Bonjour! I am English but living in France.

minnies world · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2008, 05:53 PM

Hi Everyone!

I have moved to France a year ago and I inherited lots of bird boxes already in situ - what I was wondering was - do I have to empty the old material out before my blue tits/nuthatchers etc start to claim them and if so when do I do it?

I had several sucessful pairs last year that really took to the boxes, i want the same this year - what do i need to do?

Hope you can help.

Minnie
x

big bill · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2008, 06:51 PM

Hello Minnie and welcome to the site enjoy it and look forward to your contribution.
As to your question not to sure myself if it was me I would discxard the old nesting material and use a mild didinfectant and clean the boxes out making sure they where dry before putting them back in location.
No doubt someone who knows more will be along shortly

Mr Mag00 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2008, 07:31 PM

Welcome to WAB!
yes clean it out, use gloves if you can the ticks and mites can be grim, if can take down boxes as use scolding hot water.

minnies world · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 06:34 AM

Hi Big Bill and Mr Magoo,

Thanks for your answer to my question. I will make "him indoors" get the ladders out today and get the boxes down ready for cleaning.

I have had, on more than one occasion, 12 blue tits/coaltits on my bird table all at once! We also have Buzzards flying in the sky over the valley that our house looks over, they can be seen most mornings perched either on telegraph poles or fence posts - we must have at least two pairs. It is fab. to watch them using the termals in the sky. We also have two male robins who chase each other off the rockery where the bird table is situated. I have seen wrens on occasions too last year, blackbirds and in the field of cows there are Herons - not sure why they like to stand with the cows, I hope someone on here could tell me perhaps?

Thanks again - Avoir! Minnie in Brittany.

dragonfly · #5 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 11:27 AM

hya clean them out as soon as possiable but watch out for bees hibinating you dont want to get stung if you have a dog ir may be malting now just thromw the hair on your lawn and watch the birds clean it up its great ining for nests

dmclean2 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 06:39 PM

Hi Minnie, and Welcome,
By all means clean the boxes out now, but it's best to clean them out after the summers gone .I clean mine out arround October time , Scalding hot water with a drop of bird freindly disinfectant in it, and I let them dry out completely before putting them up again, sometimes the birds that have occupied the box return and roost there for shelter over the cold spells.
Duncan

Bwrack · #7 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 07:05 AM

Hello Minnies World...another thing to check with old nesting boxes is...whether the access
hole has been widened by possible predators...one can buy little brass or metal plates to
go over the hole to prevent this happening..welcome to the site from another new member..we live some of the year in Pas de Calais and in our garden have been treated to some quite good viewings...eg..treecreeper, bullfinch, lesser pecker.and green pecker, plus.
most finches...Amities