Q. What should I put inside the box for the owls to nest on?
A. The best
material is hardwood mulch in a layer about two inches thick. Birds avoid pine and other evergreens, and flakes and sawdust
can get stuck to food items and become a hazard to young owls.
Q. When is the best time to put up boxes?
A. Barn owls can nest at any time of the year, so it really does not matter. You do want to have
them ready by spring.
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Q. What are the box's dimensions?
A. 17" H x 17" W x 26" L -- not including landing ledge and rain guard. (Metric: 43.2 cm H x 43.2 cm
W x 66 cm L.)
Q. How much does the box weigh?
A. The Barn
Model weighs approximately 14 pounds (6.4 kg) ; The Pole Model (due to its double-box syste m) weighs approximately
25 pounds (11.3 kg).
Q. How easy is the box to install?
A. We have designed the box for simple installation. It comes with all of the necessary hardware for mounting, including the
support bracket and instructions. Also, because the box is lightweight, it is much easier to carry up a ladder than a heavy
wooden box.
The Pole Model will
mount by means of a galvanized metal bracket on top of a wooden 4 x 4 or 6 x 6, or attach to the flange on top of a metal
pole. The Barn Model requires a six-inch opening to be cut in the side of the barn at the proper height, then is mounted
to its support bracket. The front then attaches to the exterior of the barn. For more information go to the Installation
link on our homepage.
Q. Is any assembly required?
A. The Pole Model
requires that the radiant foil be taped to the interior of the box before the liner slides in. (Foil and tape are included
with the box.) Also on the Pole Model, the weather-proof vent needs to be fastened to the roof.
Q. What
kind of substrate should I put in the bottom of the box?
A. The best substrate is mulch,
preferably hardwood. (Birds are not fond of evergreen mulch.) This gives the birds a softer place to rest, and keeps the eggs
from rolling.
Q. Can the box be mounted in a tree?
A. Yes. We recommend
that you use the Pole Model for use in a tree unless you are certain that the box will remain in complete shade.
Since tree-mounting methods vary from tree to tree, we allow you to determine how best to adapt the box for installation.
Q. How likely is it that barn owls will utlilize my nest box?
A. This
depends on how dense the barn owl population is in your area. Boxes in areas with many owls will naturally stand a greater
chance of attracting these birds. However, by installing boxes in areas of low populations, not only do you increase the likelihood
of attracting barn owls, you also do your part in aiding their conservation. A lack of suitable nesting places is often sited
as one of the prime reason for the barn owl's decline.
Q: How many boxes should I put up?
A: This depends on the numbers of rodents
in your area. In areas of high rodent density, the more boxes the better. Barn owls tend to be less territorial than other
birds of prey when there is enough food. This trait of being able to live in close proximity is what lends the barn owl
to intensive pest management programs. Several cases of barn owl pairs living in the same barn have been reported, and
in 1968, 34 barn owls were discovered living in an abandoned steel mill in Utah.
In the oil-palm plantations of Asia, boxes are placed one per ten hectares (or one for every 24 acres) with almost full occupancy.
Going by this, a one-hundred acre farm could use four boxes. However, keep in mind that more boxes only give the birds more
choices and often result in higher populations.
Q: What is the difference between the Post Model and the Barn Model?
A. The Post Model is designed to stay near ambient temperature in full sun on the hottest of days, and actually
consists of two boxes, one within the other. It also contains special reflective pigments, and comes with a radiant barrier
foil for its inner walls. Note: It is important to understand that only the Post Model should be mounted in full sun.
The Barn Model is to be used in a shaded environment--such as the interior of a building.
Q: How
does ordering more than one box reduce shipping costs?
A. The Barn Owl Box is designed
for stacking (one unit slides into the next.) For this reason, each additional box only increases the size of the shipment
by a small amount. To give you some idea, shipping one Barn Model box from our manufacturer in Wisconsin to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
costs approximately $15.00. Shipping an additional box adds less than $2.00 to the shipment. And 5 boxes shipped to the same
destination still costs less than $20.00, for an average of about $4.00 per box.
Overseas orders benefit additionally when they can be shipped in lots of 500 pounds--going by sea can bring the price down
significantly.
Q. How does the Barn Model get installed in a metal building?
A. The best method is to follow the instructions of your barn manufactuer for cutting and flashing a 17" rough
opening. The box then slides in from the outside. A flange on the outside of the box butts up against the outside of the barn,
and is screwed to the wall. On the interior of the barn, the owner will mount a simple brace under the box for support.
Q. Now that I have a box, how can I attract barn owls?
A. All animals, including
barn owls, possess excellent skills for finding new homes and good territory. Much of this is visual. Barn owls are skilled
at noticing dark holes that indicate a hollow they can use for a nest. The entrance hole to the box is all they need to see.
Once their curiosity is aroused, they will eventually perch on the landing ledge and inspect the box for its potential
as a home.
Q. Can I create habitat that will make it more likely that barn owls will choose to nest on my
property?
A. Yes. One of the problems facing barn owls has been the practice by farmers
of reducing or eliminating hedge rows which provide good habitat for a lot of wildlife. Leave pockets of high grasses and
second growth on your property and you will increase the chances of attracting many types of wild creatures, including
barn owls.
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