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Quick Fixes To Bring Old Birdhouses Back To Life And Attract More Visitors

Birdhouses provide cozy shelter for feathered visitors, but they often become damaged. Squirrels damage birdhouses by chewing the hole and making it larger. Woodpeckers might also enlarge the hole to enter. That could be the reason birds are avoiding your birdhouse — they like holes just big enough for them to squeeze through. Replacing the damaged parts and refreshing other areas restores birdhouses to attract the birds you want.

Commonly damaged areas are the roof and the front panel with the hole. The roof sustains the brunt of weather elements, causing rotting and damage. If your birdhouse has a damaged roof, remove it and use it as a template to cut a new roof from untreated wood. Cedar works well because of its natural resistance to weather, rot, and insect damage. Painting the roof white adds a layer of protection that could help it withstand the elements better. Using white keeps the birdhouse cooler inside.

Damage to the front panel often comes from other animals, resulting in an extra-large hole. The size of the hole in your birdhouse matters because it affects which animals enter and how safe birds feel. Extensive damage may require you to replace the entire panel. If the larger hole is the only issue, cut a piece of wood with a new, smaller hole and attach that to the existing front panel. Using galvanized screws for your additions protects against corrosion and gives you tight connections.

Additional birdhouse maintenance and upgrades

Clean your birdhouse to remove pests and pathogens that could affect the health of birds. Clean it after nesting season once the baby birds are gone. Wearing gloves and a face mask protects you from pathogens you might encounter while you clean. Remove all nesting materials and debris. Using a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water, scrub all areas well. Rinse it repeatedly to wash away the chemicals. A little time in the sun dries the wood pieces thoroughly before you reassemble the birdhouse.

Making changes to your birdhouse can prevent more damage. One option is a portal protector, which is a small piece of metal with a hole in it that goes over the existing birdhouse hole. For example, this ReTang 1/2-inch predator guard is a simple addition that prevents other birds or animals from enlarging the entrance hole. You can also keep unwanted animals away by installing other types of guards. For example, collar and stovepipe guards go around the birdhouse post to prevent squirrels from climbing up to the shelter. Wire mesh noel guards attach to the birdhouse itself to keep predators away.

Another handy tool is a nest lift, which is a small metal piece with slats that provides an elevated surface for the nest. By keeping the nesting materials off the bottom of the birdhouse, you keep the wood drier to prevent rotting and discourage insects from gathering in the nesting materials. Place the lift inside the birdhouse while you're replacing the roof.

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