Nestbox: should I clean it or put a new one up?

[Zertie]

We put a nest box up on terrace last autumn for the first time and after a lot of visits, a blue tit couple moved in :-) We had a wonderful time following the whole process and even got to see when three of "our babies" fledged.

Now the time has come to clean the box, but I was wondering if it was just as fine to replace it with a new one (I have several new boxes but nowhere else to put them...). But I'm afraid replacing the old box will lessen the chances of getting new tenants next spring?

The blue tits spent a lot of time picking at the wood surrounding the entrance when they were making the nest - was that a way of "marking their territory"? Sometimes a blue tit still comes and looks into the hole of the box but never goes in. I always wonder if it's one of "our" tits... In which case it would maybe be better to keep the old box??

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Elizabeth B]

I suggest you clean out the box, then put it back. We have kept the same boxes for several years, and they are usually used - and perhaps you might consider adding a camera for next year?

This has been our best year in the 11 years we've been watching - 26 bluetit chicks fledged from our three boxes!

[nightshade]

Working on the hole may be a statement of intent but it is more to do with not snagging the birds feathers on its multiple daily food deliveries

[Hedera]

I would keep the old box - it will have lost its new smell and birds like to get used to seeing it in the same place. It may get some spiders in it which they will like!

[Zertie]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I'll be cleaning out the old one tomorrow then (not looking forward to what I might find ;-)).

P.S. Elizabeth, 26 bluetit chicks from three boxes? Wow!

[BloomingMarvellous]

The Birds are very capable of cleaning out the boxes all by themselves, if man keeps interfering, one day this natural behaviour will be lost forever.

[angelika611]

they may use the box to roost in, in winter.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by BloomingMarvellous

The Birds are very capable of cleaning out the boxes all by themselves, if man keeps interfering, one day this natural behaviour will be lost forever.

I don't believe this - there must be far more birds nesting in natural holes than in nesting boxes!

As usual, we shall continue to follow the RSPB's advice, and clean out our three boxes in the autumn, and make sure any mites etc are killed off by pouring boiling water into them.