Not sure where to place bird boxes

susananwms

Have fed the birds for a few years and get lots of visitors but have had no luck with the bird boxes.  I have a south facing garden and had one on back of house facing south, and 2 on the side of the house facing east but had no takers
Should I maybe try fixing them sideways on to the house walls? this would mean the one on back wall would face either east or west but on the side wall would be much more sheltered as it would face onto another wall (big space between though) and protect it from all the elements
Or is it just that a bird has to fancy a space before they use it? have had a few checking them out or sitting on top but none have made a nest

wild edges

You might have a few problems here. A lot of birds don't like nesting too close to bird feeders and if the garden is very busy then they might chose to find somewhere quieter to nest. Birds also like sheltered spots to nest, out of bright sun and with the nest hole facing away from the worst of the wind and rain. I fit mine to the north walls of the house generally.

Doghouse Riley

The problem with bird boxes is that you want them where you can see them and they want them where you can't.

Dovefromabove

We’ve found that all the bird boxes which have been used in this  garden have been on the north side of a fence, and similarly on the north side of a large tree trunk.  The nests which the birds have built themselves (dunnocks and wrens) have been hidden in the thick Clem. alpina and also the honeysuckle, again on the north facing side of a fence.  

My understanding is that the birds avoid sites in direct sun so the nestlings don’t overheat. 

nick615

For reasons that don't seem logical, the general rule is North or East facing which is where most of the bad weather comes from.

thevictorian

Cover is the most important aspect. We have a nest box on our shed, facing West but shady most of the day, that has willow screening it and for the last three years it's had great tit nesting in it. 
If the birds don't feel secure then they won't use the box. So think about some cover which will make them feel safer and deter predators.

Fairygirl

Most of our wet weather comes from the west, so north or east facing is ideal to keep the wet out, That's what does the damage for small birds.
Cover is also important, as already said. Some house walls wouldn't be terribly attractive to many birds if there was no cover, although sparrows don't seem to mind. 

wild edges

thevictorianzFH0qqPW said:

Cover is the most important aspect. We have a nest box on our shed, facing West but shady most of the day, that has willow screening it and for the last three years it's had great tit nesting in it. 
If the birds don't feel secure then they won't use the box. So think about some cover which will make them feel safer and deter predators.

To expand on that, put yourself in the frame of mind of a bird who needs to get 5 or 6 chicks, that can barely fly, out of the nest and safely into a tree or bush one at a time while still keeping an eye on them all.

susananwms

Thank you for all your answers, I can see now why I am having problems.  I am going to try one on the side wall with opening facing north and keep my fingers crossed.  For the others I guess i will have to wait till the apple tree at bottom the of the garden grows bigger.  Grateful for your help

thevictorian

wild edges said:

To expand on that, put yourself in the frame of mind of a bird who needs to get 5 or 6 chicks, that can barely fly, out of the nest and safely into a tree or bush one at a time while still keeping an eye on them all.

We have had at least 12 great tits fledge each year for the last three years (this year was the first time I found any dead chicks in the nest box and we had two). As we have plenty of trees in the garden they all hang around there calling the parents and we just sit there and watch them. 
There was one land on our dog this year and stayed there for a couple of minutes. Luckily our dog likes them.

Buttercupdays

my dog likes chicken, but it wouldn't be a good idea for one to land on him!