Home >> Science & Nature >> Animals & Science

How to Maintain Nest Boxes

Nest boxes, or birdhouses, allow birds to find shelter and to raise chicks in your yard. By varying the size of the entrance hole, you can determine what birds you bring to your property and what birds you enjoy in the spring. To ensure the health of the birds in the nest boxes, make sure that you maintain them appropriately.

Things You'll Need

Chlorine bleach
Spray bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Look for signs of recent use. The only time to clean a nest box, especially if you have a native species in it, is when the birds are gone. Fresh droppings and dropped food are a sign that the box should not be touched, while cobwebs over the entrance hole suggest that it is empty.
- 2
  Take down the nest box. You should clean the nest box once or twice yearly.
- 3
  Mix a solution that is 90 percent water and 10 percent bleach in a spray bottle.
- 4
  Spray the inside of the nest boxes with the solution to kill off fleas, lice and other parasites.
- 5
  Rinse the nest boxes very thoroughly before replacing them in their spot.
- 6
  Leave the nest boxes open throughout the year, as some birds may have multiple broods throughout the season.

Animals & Science