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Bluebird houses?? #7587439
05/20/22 10:19 AM
05/20/22 10:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 178
Illinois
2
2zwudz Offline OP
trapper
2zwudz  Offline OP
trapper
2

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 178
Illinois
Who is successful with housing Bluebirds? What house location do they prefer??

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587548
05/20/22 01:03 PM
05/20/22 01:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,261
Wisconsin
R
RdFx Offline
trapper
RdFx  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,261
Wisconsin
Open fields or areas. Contact BRAW ..Bluebird Resoration Assoc WIsconsin


RdFx
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587554
05/20/22 01:14 PM
05/20/22 01:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline
"On The Other Hand"
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
If you're putting up boxes for bluebirds and you're near a brushline or buildings, put a two-inch hole in the roof with a hole-saw, and cover the hole with plexiglass. Otherwise, the boxes may be claimed by English sparrows (house sparrows). It seems they do not like the light coming in, while the bluebirds don't mind at all.

Jack


Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587556
05/20/22 01:16 PM
05/20/22 01:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,460
central Haudenosaunee, the De...
W
white marlin Offline
trapper
white marlin  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,460
central Haudenosaunee, the De...
Thanks, Jack!

(Did not know that!)

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587558
05/20/22 01:20 PM
05/20/22 01:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,536
Sandhills Nebraska
G
Gary Benson Offline
trapper
Gary Benson  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,536
Sandhills Nebraska
Definitely away from grackles and blackbirds. Pasture fencelines seem to be preferred.


Life ain't supposed to be easy.
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: Gary Benson] #7587675
05/20/22 05:17 PM
05/20/22 05:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 65
Maine
D
DBrooks Offline
trapper
DBrooks  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 65
Maine
I just put up 4 new houses that my grandson built for me. 2 where put on rather large trees facing east and 2 were fastened on my back deck support posts 7 feet off the ground and facing north. I had birds in both north facing houses within 48hrs and so far nothing in the other 2 houses.

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587689
05/20/22 05:50 PM
05/20/22 05:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,261
Wisconsin
R
RdFx Offline
trapper
RdFx  Offline
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R

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,261
Wisconsin
'Jacks suggestion with plexiglass is a winner . Works great around farms. If you dont do it the male sparrow commandeer the house. I have sparrow traps i install instide house and then i uthanize them.... Not many bluebirds this spring in central Wi.. I have approximately 50 blue bird houses.


RdFx
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587690
05/20/22 05:53 PM
05/20/22 05:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
D
Dirty D Offline
trapper
Dirty D  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
I have mediocre success with bluebirds.
I'll get one pair for the first clutch and thats it.
I have 6 houses in the 3 acre feild around my house and 3 in a 2 acre feild I have.
They use the same house every year.

I'm more successful with tree swallows,

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: RdFx] #7587717
05/20/22 06:44 PM
05/20/22 06:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,657
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,657
Minnesota
Originally Posted by RdFx
'Jacks suggestion with plexiglass is a winner . Works great around farms. If you dont do it the male sparrow commandeer the house. I have sparrow traps i install instide house and then i uthanize them.... Not many bluebirds this spring in central Wi.. I have approximately 50 blue bird houses.

They froze out on the trip north and their food/ insects died.

* from 2 dif articles I read


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587726
05/20/22 07:02 PM
05/20/22 07:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
W
Willy Firewood Offline
trapper
Willy Firewood  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
We have 50 houses. Bluebirds in 3/4 of them. It seems to be a progression - the more more bluebirds you get the more houses they take over. I need to make about 25 more in the winter. To replace some that are getting rough and increase to about net 60.


FRAC LIVES MATTER
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: Willy Firewood] #7587734
05/20/22 07:14 PM
05/20/22 07:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,524
MN
D
Donnersurvivor Online sick
trapper
Donnersurvivor  Online Sick
trapper
D

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,524
MN
Originally Posted by Willy Firewood
We have 50 houses. Bluebirds in 3/4 of them. It seems to be a progression - the more more bluebirds you get the more houses they take over. I need to make about 25 more in the winter. To replace some that are getting rough and increase to about net 60.


How far apart do you put them? I've heard they need to be spaced to prevent egg dumping.

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587741
05/20/22 07:23 PM
05/20/22 07:23 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,558
lewis county,new york
N
newfox1 Offline
trapper
newfox1  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,558
lewis county,new york
It’s important to give them some afternoon shade, and make sure their house is vented properly. The young are susceptible to overheating, drainage in floor is also important.

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7587748
05/20/22 07:34 PM
05/20/22 07:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 645
Southern Indiana
H
Hoosier71 Offline
trapper
Hoosier71  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 645
Southern Indiana
[Linked Image]

Bluebirds in the left one every year. I added a false bottom in the right one to make it more like the other but I don't think anything is in it.

How do you get the swallows?

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7588003
05/21/22 08:39 AM
05/21/22 08:39 AM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236
West Michigan
G
Getting There Offline
trapper
Getting There  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236
West Michigan
I had a blue bird line with 120 boxes, I made my boxes out of 3/4 inch pine. Make sure you put an extra wood over the opening to keep the Starling from eating the young. Also once the young have hatch remove the nest and sprinkle some 7 and replace the nest. This will kill any blow flies that lay there eggs in the bottom of the box. Make sure you have vent hole in the bottom. I always put two boxes close to gather to keep out tree swallows. I was a bird bander so I check my boxes often. Have fun!
Everet


To Old
U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7588055
05/21/22 11:08 AM
05/21/22 11:08 AM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236
West Michigan
G
Getting There Offline
trapper
Getting There  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236
West Michigan
ttt


To Old
U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7588118
05/21/22 01:46 PM
05/21/22 01:46 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee


Got a couple of extended fence posts at the corners of my garden where I screwed the houses to.


Last edited by Scuba1; 05/21/22 01:46 PM.

Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7588125
05/21/22 01:58 PM
05/21/22 01:58 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Offline
"American Honey"
Sharon  Offline
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Such cute wee ones. Looks like one eggie has yet to hatch.

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7588134
05/21/22 02:05 PM
05/21/22 02:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
It has hatched since i took that video. 5 healthy birds in that box and 4 in the other.


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: 2zwudz] #7588138
05/21/22 02:08 PM
05/21/22 02:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Offline
"American Honey"
Sharon  Offline
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Well done ! It will be fun to see them stick their heads out of the house , waiting for food smile

Re: Bluebird houses?? [Re: Getting There] #7588140
05/21/22 02:09 PM
05/21/22 02:09 PM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
W
Willy Firewood Offline
trapper
Willy Firewood  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
Originally Posted by Getting There
I had a blue bird line with 120 boxes, I made my boxes out of 3/4 inch pine. Make sure you put an extra wood over the opening to keep the Starling from eating the young. Also once the young have hatch remove the nest and sprinkle some 7 and replace the nest. This will kill any blow flies that lay there eggs in the bottom of the box. Make sure you have vent hole in the bottom. I always put two boxes close to gather to keep out tree swallows. I was a bird bander so I check my boxes often. Have fun!
Everet


It’s important to give them some afternoon shade, and make sure their house is vented properly. The young are susceptible to overheating, drainage in floor is also important.

====

These are good tips.

The extra layer of wood around the entrance also makes it more difficult for raccoons to raid the nest.

Distance apart? Originally we put them at whatever the official suggested distance. Then after they were occupied, as an experiment, we put boxes at the halfway point. When occupied, we again put boxes at the halfway point. Again occupied. Realized that distance does not matter. Habitat matters. Now we put them at good locations where best setup. We have some as close as 20 feet apart along a split rail fence. Yes occupied.


FRAC LIVES MATTER
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