Nest Boxes
About Nest Boxes
A nest box or a bird nesting box is a human-made living space for birds. If you are not aware of these boxes, you may have heard of birdhouses . Usually, birds use this box. However, sometimes bats also take shelter in them. It is just a confined space where birds can lay their eggs without any fear. You can lure the type of birds you want by making/buying the desired birdhouse. It would be best to know that not all birds make a box their permanent home. They use it only during the season of breeding.
If you are not a garden lover, you may be wondering if a nest box for birds is essential. That depends on you. You can attract birds like parrots, sparrows, bluebirds, doves, woodpeckers, and even owls. But for other species, you must research a little before looking through top boxes. Generally, this box is of hardwood like oak and cedar. It should not contain any dense materials like ceramic, as it can be dangerous for birds. Let us tell you it doesn’t matter whether you buy a bird’s nest box online in UAE or make one. Getting a nesting box involves a lot of planning. You cannot just install it and forget about it. It needs proper maintenance and cleaning. Keep in mind to clean the outer surface of the box with non-toxic cleaners.
Types of nest boxes
When you have decided to get a box for your beautiful garden, you must know the available options. But ensure that you choose one which adds style and elegance to your garden. If you reside in the countryside, then you can go to a big birdhouse. Big nest boxes attract owls and woodpeckers. You can also call them an owl box or a woodpecker nest box. Therefore, there are several options available for you. The following are some of the types that you can install in any garden. However, the choice of style size and material vary from one case to another.
Sparrow nest box
Sparrow is one of the smallest birds. Imagine cute little birdies in your garden, making it look more attractive. A living space for sparrows is small in size. It has a hole for entry and exit, which is approximately 25 mm in size. You can place it 2m to 4m above the ground level for easy entry and exit. Also, sparrows don’t nest in boxes that are set too high. A sparrow nesting box comprises many mini cubicles. You can use these cubicles separately or arrange them together. With the help of these cubicles, you can lure both house and tree sparrows.
Bluebird box
Houses for bluebirds are simple basic structures. They have a small hole for the entrance along with a large roof. They also have a large top for extra care of the bluebird. Bluebirds are not very common as their population is decreasing day by day. Therefore, by making a bluebird box, you are also inviting other small birds like sparrows. It would help if you placed the box 4 ft to 6 ft above the ground. It also needs to be placed away from the trees. The woods used to make these boxes are cypress, white cedar, and red cedar. These woods are specifically rot resistant and insect resistant. They are also immune to sunlight and last longer.
Robin bird box
Robin is the most festive and colourful bird. Not only does it have a different name, but it also has a distinct look! If you wish to put this box for robins, you must do it in April mid. From April onwards, the robin bird’s nesting activities start, and they need a box at that time. A nest box for robins is open at the front as they weave a nest there. They use hairs, roots, moss, and grass to weave a nest. The perfect place to hang a box for robins is along a fence or a tree. It should be a few meters away from the ground. It would be best if it is placed under some hanging trees as that will also provide shade.
Front roll-out nesting box
This kind of box is for hens. It is a perfect box when they have to lay their eggs. The front roll-out nesting box is more than just a nest box. It keeps the eggs clean and safe even from the hens. There is an angled floor that ensures that the eggs roll away from the hens. There is a separate egg tray fitted which collects the eggs. This tray is removable and can be held in the front or the back, depending on the hen’s position. These boxes also have eye rings attached allows you to hang them. An added advantage is you don’t need to get separate boxes for different hens. Hens can share their nesting space.
Mourning dove nesting box
The mourning dove box is just a simple cone for nesting. Doves don’t use it for residing permanently; instead, they use it for nesting. They don’t exactly need a traditional box. To attract mourning doves, you can just spread their food in the open, like in your yard. Mourning doves are sweet little creatures with beautiful voices. They coo softly in the morning and feed on insects. Their presence leads to a decrease in the number of garden pests. Mourning doves feed not only on insects but also on sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked corn. They eat solely on the ground or in the open.
Tips on how to buy Nest Boxes in UAE
Each bird has a different requirement when it comes to nesting. It would be best to know that only those birds use this box who live in the trees. With the help of a box for nesting, you can see a bird grow. But the best box is not easy to find. However, you can hop on our product search engine and choose from brands like Gardman, Kuhl, Trixie, and Zolux. You don’t need to worry about burning a hole in your pocket. You can buy the best box for sale online in UAE from Shops.ae. Here you can choose from over 500 brands and stores. But before you make that purchase, here are some tips for you!
- Choose the bird – This may sound funny, but you need to decide which bird you will be hosting. Without making that decision, you cannot make a purchase. As every bird has different needs, every box is unique. For example, woodpeckers will not use a box for cockatiels. Hence, this should be the first step in your plan of action. Choosing the species before purchasing will help you decide the size of the box and the entry hole.
- Quality – When looking for a house for birds, imagine yourself in the same situation. You would not want to live in a home that has toxic materials or is not even waterproof. Similarly, birds look for quality before choosing a box. The wood of the box should be thick enough for insulation. You cannot treat this wood with any chemical as it may be toxic. Else, these chemicals will harm the birds. There should be holes in the box at the bottom for drainage and ventilation.
- Location – You must decide on an area where you will put the box. It will help if you put it at a place where the birds can quickly locate it. The nest box should be at a welcoming location so that the birds feel they can nest there. Since you already know the birds, you will be hosting. All you need to do is check the habitat requirements of that bird and make an environment similar to that. Ensure that you place the box at a location where there is sunlight during the morning and shade during noon. Measuring the available space also aids you in purchasing the right size.
- Security – An ideal home for any living creature is where it can feel safe. No matter how hard you try to make the birds feel safe, there will still be some predators. Predators are not only in the form of animals. Birds like house sparrows and starlings are privacy invaders. To ensure this does not happen, the hole of the nest should be of apt size. You can also tie a metal flashing piece to the roof of the box. The metal flashing ensures that the predators don’t go near the eggs.
- Cleanliness – You cannot think that a box for birds doesn’t need cleaning. The attention required before buying the box is also needed after. Remember that you will need to do regular cleaning of the birdhouse. If you use the same birdhouse each year, it requires cleaning before and after use. When you are storing the box for next year, remove all the materials of nesting from it. This removal will ensure that there are no pests in it. Thorough cleaning of the box will increase the chances of a bird family using it again!
If you plan to grace your gardens and yards with a nest box, keep in mind these tips. But don’t be disheartened if the desired birds don’t use it the first time you put it. You will need some time to notice what the birds need carefully. With any luck, you might get birds for your nesting box on the first try.
Question & Answer
What is the size of the nest box for lovebirds?
Lovebirds are playful parrots who are super active. They require a large living space where they can play all day. Lovebirds need their toys and perches with them all day in their home. Their nature is larger than life. But still, they need a large house to live in. The size of the entry hole should be about 3 inches in diameter. If you wish to keep a single lovebird, then the minimum size could be 18’’ tall, wide and long. These dimensions increase to 24’’ tall, wide and long for a pair of lovebirds. You can change these dimensions, depending on the available space.
Which birds use nest boxes?
Getting a birdhouse for your garden is an effective method of attracting birds. But not all birds like to live in birdhouses and raise their families. At the same time, many species will use birdhouses happily. For example, chickadees and various tits such as blue, coal, and marsh tit. Ducks like common goldeneye, hooded merganser, and wood duck also like to reside in the birdhouses. As mentioned earlier, house sparrows and finches like house and zebra finch are likely to use the birdhouse. You can lure owls like a barn, eastern screech, lesser kestrel, and the tawny owl into a birdhouse. Other birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, thrushes, robins, and wrens also like to use a birdhouse.
How to attract birds to a nest box?
Like we said earlier, you may not get lucky the very first time you put up a birdhouse. You can do some things to attract birds if they are not visiting on their own. Place some bird feeders or just food near the box for nesting to lure in the birds. The foods are different for various birds. For tits, you can put sunflower hearts or peanuts in the bird feeders. You can use suet for woodpeckers and nuthatches. For thrushes, robins, and wrens, you can use mealworms. After the birds have accepted your box and garden, you can keep the feeders far from the birdhouses. Otherwise, other bird visitors at the feeders will disturb the already settled nesters in your garden!