Please do not work alone and consider using multiple ladders or safer methods. Poleboxes are generally too heavy to lift single-handed and using a ladder is potentially dangerous. Your safetyīefore erecting a box, please ensure that you have properly assessed the risks involved, particularly with regard to working at height. More information on clearing out nest spaces. (Barn Owls’ feathers are not waterproof and they can get waterlogged and chilled in wind and rain.) If owls are roosting in the box, it’s best to wait until the weather is dry and calm, to avoid flushing them out into bad weather. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to disturb breeding Barn Owls so November to January is usually the best time. Boxes only used by breeding Barn Owls will need clearing out every 2 or 3 years at most. If Jackdaws use the box it must be cleaned out every year (wear gloves and a dust mask). Therefore it is important that the box depth is maintained by clearing out the box once it has more than roughly 75mm of nest debris. The internal depth of the box is important as it reduces the chances of a nestling Barn Owl falling from the box and dying as a result of neglect or predation. The front of the box should have an access panel to enable nest debris to be cleared out periodically. See our photoguide to erecting a Barn Owl pole-mounted nestbox by machine.Īlternatively, if you have no machine available, see our photoguide to erecting a Barn Owl pole-mounted nestbox by hand. The easiest way to put up a polebox is by machine. The front, back and sides must overhang the floor of the box. 20mm diameter drainage holes can also be drilled in the floor of the box. If you need proof that this is necessary, try leaving your pole box under a sprinkler for a few hours. ![]() A waterproof sealant (such as Ever-Build Weather-Mate) should be used in all the wood joints to prevent water seeping in. The top of the box should be covered with heavy duty roofing felt. It is essential that the edges and ends of all parts are treated before assembly. Where tanalised plywood is not available any type of preservative may be used provided that the box is dry before erection. Please avoid using hardwood ply, unless it is stamped “ FSC Approved”. The Barn Owl Trust uses 12 mm tanalised softwood ply, 25 x 50mm and 50 x 50mm tanalised batten with 40mm and 50mm rust-resistant screws. The basic owl box should be built using rot-resistant or Tanalith E treated sheet material manufactured using a waterproof adhesive.
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