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.)

Which way do you face a bluebird house?

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.

How high does a bluebird house need to be?

Height: Bluebirds nest within a wide range of heights, from two to 50 feet. Mounting at eye level provides easy checking; however, if cats or other predators are problems, hang nest boxes at least six to eight feet from the ground.

What kind of wood is used for bluebird houses?

Materials – Most bluebird boxes are made of wood. The best types of wood to use are insect and rot-resistant species like red cedar, white cedar, and cypress. You can also use white pine, but it does not typically last as long as the first three.

How do I attract bluebirds to my bluebird house?

How to Attract Bluebirds
  1. Install a Bluebird Nesting Box in your back yard. …
  2. Place the box in an open area five to six feet off the ground. …
  3. Provide food such as meal worms, suet balls or seed consisting all or in part of sunflower chips.
  4. Water in the form of a small pond or bird bath.

What is the best color to paint a bluebird house?

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.

Should you put a perch on a bluebird house?

Do not equip a bluebird nesting box with a perch. Bluebirds do not need perches; however, nest competitors such as house wrens and house sparrows will use perches to gain access to a box.

How do you keep sparrows out of a bluebird house?

How do you keep snakes out of bluebird houses?

Do bluebird houses need vents?

Birdhouses should have ventilation and drainage holes to prevent overheating or drowning of baby birds. A sloped roof with a bit of an overhang can also help keep the nest dry. If you have a house without these you can always drill a few holes in the floor for drainage and high up on the sides to provide ventilation.

How do I attract bluebirds to my yard?

7 Tips for Attracting Bluebirds
  1. Open it up. Bluebirds prefer open areas with low grass and perches from which they can hunt insects.
  2. Leave it alone. …
  3. Plant native. …
  4. Just add water. …
  5. Go chemical-free. …
  6. Beware of roaming cats. …
  7. Offer mealworms at your feeders.

Where should I put my bluebird house in my backyard?

Place nest boxes in the sunniest, most open area possible, away from your house or deep shade. Bluebirds prefer large expanses of short grass with a clear flight path, ideally facing a field. Try not to place the house too close to feeders. Make sure it is mounted 5 to 10 feet off the ground.

Should I put a perch on my birdhouse?

Use natural, unpainted wood instead and stain the outside with a natural wood preservative such as linseed oil. → Stay away from any birdhouse with a perch. Birds don’t need them and they only make it easier for predators or unwanted birds to get in.

Should bluebird houses be in the shade?

Bluebirds prefer open grassy areas, fields and no shade. It’s best to have a place where high grass and weeds do not grow beneath the nest box. Boxes should be posted five to six feet off the ground, although boxes placed a little higher usually suffice.

Should I drill holes in base of bird box?

Small drainage holes in the base are essential to let liquid waste drain away or in open front boxes to let any rainwater drain away. Don’t add a perch – predators may intimidate the nestlings and force the adult birds to leave. Put the hole at the top of the box to keep the young out of reach of cats or squirrels.

What is the best size hole for a birdhouse?

The entrance hole should be large enough to admit the bird, but not so large as to admit unwanted species. If you want to attract smaller songbirds, a 1½” diameter is a common size of entrance hole; however, it is an advantageous to use a smaller size if you are planning to attract chickadees and wrens specifically.

What do you put inside 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.

Why won’t birds use my birdhouse?

Different bird species have different sizes, and the right birdhouse dimensions need to be able to fit the right type of bird! Bigger birds need more space when their eggs hatch and grow into hatchlings. If there is simply no space inside, then birds will have a difficult time moving in the birdhouse.

How deep should a bird house be?

Think of a hollow tree; that pocket is snug and deep. Cavity-nesting birds like their houses that way, too; 5 by 5 inches at the bottom is an ideal dimension for most species, with a depth of 5 to 6 inches below the entry and an overall height of 10 to 12 inches.

Do Blue Jays use birdhouses?

Blue Jays Prefer an Open Platform

A closed birdhouse with only a small hole for an opening will attract birds that nest in tree cavities, rather than in the branches. Blue jays prefer a large open platform to an enclosed box.

Should you paint a birdhouse?

Birdhouses should be painted with camouflage colors like gray, green, and brown that suit their natural environment and keep the birds safe. Bright-colored paint should not be used as it can attract unwanted attention from predators. Birdhouses should not be painted black as they can get heated up in summer.