You can use any type of wood, but it should be 3/4-inch thick and unpainted/unfinished.
White pine
is a good choice because it is easy to obtain. Do not use particleboard or plywood.
Should you put a perch on a bluebird house?
No Perches
– bluebird boxes do NOT need perches on the exterior of the box. Since bluebirds are cavity nesting birds, their feet are adapted to clinging to wood. Also, the presence of a perch may attract house sparrows which seem to prefer them.
What is the best design for a bluebird house?
They found that, when given a choice, eastern bluebirds consistently chose to nest in boxes with
oval holes measuring 2 inches tall and 1 3/8 inches wide
. (Oval holes can easily be fashioned by drilling two overlapping holes using a 1 3/8-inch drill bit.)
What are the best dimensions for a bluebird house?
- Entrance hole: 1.5 inches (1.56 inches for mountain bluebirds)
- Entrance height: 6 inches to 10 inches above the house floor.
- Interior floor space: 5 inches by 5 inches to accommodate broods of five to eight chicks.
What do you put in a bluebird house?
Well Built: A bluebird house should be watertight, yet ventilated and with drainage holes. It should be built of a rot resistant wood, like cedar,
or untreated exterior plywood
. You can paint the outside a light, neutral color or coat it with linseed oil, but the inside should be untreated wood.
Which direction should a bluebird house face?
The house should face
south or southeast
. Selecting a suitable location for the bluebird house is of house. They should be set out by February 15.
What color should a bluebird house be?
Bluebirds prefer earthy tones, such as the colors of grass and dirt. For this reason,
shades of brown and green
are good choices. Bright colors attract other birds and predators, which is detrimental to bluebirds.
How close to a house can you put a bluebird house?
Mount the house between 4 and 6 feet high to make it harder for predators to get in, but at eye level for you to see in and check on the birds’ progress. If you have multiple houses, place them
100-300 feet apart
. Bluebirds are territorial, and don’t like to have their neighbors too close by.
Should you clean out bluebird houses?
Once breeding season is over
—usually by mid-August—it’s a good idea to clean out the birdhouse. … For birds that have multiple broods per season, such as bluebirds or robins, it’s a good idea to clean out nesting material between broods.
How do you make a good bluebird house?
Cut the front of the box, 5′′ wide and 10 3/4′′ long, with an entrance hole (a 1 1/2′′ hole for eastern bluebirds or western bluebirds, and 1 9/16′′ hole where ranges for the two overlap with mountain bluebirds) whose center is 2′′ from the top and 2 1/2′′ from each side.
What month do bluebirds build nests?
Scouting:
February to Mid-March
: Bluebirds start checking out nesting sites. Late arrivals, or previously unpaired birds may nest as late as July or even August, and some pairs have multiple broods.
Do bluebirds eat birdseed?
Bluebirds rarely eat birdseed
, although they will occasionally take shelled sunflower, safflower and peanut chips/nut meats. … If bluebirds are seen at a bird feeder, they may also be seeking out insects/larvae in the seed, or dried fruits or nut meats mixed with seed.
Do you put anything in a birdhouse?
Wood is the best material for birdhouses
. Other materials (like metal or plastic) may not insulate the nest enough, so eggs or young could become chilled in cold weather or overheated in warm, sunny weather. Use rough-cut wood slabs, tree sections, or 3/4-inch plywood.
