Should I Put Anything in A Birdhouse?

Most bird boxes remain empty because they fail to imitate the natural environment that birds need. Birds like to nest in places that are surrounded by trees and bushes.

Material like wood pieces and small toys inside a birdhouse make birds suspicious and nervous. So, is there anything that you can put inside a birdhouse? Let’s discuss this in detail.

What to Put inside A Birdhouse

Location is the most important factor you need to consider while placing a birdhouse for your feathered friends. If a birdhouse is in a spot that’s suitable for birds, they’ll accept it even if it’s empty and start building their nest.

However, you can place some natural materials such as grass, leaves, bark, twigs, wood chipping, and so on to attract birds. You can easily find many of these materials in your outdoor space. The purpose of putting anything in a birdhouse is to provide birds with a foundation to start building a nest.

It also depends upon the species of bird you want to attract. For example, big birds like woodpeckers and owls appreciate natural materials. Here are some materials that you can put in a birdhouse.

Pet Hair

If you own a furry little cat or dog, consider putting that in a birdhouse. Small birds like this stuff as it allows them to make a comfortable nest for their hatchlings. They’ll accept it happily and use it to construct their nest.

Wood Shavings

You can place wood shavings inside a birdhouse. Birds use it as insulation, and you can put it in your birdhouses. It’s important to ensure that you don’t put in any inorganic materials such as plastic or metal.

Toy Stuffing

If you have an old toy that’s not used by your little ones anymore, consider cutting it open and adding its stuffing to a birdhouse.

You can simply place that stuffing inside a birdhouse or on any tree located in your garden, and birds will start using it for their nests. Toy stuffing also provides insulation for the nest and regulates the temperature.

Mud

Mud is one of those materials that you should not use for all bird species because only a few birds, such as blackbirds, use it to build a nest. While you can put it inside a birdhouse, placing it on a nearby tree or on the ground is a better approach.

Birds are clever and resourceful, and they’ll use the available mud if they need it for their nests.

What About Food and Water?

While placing food inside a birdhouse can help birds, it can also attract some dangerous pests and predators. It’s very difficult to make sure that ants and other bugs don’t reach the birdhouse if there are some food items inside.

However, you can put some dry food like seeds and nuts into a birdhouse. On the other hand, it’s not advisable to place water inside a birdhouse because it can spill out and make the space uncomfortable.

In most cases, it’s best to put up a separate bird feeder or bird bath away from the bird house. 

Unleash your creativity. We got some bird house roofing and bird house stand ideas that you might want to try out for leisure.