The wood we have selected for your birdhouse kit will provide a cosy nest for your new garden resident.  Be wary of boxes made from materials such as metal, plastic or ceramic as these are dangerous, may cause the nest to overheat and consequently kill the young.  Likewise avoid boxes made of plywood or wood which is too thin as these will provide insufficient insulation and could warp. 

To extend the life of your birdhouse, the outside can be treated with a wood preservative but the inside, and area around the entrance hole, must be left untreated.  There are various non-toxic solutions on the market.  Woodoc 30 (a lead-free wood sealer and preservative) is our recommended choice.  Make sure the box dries and airs thoroughly before putting it up..    

The design of our birdhouses allows easy access for bird enthusiasts to record the contents, and for cleaning out the old nesting material at the end of the season.  The ‘annual clean out’ should only be done when the breeding season is over and involves removing debris and cleaning the nest with boiling water.  This will kill any parasites or fleas.  Don’t worry if there are unhatched eggs in the box – this is natural and birds lay enough eggs to counter these losses.  Observe hygienic practices by using surgical gloves and a dust mask when cleaning out nest boxes.  Put the old nest straight into a plastic bag and seal it before disposal.

Some hole nesting species, including sparrows, may have second or third broods in the same nest so be careful not to disturb these until well into autumn when you are certain that they are empty.  

Take care when opening your bird box – bees or other insects can, on occasion, take over nest boxes.  As many of the insects are food for birds, it is best to leave well alone should this happen.  Rather erect another one a few metres away.