Robin nest box

[jdurbo]

Hi I was thinking of putting up a robin nest box! has anyone else got a box for robins and where have you sited them? I have two that come to my garden and they are mainly only on one side of the garden where there are a few bushes so behind the bushes maybe?? jen xxx

[Cazzie]

I moved in our current house in April this year, put up a robin box inside our little seated arbour - and nothing My nextdoor neighbour had them nesting in her ivy though!

I do know that robins love plenty of cover for their nest sites, so if it's very bushy then give it a go there, you never know they may like it!

Btw, are there any cats about? If so then it may be worth putting some large chicken wire over the box to stop the moggies getting to it

Good luck, I hope you have more success than I did lol!

[jdurbo]

Cazzie.. we moved here in march and we were getting 3 cats coming in the garden and a couple of weeks ago i saw a cat with a bird from upstairs so i ran down and fell over in the kitchen in my haste to stop the cat..That was the last straw so i put up chicken wire half way up the hawnthorn hedge but right up to it and secured it at the bottom and now the cats have stopped competely and the birds can still hide in the hedge. I had a nice bruise for my efforts to save the cat though! jen xxx

[kshotton45]

We've put several Robin boxes up for the past 10 years. We have never had them used !
But in that time I've had 2 Robins nests in empty flower pots in my shed !

Keith.

[jdurbo]

Kshotton45.. Thats so cute! jen xxx

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Robin's used a box that my Grandparents put up, just a simple open fronted design need to be well hidden

[bezza]

Hi,
I have just returnted from holiday to discover that I have a Robins nest in the potatoe pot.... She flew out when I wartered the plants and I noticed it deep in the soil, there was also four tiny eggs layed in there. I left it as I found it and did not move the eggs or the nest.

She then returned that evening. I popped down this morning and she was not there but there was an extra egg, now making five. She must of popped back when I was out as she was there and has been for the last nine hours.

I wanted to ask if any one knows how long hatching takes and also if I should help by leaving food near by.

Thank you

[Jenny W]

Incubation should be about 12-17 days, then fledging fairly similar. You could put out extra food - it's not essential, but may help the adults to keep in good condition as well as the chicks. They will be able to feed themselves without it though.

Supplementary feeding does help but I don't think it's as essential for species such as Robins, more so for granivores that have suffered major population declines due to changes in farming methods.

[Fieldfare95]

I made a robin nestbox last year
As we very rarely get cats I put it on the floor behind this massive shrub, they haven't been anywhere near it so I'm debating whether to put it on the fence behind the conifer.

[SallyHoopoe]

I have a Robin nesting in my shed on an open shelf underneath the upturned frame of an old wire hanging basket. I think they figured this was a safe haven - perhaps a false sense of security from the basket. Anyway, it is very dark in there and I hardly ever go in, so it is really quite by luck that I found it. I have since stayed away to leave them in peace. I was so worried the fledglings would bash their heads when they finally take flight but I have since read (on other internet posts) that sheds are a really common place for Robins to make their nests. Especially in flower pots - so I'm going to make sure there are a few in there for next year! I was thinking of demolishing the shed one day, but now I am thinking twice! The first time I discovered the nest the male was on it, and took off once we came eye-to-eye. I was amazed at how he managed to fly off the nest, stall in mid air before hitting the wall, then shoot out through the gap in the door. I have left the door ajar since then, have bought some robin feed and hung it in a nearby tree and am chasing away any cats that come into the garden. I hope they don't realise that the robins are there.