Where to place your bluebird house

Jane Beasley with Bird’s & Beasley’s provides tips on where to place your bluebird house. Follow these instructions below.

  • Nail on fence post, post or garage about 3 to 10 feet above the ground
  • Face house in east or north direction if possible
  • Place 200 feet apart if you only want to attract bluebirds
  • Placing two birdhouses back-to-back or within 12 feet of one another will help decrease the competition for nesting and help the bluebird be more successful in nesting

OTHER BIRDS THAT COULD NEST IN THIS BOX

  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Mountain Chickadee
  • Violet-green Swallow
  • Tree Swallow
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • House Sparrow (discourage if possible, pull out nesting materials)

BLUEBIRD HOUSE GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Hole size — 1 9/16″
  • Cavity size — 5″ x 5″
  • Depth of cavity — 6″-8″ from bottom of hole to floor
  • House must be able to be opened for cleaning
  • To clean house — loosen front screw enough to release side of the house so it can swing out
  • To observe birds — loosen the top screw and remove the lid

BIRDS & BEASLEY’S NESTBOX TIPS

  • Use screws for construction, not nails
  • Cedar makes the best nestbox

Print the plans here: nestbox plans.pdf

 

Back to blog