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How to Convert My Winter Roosting Box to a Nesting Box

Birds build their nests in a variety of places; some build nest in trees, on the ground or place them in nest boxes. Nest boxes originated in medieval times and early models were commonly made out of clay. Now there are nest boxes made out of nearly any material available. To save money, have birds make use of your roost box in the breeding season by converting it into a nesting box. Nest boxes differ from roost boxes by having a higher entrance hole, ventilation holes, and no inside perches. They commonly have grooves on the inside walls to assist fledglings with leaving the box.

Things You'll Need

Painter's mask
Latex gloves
Grill brush
Zippered disposable plastic bag, quart or gallon size
Jigsaw
Power drill
1-by-1-foot-by-1/2-inch plastic mold foam
Pocketknife
Roll of duct tape
Predator guard

Instructions

- 1
  Take down the roost box. Put on the mask and gloves. Clear the box of all materials from the previous season and place the contents into a zippered bag. Scrub the box with a grill brush and water. Leave the box open for two days. Discard the zip-top bag in an outside trash receptacle.
- 2
  Cut a 1 1/2-inch entrance hole near the top of the front panel using the jigsaw. Drill two approximately 1/4-inch ventilation holes on both sides of the box towards the top (not the roof). These holes allow the interior to stay cool. Drill four approximately 1/2-inch drainage holes on the bottom if they do not already exist or if they are plugged. They help keep the interior dry.
- 3
  Break off any inside or outside perches from the box. Cut the foam slightly smaller than the size of the previous entrance hole on the bottom. Place the foam in that hole and secure it with the duct tape.
- 4
  Score the inside walls of the nest with the knife. Place the nest back on the pole. Face the entrance any direction but west (most birds reject nest boxes that face west because of overheating). Install a predator guard on the pole.

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