When To Clean The Bird House?

by Jean
(Wisconsin)

What time of year do we need to clean out the nests of the bird houses I have in my yard? Thank you so much for your help. Jean

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Oct 18, 2010

When I clean My Bird House
by: Amy

I like to clean my birdhouse late in the summer or early fall. Of course I verify that the occupants have no hatchlings inside.

I wear a mask and gloves to protect myself from breathing dust (which includes dried bird feces) and to protect my hands from any insects which may be hidden inside of the nesting material.

I pull everything out of the nest and put it directly into a large bag for disposal. You will be surprised at how much stuff comes out of those little boxes!

Once empty, I use a garden hose to spray it out and then with a rag, I wipe down the compartments with a bleach/water solution. Then I leave the house to dry thoroughly in the sun. Later I make any necessary repairs and then re-deploy the house.

I will gather a small amount of nesting material (sticks, wool yarn, etc.) and place it somewhere nearby (just to give them a head start). The birds will have time to winterized the house and use it as a roost until spring.

Cleaning the bird house really is a good idea. It not only reduces the chance of spreading disease, but I've actually found bees inside making it their home! Once the bees were out, the birds returned.

Comment

Thank you Amy for your excellent directions!
Susan

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