and let the box dry out thoroughly before replacing the lid. Insecticides and flea powders must not be used.

How do you make a simple bird box?

Step-by-step guide

1. Find the right bird-friendly spot for your box.
2. Make sure you have the right wood.
3. Measure and cut your wood according to the diagram.
4. Nail all the pieces, except the roof, together.
5. Attach the roof.
6. Decorate your box.
7. Put your box up.

What Colour should a bird box be?

No one colour to paint a bird box as it can depend on your garden decor, but as a rule of thumb the colour shade must match the environment its setup in. What colour to paint a bird box would a match to the colour of its surroundings, so a bright green fence would see the bird box painted as so.

What should I look for when buying a bird box?

Choose a bird box that is made from an insulating material such as wood, coir or terracotta or a special waterproof wood and concrete compound such as WoodcretePLUS™. There should be drainage holes at the bottom of the box and ventilation holes to ensure a fresh supply of air.

Do birds use birdhouses in the winter?

You may be surprised to find out that birds do make use of birdhouses in the winter. Not all birds migrate to warmer climates during the colder winter months, and not all birds nest in trees or shrubs. Birdhouses provide birds a place to roost and get out of the cold during the winter for those that use them.

Do robins use the same nest?

Q: How many times will a mother robin use the same nest? A: Usually just once. If she was successful in raising young in a nest, she’ll often build a new floor for that nest to raise another brood, but some robins just use the same nest a second time.

Should you paint bird boxes?

You should ideally paint a bird box at the end of the summer which will allow enough time for the paint to fully cure before the next spring. When cleaning your nest box at the end of each breeding season check the paint and if it is peeling or has chipped sand it down and repaint it if necessary.

What size should a bird box be?

How big should the hole be in a bird box? If you’re not sure what bird species in your area are most in need of nesting boxes, a diameter of 32 millimetres is good for all common birds that nest in small holes. But smaller species such as blue tits who move in may get ousted by larger, more dominant species.