How to Choose the Right Nesting Box

Nesting

Bird Houses


Some of the most entertaining bird behaviour to watch occurs during the nesting season! Providing bird houses in your backyard will encourage birds that are already feeding from your feeders to raise a family right where you can watch the making of the nest, the feeding of the hatchlings, and watching the young learn to fly.  

Not all birds are cavity nesters.  Chickadees, bluebirds, wrens, woodpeckers, nuthatches, woodpeckers, tree swallows, screech owls, kestrels and wood ducks will all use cavities for their nests.  Primary cavity nesters, most woodpeckers, will excavate their own hole.  Birds such as chickadees, wrens, bluebirds and tree swallows are considered secondary cavity nesters.  They will use cavities provided by nature or previous holes created by woodpeckers.  

There are different specifications for each bird species that will use a bird house. The size of the box and the size of the entrance hole will determine which bird species the box is designed for. A good, functional bird house should meet these six requirements:

  • Designed for the species, according to the bird's size and nesting requirements
  • Drainage holes in the bottom of the house
  • Ventilation holes to provide release for heat build-up
  • Easy to clean
  • Easily hung or mounted
  • Durable to withstand several seasons of use

For more information on best locations and sizes of birdhouses and nesting habits, download a copy of our Nesting Behaviour Chart.

 

Chickadee/Wren House

This wooden bird house is built to chickadee (& wren) specifications, including a 1-inch diameter entrance hole to keep larger birds out. This bird house features a side panel that opens for easy cleaning after nesting is over, as well as ventilation holes and an over-hanging roof to keep rain out.  

Also available in EcoTough material.  Recycled plastic material, guaranteed not to crack or rot and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

 

WBU Basic Bluebird House

Our top-of-the-line Bluebird House includes all of the key elements needed for a successful nesting experience for both the tenant and the landlord. The larger 1 1/2-inch diameter entrance hole is designed for Bluebirds, as well as Tree Swallows. It includes proper drainage and ventilation to keep babies dry, and ideal floor size for bluebirds. Our unique two-way opening system makes clean-out, maintenance and monitoring a snap: open the roof to monitor and photograph the nest (carefully!), and open the side to clean. Available in wood and recycled EcoTough material.

 

Purple Martin Houses

We offer a variety of sizes of Purple Martin Houses, from 4-room to 8-room. Made out of light-weight aluminum, these houses are durable yet easy to clean.

 

Screech Owl Box

This Screech Owl box is made from cedar and has a 4" diameter entrance. It has an easy to open door on the front that makes cleaning east and fast. The nesting box must be mounted quite high on a tree or pole. Preferably in or near a woody wet area. 

 

Convertible Winter Roosting Box

Offer your birds a protected, sheltered place for them to roost in overnight. Roosting boxes are constructed similar to a nesting box, with a few important modifications. The entrance hole is placed at the bottom so that less heat is lost as it rises. There is a ladder inside for more than one bird to roost on; Chickadees are among the backyard birds that will roost communally to stay even warmer. The front panel comes off and switches around to become a nesting box in the spring & summer!

 

Predator Guard:

In the case of squirrels or raccoons trying to get inside a nesting box, a metal ring around the entrance hole can prevent them from chewing the hole wider. Available in 1 1/8", 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" diameter.

 

Nesting Material:

Our Nesting Ball is made of cotton and other fibres that the birds will use to build their nest. Hang this from a tree branch or your APS birdfeeding station next to the feeders, and watch the birds take it away piece by piece!

 

Be seasonally savvy with this new Nesting SuperBlend™!! It offers a super-boost of protein and calcium for birds' nesting & molting needs. A birds need for calcium and protein substantially increases during nesting season. When they obtain a sufficient amount of protein and calcium, it can greatly benefit the health and number of eggs, and is crucial for muscle and feather development. Offer this new blend alone or mixed with your current blend. It is packed full of sunflower chips, peanuts, dried mealworms, bark butter bits, saflower, tree nuts and calcium!