Build a Wren and Chickadee Box NOTICE: Please read all
directions before beginning any new woodworking project! The 1
1/8-inch hole size is adapted to the needs of house, Bewick and
Carolina wrens and chickadees. If you only want to attract house
wrens, the hole can be reduced to 7/8 inch (the diameter of a
quarter). The 3 1/2 x 4-inch interior dimensions are minimal,
and some people prefer a 4 x 4-inch interior size. For wrens,
mount the house 6 to 8 feet high; for chickadees, it can be
slightly higher, up to ten feet. If the box is nailed to a tree,
use aluminum nails and leave the heads protruding 1/4 to 1/2
inch to allow for tree growth. Clean the box after each nesting.
Several of these houses may be erected in a yard. Space them 20
to 50 feet apart. Wrens build two or more nests per year, but
they rarely use the same box twice in a season, preferring to
nest in a different box. Male wrens also sometimes attract two
females into their territory. The males may put twigs in all the
houses, but the females