Roosting Pouches

wyevilla · #1 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 01:24 PM

Has anyone had any success with these things?

For the uninitiated they are effectively a woven bag of wicker, twig and straw. They have a hole, usually at the top and are supposed to provide a place for small birds to rest overnight.

I must admit I was highly skeptical. However, I was given three by my mother last winter. I duly put them up hanging from low branches of trees that make up our back hedge. I didn't really consider that they would fulfil their stated purpose. Indeed I thought that even if they did I'd never notice anyway. So resigned to this I put them up thinking that at least they would provide nesting material as they diintegrated.

Anyway back in June I was wandering around the garden on a stll evening just as it was turning dusk. I became aware that one of the pouches was swinging just a little more than it should as there was no wind. I got closer but couldn't see anything as the light was now beginning to fade fast. I went inside and found a torch and returned to the hedge.

I couldn't believe my eyes. 2 baby wrens - still with faint signs of the gape were sitting inside side-by-side. They returned for at least 2 more nights, then 1 on its own for a couple of nights and then no more.

We had had a wren nesting in an ivy-covered wall and I presume these were the offspring which were dispersing from the nest.

The moral of the story: don't look a gift pouch in the mouth.

mrs fish · #2 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 01:45 PM

What a lovely story

I often look at them in the shops but have never bought any, I think I will now

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 01:56 PM

How very lucky,I bought some from a newspaper offer.
These were set out around the garden,the birds sometimes
used them as overnight roosts but they were more popular
with field mice,a quick recce shows most have disintergrated
(several nest boxes are down and broken)
Your experience shows anything is worth a try

Nicola Main · #4 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 02:19 PM

I have a couple of roosting pockets on low hanging branches of my plum tree. I got them a few years back and nothing ever went into them (that I saw anyway!). Last year however, I went out into the garden to feed our rabbit and turned around and here was this little Coal Tit just poking its head out of the hole! It was sooooooo cute and it always came back to the same pocket at around 4.00pm just as dusk was approaching. He (or she) hasn't been in a while and I fear the worst. It was lovely to watch though! Regards, Nicola.

fulhamphil · #5 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 05:02 PM

I've got a couple hanging by the bushes, only had them for a couple of months and so far had no takers, however i will remain optimistic and hope something beds down for a night or two !

mrs fish · #6 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 07:23 PM

It only takes the bird a second or two to go in, to see them go to roost you have to watch without blinking at dusk

honeybee · #7 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 07:30 PM

Lucky you.. got a couple of them because they're cheap. One has a wooden roof, will put in the ivy when it spreads.

Susie · #8 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 07:49 PM

I got a couple of these just after Christmas, they were only about £1.50 each so I reckoned they were worth a try. I wasn't sure where to hang them so I have one up quite high in a hedge and the other front the top branches of a tree outside my bedroom window. So far I haven't noticed any birds paying them attention but thanks to your posts above I shalln't give up hope yet.

Is it a good idea to put some sort of bedding into the pouch or just leave it empty?

wyevilla · #9 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 08:12 PM

I really don't know. There isn't much room in mine. But then again if they were a little more snug perhaps they'd be more attractive. Time for the usual trial and error, I guess.

Susie · #10 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 08:20 PM

I wonder if cotton wool would be any good.

Probably not! lol

Wild-Woman · #11 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyevilla

I really don't know. There isn't much room in mine. But then again if they were a little more snug perhaps they'd be more attractive. Time for the usual trial and error, I guess.

The roosting pouches I put up got used....as a good source of nesting material for sparrows etc. So they did a good job of sorts.

Susie · #12 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 08:27 PM

As long as they got used I am sure you didn't mind.

I used to curse the blackbird who pulled the coconut fibers out of my hanging basket liners, making them so threadbare they had holes in in the end, but I couldn't help be pleased when it made a cosy nest with them.

honeybee · #13 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie

I wonder if cotton wool would be any good.

Probably not! lol

"they" say that you shouldn't put nesting material in a bird box / artificial nest. Hang a bit of sheeps wool up or something. My mum had some garden twine on her bench and kept wondering where it was going to til we saw the sparrows picking at it for nests.

eeyore · #14 (**permalink**) 26-01-2007, 10:08 PM

we have these http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/re...uct/518/cat/67 in the review section awaiting a review - if any of you good folk have used them perhaps you could pop over and do the honours

Lincs Yellowbelly · #15 (**permalink**) 27-01-2007, 07:26 AM

Keep meaning to get some roosting pockets, but it always slips my mind

Next time i'm in the Garden Centre or Haiths i'll pick a few up

Susie · #16 (**permalink**) 27-01-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

we have these http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/re...uct/518/cat/67 in the review section awaiting a review - if any of you good folk have used them perhaps you could pop over and do the honours

Ta for that, Eeyore, at least I now know that the roosting pocket should go in a sheltered position.

ron1863 · #17 (**permalink**) 27-01-2007, 02:54 PM

I put one up in an elderberry tree a few years ago and forgot about it. Last year I was pruning the tree with my partner (yeah, I know shears would be better), when she knocked against it and a small bat flew out. I was surprised as I always assumed that bats roosted in colonies. We left it alone after that and have since moved house, so I don't know what became of it.

mrs fish · #18 (**permalink**) 27-01-2007, 04:57 PM

Bats roost singulary or with their young in the summer months, they hibernate in large colonys for the winter.
That must of been a surprise to see a bat fly out of the pouch

ron1863 · #19 (**permalink**) 29-01-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Bats roost singulary or with their young in the summer months, they hibernate in large colonys for the winter.
That must of been a surprise to see a bat fly out of the pouch

Well my partner asked "what kind of bird is that" I had to look twice as I never expected to see a bat. We had several of these woven roosting bags and the bat was the only thing that ever used it. May have something to do with the fact that they sway in the wind.

mrs fish · #20 (**permalink**) 29-01-2007, 11:45 AM

Or because of the material of pouches the bat was able to hang on upside down

emma4857 · #21 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeybee

"they" say that you shouldn't put nesting material in a bird box / artificial nest. Hang a bit of sheeps wool up or something. My mum had some garden twine on her bench and kept wondering where it was going to til we saw the sparrows picking at it for nests.

You shouldn't put cotton wool in. You can add a little bit of hay or straw, or even dog hair and sheep hair.

wyevilla · #22 (**permalink**) 14-10-2009, 08:50 PM

Hello Emma4857. Welcom to WAB.

You are quite correct. Keep it natural and the wildlife will do the rest.

Kayleigh · #23 (**permalink**) 14-10-2009, 10:03 PM

Make sure any pouches put up are secure as the birds and chicks if they breed inside them can be injured in strong winds if the nests are swinging about freely.

emma4857 · #24 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 10:12 AM

I've just bought 3 of these pouches from B&Q, And I've put them in the bushes in my garden and Yes I tied them to the branches with some string cos the little hooks come off the pouch before I even put them up, so I tied them to make them more secure. I'm hoping to see the birds use them as a shelter for the winter if nothing else.