Birdhouse Maintenance

I build birdhouses as a hobby and keep quite a few active birdhouses in my yard. Proper maintenance is important for the good of the birds and to ensure your enjoyment of the houses.

Step 1: Semi-Annual Clean Out...

At least once a year, but preferably twice a year the birdhouse needs to be cleaned out. Tap on the house and listen for activity inside. Carefully shine a flashlight inside to make sure there aren't eggs or chicks inside. Always look from the corner of the house diagonally in through the hole as a startled bird may fly straight out. Once you are sure the house is not in use, open whatever hatch is provided and pull out the old nesting material. Use gloves and wash thoroughly afterwards.

Comments

[BillyBlue]

Dont forget drainage holes

[Tom Buckey]

ive benn told to put the bird house somewere tucked away like on a bushy tree .ect. and ive made my own bird box wich is very close to some bird feeders..... bad idea because i have a bluetit family nesting there then a greattit started to attack the family so ive move the nest.

[cheapchuck]

I don't have much expression with birdhouses in the vicinity of birdfeeders because I don't feed birds in my yard. There are plenty of seniors in the area, and many of them do the opposite of me; they have feeders, but have no birdhouses. I like to put the birdhouses somewhere that is shaded, has some cover, and is high enough off the ground to discourage cats and squirrels. Good Luck!

[Tom Buckey]

sorry i didnt move the nest i ment the box

[cheapchuck]

I will get to work on the $2 birdhouse this weekend. Although I have built many, I have never taken pictures along the way. The $2 birdhouse uses a 5 or 6 foot long 6' wide dog-eared cedar picket, available for less than $2. Make sure the pickets are not stained or treated. It makes sense to buy at least two pickets and make the cuts for two at a time. You'll also need wood glue and some 1 &1/2 inch brads.

[Fanny Fink]

Nice job, looks fantastic. Thanks a lot. I will try at the weekend... Let's make more nests to the animals around us so that we can leave them some space to live on earth beside us. P.S. It would be great if all of us put some water pots in front of our houses so that animals can drink it.

[Fanny Fink]

I wish the making of the nest would have been told here. Anyway an idea of having a birdhouse is fantastic. Thank you.

[cheapchuck]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Building_the_2_Birdhouse/

[foobear]

Neat! I had no idea. I can't wait to build my own birdhouse. Yay!

[cheapchuck]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Building_the_2_Birdhouse/

[bikinearly]

I'm ready to build some birdhouses. Please post some ideas.Thanks

[cheapchuck]

$2 Birdhouse is done. http://www.instructables.com/id/Building_the_2_Birdhouse/

[Da_Fudge]

Cool!!!