VIDEO: Make a tit box with an entrance hole yourself

General information about the tit box

the Titmouse is a cave breeder. This means that she does not build her nests entirely on forked branches herself, but prefers ready-made caves. Above all, this means hollows in trees. In urban regions, the titmouse also builds its nests in crevices and holes in house walls.

Tits like to build their nests near fruit trees. Fruit trees are a good starting point for maggots and others insectsso that the birds can quickly find their prey.

With regard to nesting boxes and nesting aids, the size of the entrance hole is crucial when it comes to protecting against nest predators. Most tit species need a diameter between 26 and 28 millimeters. With such a size, nest robbers have no chance of getting to the nest.

In spite of everything, you should hang a nest box in trees 1.5 meters high to protect the birds from soil enemies, such as Cats, to protect.

So your nest box gets the right entrance hole

A nest box helps the birds find a safe place for their nest. In this way you prevent the baby birds from being eaten by nest robbers and thus contribute to the protection of the species.

1. Select material. First of all, you need the box itself. To do this, you should use untreated wooden boards so that you do not cause any damage to the health of the birds and their offspring. After you have cut them to fit, you can fasten these together with nails.

   

2. Assemble the body. The base plate should be about 13 by 13 centimeters and the total height of the nesting box 28 centimeters. Slant the side walls towards the front so that the roof has a slope later so that the rainwater can easily drain off. A bevel angle of 70 degrees is required for the above dimensions.

   

3. The roof attach. Except for the rear, the roof should protrude a little on all sides. To do this, use 16 by 16 centimeters for the roof plate. Make absolutely sure that the nails do not protrude into the inside of the box to avoid the risk of injury to the animals.

   

4. Drill bottom holes. Drill two holes in the bottom of the nest box. These ensure that the air can circulate and the remaining water can drain away.

   

5. Drill the entrance hole. Drill the entrance hole in the front of the tit box. For most tits, an entrance hole with a diameter of 26 to 28 millimeters is just right, only the great tit needs it a little larger at 32 millimeters. If you drill the entrance hole even larger, other larger bird species could nest in your box.

   

6. Place the box. The box is best attached to a tree. There the birds feel unprotected and are safe from predators on the ground.

   

A tit box with a sufficiently small entrance hole is a safe place for the birds. Incidentally, this is not only a pleasure for the animals. You too can enjoy watching the birds taking care of the young.