Treating wood for bird box (1 Viewer)

[Pommy]

Hi, my other half has made a bird box out of hardwood, which he has put up but without treating the wood. Since the box has been up (about a week), blue tits have shown a lot of interest and have been going completely inside the box.

I'm assuming it is too late to treat the exterior of the box now that there is daily acivity on it?

He has also now made a nuthatch box. Can teak oil be used to treat the sides and roof or would it need to be water-based sealant?

Thanks

 

[etudiant]

Hi Pommy,

There is no requirement to treat the wood. In fact, some treatments may even be harmful to birds nesting in houses built using that material. Leakage is not serious even in houses built of raw wood.
The main benefit of treating wood is that it does not decay as rapidly. However, few birdhouses are expected to last more than a few years.

 

[The Cumbrian]

If it is hard wood then it will probably lasta long time without treating. I have seen untreated Oak decades and in some cases centuries old.

 

[tweezak]

I've been brushing my cedar boxes with mineral oil. I figure they put it on cutting boards so it probably can't hurt. Besides, the wood looks a lot nicer oiled.

 

[Mal92]

Hi
If you use a water based stain it will cause the wood to break-up when it dries out in the sun. An oil-based stain would be a better solution.

 

[Pommy]

Thanks for the advice. He is happy to now leave the boxes untreated. And besides, some blue tits moved in over the weekend!

 

[tweezak]

I am building a planter box with a frame for climbers and rather than use pressure treated lumber I opted to treat it with linseed oil. I wonder if this would also be ok for bird houses.

By the way, other people here have recommended applying soap/wax/grease to the inside of the roof to prevent wasps from building a nest.

 

[Azzy]

I'm not a fan of treating nest boxes, I don't think it affects birds as much, but some species get put off by treated wood and won't nest until the box naturalises.

 

[jmepler]

I have some nest boxes that are over 25 years old. I made them out of cypress. Very weather resistant and easy to work with. They darken with age, but show no signs of decay. Remember to use brass or stainless steel hardware.

Mike