Lack of Nestbox Activity

[Guinnessman1974]

We have 4 nestboxes in and around our house and garden.

However, none have been occupied! Any ideas on how to make the boxes more appealing for birds next year. Do you need to clean them out properly, or simply leave the nest material for birds to make use of in the future?

[rossy]

how big is your garden ? what size holes are in your boxes ? and when you say nest material, have you put it in ? wait till september , then clean them out , is my advice, and dont forget birds are terrortorial so maybe they need spacing out. rossy.

[bobbarber]

Originally Posted by Guinnessman1974

We have 4 nestboxes in and around our house and garden.

However, none have been occupied! Any ideas on how to make the boxes more appealing for birds next year. Do you need to clean them out properly, or simply leave the nest material for birds to make use of in the future?

Yes clean them out in the Autumn and sterilise with boiling water to get rid of parasites etc. Make sure they are dry before replacing as birds may roost in them during the night. I don`t think that it is a territory problem as you say you have 4 boxes none of which has been occupied. It`s more than likely due to the positioning of them. Make sure the boxes are not facing direct sunshine or prevailing wind where rain can be blown in and they are not exposed to predators. Also check out the height you are placing the boxes for the birds of your area and the correct size entrance hole. Coal tits like to nest nearer the ground, hope this helps good luck ...Bob

[rossy]

if you look to the left under birds menu, click on bird home and then scroll down to nest boxes for small birds you might pick up some tips there. rossy.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by bobbarber

Yes clean them out in the Autumn and sterilise with boiling water to get rid of parasites etc.

This is not necessary at all. Nobody sterilises natural nest sites (and the birds do fine), and the next bird to enter will bring in a new lot of parasites anyway.

Originally Posted by bobbarber

I don`t think that it is a territory problem as you say you have 4 boxes none of which has been occupied.

It might be if next door also has a box, and the only pair of Great Tits is using that instead. It also depends on how much habitat is around - do Blue/Great Tits actually breed in the area? If there aren't any decent trees/bushes then they might not.

[bobbarber]

Originally Posted by RKB

This is not necessary at all. Nobody sterilises natural nest sites (and the birds do fine), and the next bird to enter will bring in a new lot of parasites anyway.

I don`t agree, a severe infestation of fleas and other parasites can cause severe debilitation or death to nestlings and the fact that the next bird to enter would be carrying parasites why add to what could be an existing problem?...Bob