Winter Roost Boxes - Have You Used One?

14 years ago

We are about to put up a winter roost box that is sort of large (can hold up to about 20 or so birds of the sort we see all the time, chickadees, downies, titmice, etc. (It is 42 degrees today already, so I guess we'd better get on the stick!)

I am planning to line the bottom of it with some kind of insulation (hay, grass, etc.). The entrance hole is at the bottom and is 1-1/2" in diameter. I did put a "tooth bender" on that.

Has anyone else ever put up a roosting box like this? If so, did you line the bottom? And where did you locate it? Ours obviously can't be hung on a rope/cable, it can't be too low to the ground or I suppose mice etc. might go in it to be warm. I'm not worried about larger predators only because the perches are up well above the entrance, out of reach. I was thinking of hanging it off the back of our raised deck.

Any thoughts about how to do this properly would be most appreciated!

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Comments (6)

rachel_frome_ky
14 years ago
Good link to using winter roost boxes

http://www.sialis.org/roost.htm
chickadeemelrose
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Rachel, the site was helpful. I've visited it before, but never to find out about roost boxes.

I'm glad I winterized my usual nestboxes, the more I read the more I see that they may indeed get used this season.

Thanks again -
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Most winter roosting boxes do have the hole at the bottom because the huddled birds generate enough heat even in the coldest weather to pull them through. Supposedly, blues do not roost but pile up on the floor to keep warm, so putting the hole at the bottom won't work. Any boxes I build in the future will have a very large roof overhang and face away from prevailing winds. I may paint the roofs black for more solar gain. I got various plans off of the internet but hesitate to share them until I'm sure they work. Materials were rather expensive and I put in quite a few hours (and nervous sweat) building them-I'm no finish carpenter and these boxes need to built tight. I'll keep you informed of what works but for the blues alone, you could just tape over or plug the openings in a regular NABS. Most predators should be in hibernation but since so many adult birds could be lost, I'll watch these boxes very carefully. Kathy-I have property in Allegany. Even though Green Ridge surrounds it, I'll put up a box there also. Hopefully, the local black bears will be hibernating all winter and leave my birds and feeders alone.
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georgia_kate
14 years ago
Reading this got me wondering- how cold does it need to be to make putting out roost boxes a priority? I live in the coastal/coastal plain region of Southeast Georgia (Savannah area) where our winters I guess would be considered mild. It does get cold (at least I think its cold!)some every winter with temperatures in the 30s and 40s during the day and twenties and sometimes teens at night, but it never lasts long. It can be freezing one week, and two weeks later temperatures in the seventies. We get excited about snow flurries.:)So does anybody have any ideas as to whether or not the birds need roost boxes for South Georgia winters?
lisa11310
14 years ago
I did the sad task of tapeing up all my nestboxes and winterizing them today. They will be nice and warm for the woodpeckers. It means I have to say goodbye to my Blues, (though I did hear them out there today). Most of my summer birds are gone, a few late Hummers are still here, not unusual, I'm sure they will take off on the front of the next storm or two. I remembered I had some dried bird house gourds. I have wanted to get some little roosting houses and thought ...hhhuuummmm why not bird house gourd roosting houses? I cleaned them up & out and poly coated them today. I will try to do the inside with some wood shavings for comfort and insulation. We are predicted to have a cold harsh winter in MI this year. We have hundreds of natural cavities in our woods but knowing I am placing about 10 more "out of the wind and dry" options makes me feel like I am helping. We grew at least 50 nice sized gourds this year. I think I need to call the PM group here, I need to share.
chickadeemelrose
Original Author
14 years ago
I wish I could come over and help you out with those gourds Lisa! I think those are so cool, and I hear the birds love them.

My husband and I still have to get the big roost box put up somewhere, we are still figuring out where. He wants to attach it onto the front of our crabapple tree. We hope to put it up tomorrow. The tree does seem like a good idea.

Would the tree be a safe location? The roost box entrance is way below the lowest perch, and it's only 1-1/2" in diameter and has a metal plate on it.

I can't think of anything that could get into the roost box other than birds, if it's up in a tree (about 8' up).

Am I forgetting anything?
chinamigarden
14 years ago
Lisa, depending on what part of michigan you live in, you might not have to say goodbye to your bluebirds. There are many who stick around from the Mid LP and south. I have several customers who have them year round and a neighbor of mine had 9 roosting in one of his nestboxes all winter last year.

Winter Roost Boxes - Have You Used One?

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rachel_frome_ky

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Winter Roost Boxes - Have You Used One?

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rachel_frome_ky

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