Build a nest box yourself: tips & instructions

How to build a nest box yourself? What properties should it have? We share tips on building and hanging the perfect bird nest box.

Birds are certainly among the most popular garden animals, because their beautiful singing not only flatters our ears, but they are also exciting to watch. In order to attract birds to the garden, many people put up nesting boxes in which the feathered animals can raise their offspring. Not only is looking at the young birds a great event - building a nesting box yourself is also fun and makes an important contribution to bird protection. We will now tell you why birds need nesting boxes and what you need to pay attention to when building nesting boxes.

Why do birds need nest boxes?

A common question many ask: do birds need nest boxes? After all, they build their own nest in nature. The reason for the need for nest boxes actually lies with us humans: many birds nest exclusively in dead wood, natural caves and in suitable wall niches - but all these places are a rarity in modern landscapes created by man become. Nesting aids are an absolutely sensible alternative so that birds can still raise their offspring in a suitable place.

But nesting boxes are not only helpful for birds during the breeding season. Especially on cold winter nights, many of them are happy to have sheltered accommodation. Since birds have to maintain a constant body temperature of 39 to 42 °C, a night without adequate weather protection can be fatal to them. In fact, even some bird species – like that house sparrow - known to set up a veritable winter nest in the nest box. But insects, squirrels and even bats also like to use nesting boxes as a retreat in winter.

tip: When deciding to build a nest box, the question arises as to which birds can actually use it. We deliver the answer to the question “which bird builds which nest?“.

Build a nest box yourself: you should pay attention to that

There are a few things to consider when building a nest box if you want the residents to feel really comfortable. It starts when you put together the material to build the nesting box yourself: wood-concrete, terracotta or the classic wood are suitable. Untreated oak, robinia or larch boards are particularly suitable for building nesting boxes, as they are very weather-resistant. Plywood and chipboard, on the other hand, do not withstand wet or cold well and are therefore hardly suitable. You should also stay away from plastic: Since it is not breathable, it accumulates inside plastic bird nest boxes moisture, which in the worst case can lead to mold on the nest leads. There is also a lack of the necessary insulation, so that there can be strong temperature fluctuations.

If you want to customize your nesting box, you can also paint your bird house with colors and glazes. However, it is important to ensure that the colors used meet the safety requirements for children's toys and are ideally biodegradable. Linseed oil is suitable, for example, as a glaze against moisture and is also absolutely harmless for birds. Bright colors also make the nesting box more visible to predators. It is therefore advisable to use earthy, natural colors such as green and brown tones when painting.

Furthermore, when building the nest box, you should pay attention to the right dimensions: the bottom of the nest box should be at least 12 x 12 centimeters in size to provide enough space for the brood. Four holes with a diameter of five millimeters in the bottom also ensure better ventilation and make it easier to dry the nest. In addition, the lower edge of the entrance hole should be at least 17 centimeters above the bottom of the box and the box should have a sufficiently large roof overhang. This protects the birds from predators trying to get to the eggs.

tip: A perch actually helps dangerous predators get into the bird box, so you should never install one.

This is what the perfect nest box looks like

As far as the exact appearance of the box is concerned, it is important to orientate yourself on the respective bird species, because a tit box needs different conditions than a swift nest box. The typical star box or tit box with its rectangular shape and its round entrance hole is used by numerous bird species. Which species moves into the nest box depends heavily on the size of the entrance hole: each bird species prefers a different size here. We have compiled the entrance hole sizes for the most common bird species here for you:

26-28mm	Most of the tit species (blue tit, coal tit, marsh tit, crested tit, meadow tit)
32mm	Great Tit, Tree Sparrow
32-34mm	Pied Flycatcher, House Sparrow
32-45mm	nuthatch
45mm	star
48 mm high, 32 mm wide (oval)	Redstart

But in addition to the typical tit nest boxes, there are also other nest box shapes that are used by various bird species. Some free breeders and species that depend on breeding niches are happy about a breeding aid in the "semi-cave format". This nest box for robin, Spotted Flycatcher, wagtail or wren has no entry hole, but has a half-open front. They also have very special requirements swift their nest boxes: These should be flat rather than upright and have an oval hole (6.4 x 3.2 centimeters).

Properly hang up and maintain nest boxes for birds

If you have built a nesting box yourself, it is now important to attach it to a suitable location. In fact, this is decisive for whether the incubator is accepted by birds. If the location is unfortunate, even the best nesting box will not be used. Ideally, the nesting aid should be placed about two to three meters above the ground. The entrance hole should neither point to the weather side (to the west) nor should it be in the shade or in the blazing sun. Orientation to the southeast or east has therefore proven itself. Suitable locations for nesting boxes are weather-protected places on a tree, post or even a house wall. Especially with nesting boxes for robin or other semi-cave breeders, care must be taken to ensure that the area is as inaccessible as possible to martens or cats.

The self-made nesting box can then be attached to the appropriate spot with rustproof nails or screws so that it tilts slightly forward. For trees, fixed wire brackets are ideal for fastening - these do not damage the tree and can be gently removed again if necessary. There should be a distance of at least ten meters between nesting aids of the same kind so that there are no neighborhood disputes. The only exception: colony breeders prefer to stay together in groups. Star boxes, nesting boxes for swallows or sparrows can therefore be hung up in the immediate vicinity.

If the birds are fed regularly, sufficient distance should also be maintained from the feeding point: On the one hand, such places are often too restless for the brood, since many different birds fly to them will. On the other hand, a feeding place always attracts the attention of predators, so that the nesting aid is discovered more quickly. Incidentally, the perfect time to hang up a birdhouse is autumn: This is how the animals can Use nesting aids as protection in winter and get to work on the construction before the start of the breeding season get used to. After hanging, it is best to leave the nest box alone, as too much restlessness will deter the birds.

Notice: With enough spacing, however, a bird feeder is a perfect addition to a bird-friendly garden. With our Plantura all-season feed for example, you can support numerous garden birds both in summer and in winter with lots of energy and healthy nutrients.

The nest box only needs to be cleaned once a year to get rid of vermin and dirt. The best time to clean the nest box is in late summer, after the breeding season is over. During cleaning, old nesting material is removed and coarse dirt is brushed out of the nesting aid. You can find out how to do this in our article Cleaning nest boxes.

Would you like to do even more for the birds in your garden? You can find out how to make bird seed yourself and which native shrubs are particularly suitable for birds in our articles "Make bird seed yourself: instructions & tips" and "Native shrubs for birds“.

And if you want to know how to turn your garden into a real paradise for birds, take a look at our article "Bird-Friendly Garden: The 10 Best Plants for Songbirds" past.