How to Choose the Best Barn Owl Nestbox Design
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- This short video examines what sort of nest boxes Barn Owls need and explains why so many owls die due to poor design.
UK only: in other countries different dimensions and/or predator proofing may be required.
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Thank you for this video. I am a godfather for 6 nesting boxes and their users here in the south of Germany. You provided me with very good alternative designs. In the name of the owls (we say Schleiereule) big thank you!
That's great to hear - glad we could help!
In the American west we put a partial wall just inside the entrance to deter predators. We also drill ventilation holes at the top of the sides of the box as heat can build up and kill owlets. All of this is easily looked up on the internet if you’d like a clearer understanding.
Thanks for sharing your experience in the American west, Anna.
That was very important video as far as owl nest boxes are concerned, i knew Nothing before i watch this video
I once made a barn owl nest box. Never put it up. After watching this, I am glad I did not. Now I will make one that is correct and I will put that one up. Thanks.
Very informative - this stopped me from building a lousy box. Thanks!
Glad it helped!
Interesting video. I live in Poland, and have at least one Barn Owl frequenting my barn, today I was approached by two Ornithologists, they asked me if I had seen an Owl. Well yes I have. I let them look around the place to see if it was still in one of the buildings but sadly no, not today. One of the men had traveled from the other end of the country in the hope of seeing a Barn Owl, apparently very rare in Poland. I have decided to build a nest box and thanks to your video have the insight needed. The only thing that concerns me is Pine Martens, we get them in the barn too and have seen them climbing vertically up the beams.
Hi Scott - that's really interesting thank you. Glad the video is useful. Pine Martens are very rare here in the UK & we don't really have to worry about predation, so not sure what to suggest, except maybe put up more than one box to give the owls a choice. Good luck!
In Romania we have a lot of martens. We are using big nails to make a thorny area around the nest (but you must remember the martens are very good jumpers and take this in consideration).
If you don't abandoned your project I hope it was a little helpfull.
Great video
I saw this video Sunday afternoon and by Monday evening I made a nest box for my backyard. Thanks to your tips and knowledge.
That's brilliant! Well done you - hope you get some happy residents soon. :)
I found a dead Great Horned Owl today. The DNR Officer said it probably fell off the electric lines in a bad wind/snow storm we just had. Never realized we had the owls in our area. We make birdhouses for all the birds, but am interested in making an owl box now. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
It's always very sad to find a dead owl - we're based in the UK, but this page might have some useful ideas for preventing more deaths: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/hazards-solutions/electrocution-wires-barn-owls/
Good video, appreicate the details and claification.
Hugs from Brasil for all owl lovers !
Very good information.
I will try the last one box👌
good info!! well done.
Superb clear info. Thank you. 😊
I have a couple of potential sites but both are potentially accessible by neighbours cats which take lots of wildlife.
Are cats a problem with owls? 🤔
Thanks - I've not heard of any problems with cats - but I'll check with the Conservation Team and let you know.
Our Conservation Officer says: 'In general we don’t really hear of cases of owlet predation by cats (in the UK) so thankfully it doesn’t seem to be a huge issue. However, we'd advise erecting/positioning the box in a place that is free from predators (cats included) and so hence the importance of having a minimum 3m drop from the nestbox to the ground. If cats are frequently in the vicinity then try to ensure there is nothing the cat could use to climb up to the nestbox i.e. beams, ladders, hay bales, stacked objects etc. underneath the box.
Obviously fallen owlets will be vulnerable on the ground, so keep a close eye if possible!'
Did anyone notice the mouse ran past. On the floor behind the speaker
Shh... don't tell the owls! ;)
this is a fantastic video thanks for sharing!
my personal experiences with shallow door boxes is that they are not good. 1. Juveniles can access out, way before they are able to fledge. They WILL fall out. 2. Boxes should be deep enough for the debris of two nestings in a year with their buildup to not allow the owlets to access and fall out. 3. porches are malarkey. They invite predatory activity by great horned owls and others.
4. Don't build a porch, Instead, build perches with in twenty or so feet. These could be snags or poles with cross members. When the owlets begin to fledge, if they can make their flights to a decent perch quickly, it gives them confidence and a breather. We have a deep box on our barn. Each year when we clean it out we get almost two five gallon buckets of debris out of it. And that's the way it is in the Willamette Valley of Western Oregon USA
Thanks for sharing your experience in Oregon, Joe.
We also find that deep nestboxes are essential for the safety of young fledglings and recommend the depth from bottom of entrance hole to nest should be not less than 450mm.
Here in the UK, it's unusual for Barn Owls to be predated, so porches are not usually a problem. For any Barn Owl nestbox less than 700mm deep, we recommend an exercise/landing platform below the entrance hole.
Nearby perches are a good idea, but if this is not possible, make sure that nestboxes are at least 540mm deep so the young cannot possibly emerge until they are capable of flying upwards.
More info here about the differences between UK and American Barn Owls: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/american-barn-owls/
@@BarnOwlTrust1 I built a barn owl box years ago partly out of a cupboard. It's massive with a felted roof that is a lid. It's quite high in an oak and faces a bit too easterly but as it's so heavy that's the best way I could settle it in a fork. Squirrels took it over for years until this year I saw a young tawny perched in the entrance and heard lots of tawny activity for about a week. We do have a very shy barn owl around because I've heard it from time to time so have decided to set up another box in a perfect oak a whole field away _and_ an indoor box in our barn. I'm pretty sure the tawny's will be back to claim their original box soon!
I'm on a farm in Wales by the way.
HOW high do I need to mount my box for Barred owls or great Horned owls??
Hi - we're based in the UK (which doesn't have these types of owls) and focus on Barn Owls. Best to ask a local owl or wildlife group. Good luck!
@@BarnOwlTrust1 who? (get it?!)
Excellent explanation. Thank you.
Please, I have a question: is the orientation of the entrance to the nest important? It depends on the hemisphere? Thank you!
Thanks for your question:
Owls are interested in holes - so try to ensure that the entrance is visible to an interested passing owl. For outdoor boxes, face the nestbox access hole towards open ground (but avoid the prevailing wind if possible).
More here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/
How do you keep squirrels from nesting in there?
It's difficult - some people recommend using coffee grounds or chilli powder to deter squirrels (Barn Owls do not have a sense of smell) - however, we've yet to find a sure fire method - let us know if you find something that works for you!
No barn owls here in Finland, but this video was still informative. I'm making boxes for owls of the strix family.
Sounds like a great project!
The only problem is it’s not just barn owls that will decide to nest in the box, Jackdaws, Kestrels, squirrels and other animals may try and use the box👌👌👌
Other creatures using the nestbox is not necessarily a problem - Barn Owls are armed with razor sharp talons and if they decide to nest in a box they are not easily put off!
Thank you for sharing your valuable information!!
Thank you for the helpful video. I would like to make some outdoor pole mounted nest boxes for Barn Owls in Lusaka, Zambia, I do have a couple of questions: 1) what size should the opening be to allow adults to enter? 2) does the floor need to be perforated/slatted in order to allow their excrement to fall out?
Hi Jamie,
Good luck with your project - sounds great!
1) Entrance hole size: Optimum 100 x 130mm; min. 100 x 100mm; max. 150 x 150mm
2) No - the floor should be left solid, as the old pellets and droppings create a soft surface for the owlets. It does need to cleaned out every 2 or 3 years.
Lots more info on our website: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-pole-nest-box/
As an aside, living in an area that gets hot, as I do, it is recommended to drill ventilation holes in the top edges and a few in the bottom as well. The small holes in the bottom will allow for ventilation but will also keep most of the litter in the box
Wonderful
Do you ship to the United States?
Hi Dave - Sorry but we're not able to ship nest boxes to the US. Also, US Barn Owls are larger than European Barn Owls, so they need a larger nestbox. We offer free DIY plans on our website, and there is specific information for American Barn Owl nest box sizes on this page: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/american-barn-owls/
Hope that helps!
Squirrels take over any and all owl boxes we put up out here.
Oh dear - door located at the bottom (just finished building) - back to the garage - no, wait! - think outside the box - upside down and swap roof and floor around should do the trick? - Och no - just make another one - properly this time - repurpose #1 - neighbour's cat needs a shelter anyway - it steals our dogs' food so might as well move in permanently - then we'll have an owl and a pussycat - all we'll need then will be a beautiful pea-green boat (Oh, and also some honey, and plenty of money, not to mention the five-pound note)
Glad you're enjoying the challenge - good luck!
How much is the box to buy?
Hi Nikki - please take a look at our website for current prices: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/product-category/nestboxes/
We also offer free DIY plans and lots of advice about positioning etc.:
www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/
Very nice tutorial, thanks.
I have just built my first owl box nice and big well protected and ready to go up. One thing what base media should I use please. Member of BTO and others.
That's great news!
Please can you clarify - do you mean for painting, or do you mean as a base layer inside the nestbox? Nothing is needed to line the nest - barn owls just use old pellets, which are soft and absorbent.
Painting is also not
necessary if you're using the waterproofing that we recommend.
If you have further questions which are not answered on our website, please contact us here:
www.barnowltrust.org.uk/about-the-barn-owl-trust/contact-us/
i had alot of problems with mice, after building 2 owlboxes mice are gone along with squirrels. Owls are pros at mice catching making cats looks like amatures. And its free service you can use pretty much any leftover wood you got, has to be watertight though. Probably avoid impregnated wood which may be poisonous when wet...
Interesting result! We offer free detailed plans for building a nestbox on our website: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/
I live in France and we have quite a few owls around us. I have an old stone barn with a high window reveal where I think I will build and place a box. We have all sorts of owls around here from the little fellas to the very graceful barn owls. My problem is I am not sure what size box/hole I should choose. But I will have a rummage in my workshop and see if I have some decent wood off cuts to use or take a trip to the Brico.
Great project! You can find lots of information about nestboxes and nest spaces in buildings on our website: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes-building-projects/
Contacter votre LPO locale
Good idea: www.lpo.fr/qui-sommes-nous/lpo-locales
Any chance of getting some plans for the safe houses?
Absolutely! - free nestbox plans to download here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/
@@BarnOwlTrust1 Thank you so much! We were awoken this week, in our new home, by what I thought was the scream of an injured animal. Turns out, it was a barn owl sitting on our house and serenading us. My search to find a plans for a home for our loud neighbour has led me here.
I’m planning on building an owl box, I like your designs. I have a question about the entrance being so high from the interior of the bottom. Is it hard for the owls to get up or down from inside
Hi John, the depth of the nestbox is an important safety feature for young owlets, as it prevents them from getting out until they are ready to start learning to fly. Very young owlets often die if they fall from a shallow nestbox, as the parents ignore them and they starve or get predated. Older juveniles and adults can easily get in and out. More here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/fallen-owlets-barn-owl-nestboxes/
In wood shop during high school one of our projects were nestboxes. We were encouraged to take them home or we would go out to the woods behind the school and set them up there. Our shop teacher was very big on the environment. I thought it a wonderful idea myself.
Fantastic idea for a school project!
thanks for the informative video. whats a good material to line the box with
You're welcome.
Owl boxes don't need any lining - Barn Owls lay their eggs on a layer of old pellets or directly onto the wooden floor.
More here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/barn-owl-nesting/
Thank you for the helpful video. I want to build a nest box in my suburban garden. What else do I need to pay attention to?
Hi - as well as using a good nestbox design, it's essential that the surrounding area is suitable for Barn Owls, with enough foraging habitat within about 2km. More info here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/how-to-manage-land-for-barn-owls/barn-owl-habitat-requirements/
Is it safe to use treated timber of painted with a wood treatment for rain
Just make sure that any waterproofing treatment is dry before use.
More details here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/owl-boxes-for-trees/#tree-box-materials
I’m assuming the same criteria apply to other owl boxes? Looking to do one for a barred owl or maybe a great horned but couldn’t find an in depth video on them like this.
All owl species are different and have different requirements - these criteria just apply to Barn Owls. We do offer some advice about American Barn Owls (see link below) - but we are based in the UK, so sorry, but we don't have much experience of Great Horned or Barred Owls. www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/american-barn-owls/
BarnOwlTrust thank you, I have since done research on great horned and barred owl boxes as I live in an area where barn owls are basically unheard of, but I will continue to watch your videos and quite enjoy learning about everything.
I live in California and have a southwest facing house. Is heat a problem for chicks in the box?
Barn Owls seem to cope with pretty high temperatures, but to mitigate the heat, try to put the box somewhere in the shade. You can also try painting the box white to reflect the heat, and drill a few small holes under the top edge, to allow hot air to escape.
Wow! This is great, although giving an imperial conversion would have been very courteous. I know. I can figure it out. still.... Great info. Thanks.
Thanks Daniel! Adding in Imperial measurements is something we've been meaning to do for ages - but not got around to yet - sorry about that. Glad it was useful anyway. :)
What is an ideal height?
do you have drain holes inside the boxes in case water blows in during a rather rough storm?
20mm diameter drainage holes can be drilled in the floor of an outdoor owl box. More info here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/owl-boxes-for-trees/
Is there a way to make one of these with a large PVC pipe?? Let’s try it?!! 😀
If you plan to experiment with your own design and materials, take a look at our recommended essential requirements for a Barn Owl nest box: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/#nestbox-design-criteria
Let us know how you get on - and good luck! :)
BarnOwlTrust yes you had very very good guidance - will do!! I live in Charlotte NC USA 🇺🇸 And we have a huge PVC pipe manufacturer here - CHARLOTTE PIPE CO - and the was looking at possibly buying some of the pvc piping in bulk and making owl houses - maybe I can show you the design and see if you have concerns 😉🤗
so if i build it they will come? it won't get taken over but something that's already around?
Whether Barn Owls will use your nestbox partly depends on the surrounding area - they prefer open fields and there needs to be enough prey food available (mostly small mammals, e.g. voles, in the UK).
Other creatures might try to take over the nestbox - this is not usually much of a problem in the UK, as Barn Owls are well armed with razor sharp talons, however there are other competitors in other countries which could cause problems.
More info on our website: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/
@@BarnOwlTrust1 well i sure got plenty of open field with rodents in it. seem worth a try!
Brilliant! Good luck!
Which direction should the birdhouse face?
The entrance hole needs to be visible to a passing or exploring owl, so face the box towards the entrance/ access (for an indoor box) or towards open ground (for an outdoor box), but avoid the prevailing weather if possible.
More about positioning an indoor owl box:
www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/suitable-positions-barn-owl-nestboxes-buildings/
More about placing tree nestboxes:
www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/photoguide-choosing-right-tree-erecting-nestbox/
Hope that helps, good luck!
I want to put an owl nest box in my garage but I would want the entrance on the outside is that possible
Certainly possible - The entrance hole should be at least 3m above ground level & visible from the surrounding landscape. Lots of ideas here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/photoguide-provision-barn-owls-within-buildings/ Good luck!
I would like to thank you for your reply it helps me a lot I’ve been reading up on what to do and I think I have a good area in which to install a barn owl box thank you for your time I appreciate you and your reply
You're very welcome - good luck!
Hi BO Trust. Have checked out many BO Nest boxes for trees using your guidelines and saw many that fall short of min hole heights fro safety. We would like to purchase one of yours but we were wondering about the life span of the floor section. How long so you think your tree box floor will last in British weather, roughly. We are restricted on how often we can take down and repair boxes you see. Thank you.
Hi - it's great to hear that you're planning to put up a Barn Owl nestbox!
Our nestboxes are built to be long lasting with thick roofing felt which should last at least 10 years and timber which should last for 20 years. This is not a guarantee, as we don't have any control over the positioning of the boxes (or the weather!) but we have tree nest boxes which are still going strong after 15 years!
If you have any further questions, please contact us by email or phone for a more detailed response: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/about-the-barn-owl-trust/contact-us/
Good luck with your project!
I'm observating a pair of Barn owl for a while now they sit in balcony whole day
Do you think they will use the nest box if provided coz I don't see any Safe place anywhere near for breeding
We'd always recommend providing a nestbox if possible - hopefully they will use it, especially if it feels safe for them. Good luck!
Very good comments on nestling behaviour! Very usefull for any cavity nest species..
Fantastic advice . Planning on building one or two boxes here on the farm
Thanks - sounds like a great idea!
do clean out box every year? normally don't clean small bird houses. door open clean old nest out. not sure i want open owl box. off chance owl in there.
With Barn Owl boxes it's important to maintain the depth to reduce the chance of young owlets falling out and dying. It's best to clean them out every 2 or 3 years, in winter, in good weather, when they're not nesting. More here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/#barn-owl-nest-box-access
lol @ the mice in opening of video
what is the opening size
The entrance opening is 13cm square - more info here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/#barn-owl-nest-box-dimensions
what if the owlets don't know the metric system? asking for a friend.
If the owl can’t use google conversion, then it dies. 😜
Our website also has Imperial measurements for owlets & friends:
www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/#barn-owl-nest-box-construction
Nature can be cruel sometimes...
Maths can be cruel also...
Thank you for so useful video! Could you please advice what side to orient owl nestbox? South?
As long as the box is well designed, the compass direction it faces is not the most important consideration. It's usually best to position the box so that an owl fly past by chance is most likely to see the entrance hole.
I think I read 'east' to take advantage of morning sun and to minimize rain into the opening.
@@stephenholzman6670 East is fine but the priority is the maximise visibility of the entrance hole.
can it be too deep?
It depends how deep you mean - but generally, if a young owl is strong enough to fly, it can get out of most holes and a deeper box shouldn't be a problem.
More about nestboxes here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/#barn-owl-nest-box-dimensions
Im in the process of making a couple of these boxes for outside. I live in the tucson az desert. We have a very hot 8 months. Any suggestions?
Hi Sally, we'd recommend contacting a local expert to get specific information for your area, but painting the outside of the box white might help reflect the heat.
We have some recommended dimensions for American Barn owls on our website:
www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/american-barn-owls/
Good luck!
Thankyou for these videos ,
Are cats and squirrels predators for young owl chicks? Is this nest box helpful keeping predators away?
Here in the UK, Barn Owls are pretty safe from predators. Cats or foxes might be a problem for a fallen young owlet on the ground - but in the nest box they are well protected by their parents. This is why we recommend our deep box design which helps to keep the young from falling until they can fly. Squirrels can be a pest because they might build a nest in an empty box, but it's unlikely that they would bother young owls.
More info here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/hazards-solutions/poor-barn-owl-nestbox-design/
@@BarnOwlTrust1 Thankyou for the reply. I see owls in my locality as it has a lot of trees. Here in India , owls are sometimes considered ominous and while people are placing nest boxes for sparrows and robins, nobody really wants or cares for boxes for owls. I find owls very fascinating and am keen to make this owl box as you described. But finding a good place to fit the box seems to be a challenge though.
Good luck with your project - it seems very worthwhile. :)
Not forgetting the hinge on bottom to let droppings out ?
For cleaning out, we'd recommend a top opening lid, or a vertical hatch on the side - that way there's no chance of the floor accidentally dropping open and owlets or eggs dropping out.
www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/#barn-owl-nest-box-construction
Can you put more than one in a half acrea area
There’s certainly a value in having 2 boxes within a few hundred yards of each other at nest sites - both boxes may well be used by individuals from a pair, rather than a second pair of owls: More here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/
How should the bottom be? Will it accumulate poo and dirt? Is it good?
All boxes have a plywood bottom upon which owl pellet debris will accumulate. You can see photographs here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/signs-barn-owl-occupation/ . Once the debris reaches a depth of about 75mm the box should be emptied. Some people like to put a thin layer of woodflakes in the bottom but this is not necessary.
INCH ? FEET ???
A detailed nestbox plan with Imperial & metric measurements can be found on our website: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/#barn-owl-nest-box-construction
How long does it take for owls to find boxes ?
It varies a lot. The best time of year is in the Autumn (in the UK) when youngsters are dispersing and looking for their own Home range. If it's taking longer, make sure the nestbox entrance is visible to a passing owl and you have suitable habitat close by. Sometimes it just takes a few years for no obvious reason. www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/openings-holes-attractive-barn-owls/
Can you mount a owl house on a pole?
If there are no suitable buildings or trees available, then yes - a nestbox on a pole is possible - more info here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/
I also like the idea of a bottom platform with a one way door...but hey...this is great info...thanks..i need to make a few of these or buy a few....but your in the uk...
Do you have a cut list or a detailed drawing for the nestbox on a pole?
Yep - detailed instructions here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-pole-nest-box/#pole-box-plans
@@BarnOwlTrust1, I hope to build this design. What would be very helpful is dimensions added to this diagram. www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/photoguide-build-pole-mounted-barn-owl-nestbox/#jp-carousel-10216
So dimensions are missing from the link you provided above. For example, the measurement to the peak for the external view, and the dimension from the bottom of the opening to the bottom. Great design.
@@stephenholzman6670 Sorry. The thread was for a 'cut list' so the link above was to a cutting plan. All the dimensions you need are here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/BOT-Polebox-diagram-FULL-SIZE.jpg
Whats is said in the video is not completely true. Many owls will continue feeding their babies even outside the nest!
It's very important to know what species of owl you have found - Tawny Owls will continue to feed a fallen owlet and it's best to leave them alone, But Barn Owl parents will ignore an owlet out of the nest and it must be put back (if it's healthy) - otherwise it's likely to die.
More here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/picking-up-a-live-owl/find-young-barn-owl/
Boxes should be pointed towards the south
Try to face an outdoor nestbox entrance away from the prevailing wind (in the UK, this generally means avoiding the west or south-west). The nestbox needs to be at least 3 metres above ground level, with the entrance hole visible to a passing owl. More here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/photoguide-choosing-right-tree-erecting-nestbox/
What about tawny owls nest box?
Tawny Owl nestbox instructions here: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/tawny-owl-nestbox/ :)
@@BarnOwlTrust1 tnx a lot :)