Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

How to Reuse a Canister Birdhouse

Most birdhouses benefit from periodic cleaning to reduce the possibility of parasite infestations. Canister birdhouses are fashioned with a removable lid that makes cleaning easy. The species of bird in residence determines the schedule for sprucing up the lodgings. Removing clutter between broods is recommended for most birds. Some reuse their nests by rearranging the components or build successive nests on top of the original one. Monitor the habits of your feathered friends to plan the reuse of all bird quarters.

Things You'll Need

Bleach
Scrub brush

Instructions

- 1
  Clean birdhouses of nesting material once a year. The best time is after breeding has finished. Bluebirds and wrens raise multiple broods each season. If your canister birdhouse is occupied by these birds, they will reuse their nesting materials within one season.
- 2
  Remove old nesting material after fledglings have flown away. Canister birdhouses have a removable plastic or wooden lid as the top of the house. Take this off to open the canister for cleaning.
- 3
  Scrub the inside of the canister with a bleach solution. Mix this in a ratio of one part bleach to nine parts water.
- 4
  Rinse and dry the can completely.
- 5
  Check any hanging hardware to see it is in stable condition.

Other Hobbies