Where and How to Place a Barn Owl Box

A Internal Barn Owl Box can be better than a Barn Owl box for trees for many reasons. They are also cheaper. However if you can not find a suitable place Barn Owl Boxes for trees are a very good alternative. Barn Owl Boxes for trees are also cheaper and better than Boxes for Poles.

The Ideal Tree 

The location of the tree should be quite isolated, in a hedgerow or on a woodland edge. You should firstly make sure the tree is visible to any passing barn owls. It would be ideal if the tree canopy is quite high with very few lower branches. This is because when there are leaves on the tree it can block barn owls from seeing the hole; so it also to imagine what the tree will look like with leaves on . The tree should also be quite close to rough grass land. They can fly to rough grass land so the box doesn't need to be right next to it. It should be possible to mount the Barn Owl Box 3 metres from ground level

Location 

  • It is important to note that the Barn Owl is not attracted to the box at all. It is just the hole in the box the Barn Owl is interested in.
  • You should always point the hole of the box towards the most open area as possible so the Barn Owls have easy access and can see it. Tress that have 
  • Trees with Low branches/leaves or tress screened by other trees or buildings are not suitable as it will block the hole
  • Trees within woodland are very unlikely to attract Barn Owls
  • Isolated, in a hedgerow or a woodland edge
  • The tree is visible to passing barn owls
  • The canopy is quite high with few or no lower branches - due to these blocking the view from barn owl. Also imagine the tree with leaves on to see if they will obstruct the view 
  • About 1km from rough grassland. These can be strips or patches and doesn't need to be a whole field
  • It should be able to mount the Barn Owl Box 3 metres from ground level
  • IMPORTANT: Do not place barn owl boxes less than 1km from motorways or dual carriage ways. However you can if it has a hedgerow on the side above the line of traffic

How to position a Barn Owl Box in the tree

Barn Owl Box in tree

This placement in the tree is ideal. It is about 5m up. It can however be lower than this but it always depends on where the lower branches are. In the summer the leaves do not cover the visibility of the hole. There is also branches just underneath to stop baby chicks falling. However due to the design of the barn owl box the chance of the chicks getting out before they can fly is low. The hole is also visible to passing barn owls. On this tree we have used ratchet straps to cause minimal damage to the tree. You can buy these from our store. However if you order a Barn Owl Box it will come with a batten attached to the back of the box (this is easily removeable) and an extra batten which you attach to the tree. You then hook the the barn owl box over this batten. To get the barn owl box in the tree you can use a simple ladder. However if you are doing this for work or business you will have to have a commercial ladder. You can use a arborist set up as well. This is what we use but is a bit more expensive but can make it easier to gain access for more complex trees You can  use this website: jrbtreeclimbing.com. This gives you information about climbing methods. Please contact us HERE for more information about our set up for climbing. Please also contact us if you would like us to put the Barn Owl Box up for you. We can do this in Rutland and surrounding areas up to 15 miles outside of Rutland. 

 

 

 

 

SAFETY FIRST: PLEASE ALWAYS IDENTIFY RISKS AND PRIOTORISE YOUR SAFETY. WE ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND DO NOT RECCOMEND DOING THIS WITHOUT A PROFESIONAL.

In Summary

The most important thing is that the hole is easily seen by the Barn Owl. It has to be at least 3 metres up into the tree but it can be higher than this. It has to be quite near rough grass land but it doesn't need to be right next to it because Barn Owls are capable of flying to get these strips or patches. Do not place it near motorways or dual carriage ways unless the hedgerow is higher than the line of traffic. This is to reduce the amount of road deaths