Bird box Aftercare guide

An easy guide to help keep your Robinson Garden bespoke bird box looking in it’s finest condition all year round.

Cleaning guidance for your Bird Box

From time to time when the bird box is not being occupied, it may be a good idea to give the outside of the bird house a clean.

When cleaning, use a cloth with lukewarm soapy water and lightly wipe the birdbox. Do not use a hosepipe or jet washer as this can damage the product.

Where should I positions my Bird Box and when is a good time to put up my bird box / nesting homes?

We have created an insightful blog article with all the answers to these questions. CLICK HERE to be directed to the blog article.

The end of nesting season clean

Although it’s tempting to leave cleaning your bird box until the new nesting season, it is much better for the timber to do this in the Autumn. Dirt holds moisture far longer than something that is clean and it’s the moisture that brings on the decay.

By cleaning it you will also be getting it in a state where it can dry out from time to time on a sunny day, even in winter. If you are putting it under cover, then removing the dirt will also mean that it does not dry hard onto the furniture.

General / Annual Maintenance of your Bird box

Annual maintenance is best carried out after the nesting season. Clean the interior and exterior of your bird box making sure it is still the best place for the nesting home to be positioned.

Once the nesting season has ended, using gloves access the interior of the bird box via the back twisting the wood door panel either left or right. Disgard of any previous nests that have been made so that it is ready for the new season.

It may be likely that your nesting box will need an annual paint to keep ensure its elegant nature. We advise you do this over several dry days.

Sand down any areas that are rough and then dust down with a dry cloth. We then advise you to apply one coat of Farrow & Ball exterior eggshell undercoat where your sanding has reached the wood. Leave it to dry for roughly two/three hours, ensuring you use the correct Farrow and Ball undercoat colour.

Once you have done this you can then start applying the Farrow & Ball colour of your choice applying at least two coats with two / three hours between coats.

It is essential that the relevant maintenance is carried out from time to time to ensure that the bird house is in top condition. If this is not done then the nesting home will deteriorate and can cause long-term damage which may be irreversible.

Robinson Garden cannot be held responsible for this and it is the duty of the owner to ensure this work is done as and when required

Steps for removing grime, mildew, water, leaves and droppings from your wooden nesting box

It is essential that you keep your nesting box as clean as reasonably possible. As a natural product, the exterior environment can affect the longevity of the bird box.

First of all, fill one of your buckets with water and then add washing up liquid. Fill the second bucket with clear water. Take the soft cloth and moisten it in the washing up liquid solution. Then wring the cloth out so that it is barely moist.

Mildew is a type of mould that can grow and flourish in an environment where oxygen, moisture and organic material can combine to cause a reaction. If it grows upon your bird box it will appear green in appearance and will ruin its aesthetic. The good news is that most mould and mildew can be removed via a few simple cleaning-based steps.

Use the barely moist cloth to scrub the areas of your bird box affected by mildew. For the best results, concentrate on each problem area at a time. Once you are pleased that the problem area has been sufficiently cleaned, take another clean cloth and rinse with clean water. Then take a third clean cloth to dry the problem section.

NEVER use a power washer or hose pipe directly onto the bird box.

 

Paint

• • Ensure you use genuine Farrow & Ball exterior eggshell paint
  • If the paint has peeled to the wood, rub down with soft sandpaper
  • Wipe off the dust with a dry cloth and apply Farrow & Ball exterior undercoat
  • Once dried, apply Farrow & Ball exterior eggshell paint

Repainting your bird box / nesting box

If you decide to repaint your nesting box, ensure that any paint that has flaked off has been sanded down and wipe clean before apply undercoat. Use Farrow & Ball exterior eggshell to repaint following the Farrow & Ball painting instructions.

A final important note

Please note that Robinson Garden cannot be held responsible for on-going maintenance of your bespoke made to order bird boxes. If ongoing maintenance isn’t done this will heavily affect the lifespan and aesthetics.

Follow the bird box aftercare guide above to ensure that your bird box / nesting home is maintained correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For our most frequently asked questions regarding our bird boxes. Please click the button below.

Bird Box FAQs

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