where to site nest boxes

How to Choose a Nest Box

Create a new home for the birds in your garden by taking part in National Nest Box Week 14th-20th February.

This event encourages householders to put up nest boxes in time for breeding birds which will be looking for a safe place to lay their eggs. This is because natural nest sites for birds, such as holes in trees or old buildings are disappearing quickly.


All you need to do is buy a nest box and put it up in your garden. Read our tips below for the perfect place to site a nest box in your garden

You can create the ideal nesting location for the birds in your garden by:


1. Always choose a high quality nest box 

 

When choosing a nest box, it’s a good idea to go for the best quality you can get, as it’s vital the box is a safe haven for young chicks. All of our Peckish nest boxes are designed to BTO standards to ensure the correct level of insulation for young and breeding birds.

 

Our nest boxes are also made from FSC® certified timber, so you can be sure that you are choosing a sustainable option for wild birds to nest in.


2. Position away from predators

 

Make sure cats and squirrels cannot get into the box. Install it high up (at leat 2-3m) above the ground. Read our article about choosing the ideal nesting location.

 


3. Think about the weather

 

Shelter from wind, rain and direct sunlight.  The front of the nest box should be angled slightly downwards to prevent rain from entering.


5. Secure it safely

 

Use galvanised or stainless steel screws which will not rust to secure the nest box. This will ensure it’s safe and sturdy for many years to come! Just remember to regularly inspect the fittings. 


6. A good diet is key

 

Keep feeders topped up with bird food to cater for the increased appetite of hungry chicks. A bird food, such as Peckish Extra Goodness Crumble Mix that contains plenty of energy for birds to successfully rear and provide for their chicks! It also contains added Calvita®, a supplement unique to Peckish containing calcium for healthy egg shells and the formation of strong bones and beaks.

 

7. Consider hygiene

 

Tiny chicks are susceptible to diseases spread between birds. We recommend that old nests be removed in the autumn, from September onwards once the birds have stopped using the box.

Use boiling water and let the box dry out thoroughly before replacing the lid. Insecticides and flea powders must not be used.


8. Make sure you can see it

 

After all your hard effort, it would be shame if you couldn’t enjoy the view! Make sure the nest box is somewhere close to a window, so you can see the activities in the spring.


Species

Suggested Boxes

Notes

Blue Tit

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Peckish Everyday Nest Box

 

Prefer 25mm hole.

Site box 1m to 5m above ground with clear flight path to entrance

blue tit

Great Tit

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Peckish Everyday Nest Box

Prefer 28mm hole.

Site box 1m to 5m above ground with clear flight path to entrance

great tit

Coal Tit

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Peckish Everyday Nest Box

Prefer 25mm hole with box low down (less than 1m to ground)

coal tit
Long Tailed Tit N/A Tend not to use nest boxes. 
long tailed tit

House Sparrow

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Peckish Everyday Nest Box

32mm hole with box over 2m above ground. They nest colonially so one box on own is unlikely to attract a pair.

Chaffinch N/A Chaffinches, or any other member of the finch family for that matter, won’t use a bird box, preferring to build their own nest in the fork of a tree.
chaffinch
Goldfinch N/A Goldfinches, or any other member of the finch family for that matter, won’t use a bird box, preferring to build their own nest in the fork of a tree.
goldfinch

Nuthatch

Peckish Garden Nest Box

32mm hole with box sited over 3m high with clear flight path to entrance

nuthatch
Dunnock N/A Due to the fact that dunnocks like to sleep and nest close to the ground, they don't often use nest boxes. They may, however, use an open fronted nest box if it is not too high.
dunnock
Bullfinch N/A Bullfinches, or any other member of the finch family for that matter, won’t use a bird box, preferring to build their own nest in the fork of a tree.
bullfinch

Pied Wagtail

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Site box up to 5m above ground. Best sited where lawn and water are nearby.

pied wagtail

Robin

Peckish Everyday Nest Box

Try to position the box in thick overhanging vegetation with good cover.

robin

Spotted Flycatcher

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Site box 2m-4m above ground with clear outlook but some cover around box.

spotted fly catcher

Swift

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Place the nest box as high as possible on the building with a clear drop below.

swift
Greenfinch N/A Greenfinches, or any other member of the finch family for that matter, won’t use a bird box, preferring to build their own nest in the fork of a tree.
greenfinch

Starling

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Ideally over 2.5m above ground. Starlings are semi colonial so if you can put up a couple on adjacent trees or building you may find they all get occupied.

starling
Song Thrush Peckish Everyday Nest Box For open fronted boxes, these are used by species which like to nest in fairly dense undergrowth, and include robin, blackbird and song thrush
song thrush
Blackbird Peckish Everyday Nest Box For open fronted boxes, these are used by species which like to nest in fairly dense undergrowth, and include robin, blackbird and song thrush
blackbird
Wrens

 

Peckish Everyday Nest Box

Peckish Garden Nest Box

For open fronted boxes, these are used by species which like to nest in fairly dense undergrowth, and include robin, blackbird and song thrush
wren
Siskin

 

Peckish Garden Nest Box

Put your nest box about head height. The entrance to the box should not be obscured by foliage so try to keep any climbing plants well trained around the box.
siskin
Great Spotted Woodpecker N/A Great Spotted Woodpeckers do not require a nest box. They place their nests in both live and dead trees, sometimes in the tree trunk and sometimes in larger limbs on the trees. 
great spotted woodpecker
Woodpigeon N/A Prefer not to use nest boxes
wood pigeon
Magpie N/A Prefer not to use nest boxes
magpie
Jackdaw N/A Prefer not to use nest boxes
jackdaw

 

 

Peckish Nest Boxes

 

Peckish Garden Bird Nest Box 

 

 

 

Peckish Everyday Nest Box

 

 

Peckish Everyday Nest Box and Peckish Garden Nest Box

 

 

Browse our selection of nest boxes here.

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