The bird houses and dovecotes have a variety of hanging or mounting options; in the description for the house it will say whether it is wall mount, post mount or hanging.
Post Mount
These houses will have a post mounting block attached to the base that will allow the house to slip on to a treated pine post. In the description of the house it will state what the post size is; for example, 90 x 90mm or 70 x 45mm (it will be a standard size available at any decent hardware store). The length (or height) of the post will depend on your preference but generally somewhere around 900 to 1500mm will be OK.
The post can be just driven into the ground with a reasonably big hammer (like a sledge hammer or the back of an axe or block buster) or, if you like a really permanent solution – dig a hole and set the post in concrete.
The bird house should just slip over the post but if the post gets ‘burred over’ at the top from hammering or the fit is a bit too tight you may need to shave a bit off around the top. Don’t try to hammer the bird house onto the post though – it’ll just end in tears. Also not a good idea to try and widen the aperture on the post mounting block – that’ll also end in tears. It’s always easier to adjust the top of the post; you can use a plane or a chisel or even a sharp axe but keep in mind that they are all sharp – and that can end in more than just tears. If in doubt or if you get stuck, please just contact us.
Hanging
The bird house will have a ring bolt, hook or loop of some description at the top and that is used with the supplied basket hanging bracket. The bracket hooks through the bolt and then over a branch or similar. The bracket can be bent into shape with a hammer or strong pliers should it be required. Alternatively some strong cord or fine rope can be looped through the hanging bracket and around a branch or similar.
Wall Mounting
Some of the bird houses and all of the dovecotes have a cleat or slot at the rear to allow mounting on a wall, tree or other flattish surface. This is a lot like hanging a picture; use a hook or flat headed screw (Tek screws are great) and just hang the house using the cleat or slot.
Considerations
Depending on your environment, you may have to consider the threat of predators (or pests). The three main ones are foxes, cats and rats. There are some native predators as well but those three represent the biggest problems you’re likely to face. Foxes are not a big issue for the types of birds using our houses; once the house is elevated and there are no ‘steps’ to get to the birds they are pretty safe from foxes.
Cats and rats are a big problem but there are a few things we can do to lessen their potential impact. Cats can free jump about 5 times their length; to put a bird house high enough to prevent cats reaching them is not really an option. If the house is a hanging version, cats find these very frustrating as they can’t jump to a hanging house if there is no ‘ledge’ for them to land on. Sure they can climb onto a branch but they still have to be able to reach down to the house – very tricky.
For the post mounted houses, if the post is timber (which is recommended) cats and rats can climb a timber post quite easily. Our bird houses only have small ‘verandahs’ which makes life difficult for the cat; rats are fine with that though. If rats are an issue then simply wrap some smooth steel or plastic round the post – problem solved. If the post is tubular steel then there is no issue with either cats or rats.
Wall mounts and tree trunks are pretty good at stopping cats but rats can climb a vertical rough timber wall – again, they hate smooth surfaces so, if rats are a problem, surround the house with some smooth steel or plastic. The same technique can be used for hanging houses; wrap some metal or plastic round the branch and it stops the rats getting close enough to the bird house to be able to drop onto it.
Blue Swallow Designs 