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Houses of Recycled Materials

16 years ago

Does anyone have any experience with the bird houses made of recycled milk cartons and/or tires, etc?

Our local Wild Birds is having a retirement sale and I'm tempted to get one because it would be so durable, but wasn't sure if the birds would accept it or not.

Right now I have 5 babies ready to fledge in my back box and 4 newly hatched babies in my front one, so I hesitate to change anything. I'm a firm believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Any experience or thoughts welcome.

Also, thanks for the info on the dried mealworms. With all the mouths I'm helping to feed right now they are really great - convenient - less expensive (I buy them on ebay) - and my tenants love them!

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Comments (3)

craftylady6
16 years ago
no experience with those birdhouses.. I'd like to know as well. I'm afraid to change my setup too for the next nesting.

IF it was my post about the dried mealworms, then your welcome! did you buy the $21.95 big bucket? I didn't see that one before I bought and it was a MUCH better deal.

I've also read dried waxGRUB are the most nutritios.. but I don't know if they will eat them. I may give a try or see if I can get a sampling. Anything to give a healthy snack. They may need to be cut up because they look large.

Glad dried has worked for you!! It makes it easier for us to help out these lovlies!!
griffin_MD
16 years ago
I do have one of the recycled nestboxes at my home trail. It is brown with a green roof and is supposed to be made of recycled plastic mixed with sawdust. I was leery of it at first because of the dark roof--I worried that it would draw too much heat. However, the blues seem to love it and have had multiple nestings in it since I put it up.
The up side is that it is showing not much wear after 2 years, unlike some of the wooden boxes that were installed at the same time!
Kathy
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lflower11
Original Author
16 years ago
No, I missed out on that deal, and couldn't find it just now. I'm paying $31 a pound.
I haven't seen the 5 that fledged back here, but she is re-nesting already. I think the other 4 left yesterday, but haven't checked. I have 2 females and only 1 male. He sort of struts :)
Thanks for the info on the house. If I get back there before the store closes I will give it a try.

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