Paddy
Veteran Member
We would like to build and install a few bat houses. Anyone out there have any experience? There are many plans on line but just want to get feed back from others
Bat houses anyone?
- Thread starter Paddy
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aarolar
Platinum Member
I'm in on this too
There are thousands of them in this one, they go in under the siding, they go in under the metal roofing, they go into the soffits,
and they even go into the one I built just for them (nailed to the wall there right above my dog) :bat:
and they even go into the one I built just for them (nailed to the wall there right above my dog) :bat:
Gem99ultra
Elite Member
I've had some success and some failures. My success was building those about 6" x 6" x 18", all natural untreated wood. On the inside I installed small pegs protruding from the sides, staggered. Hung those bat houses about 20' up in trees. Bats just flocked in.
My failure was building one about 4" x 18" x 18", painted black and in the shape of a bat. Hung that one about 12' high on the side of our pump house. No bats. I'm assuming that 'no bats' was because the house wasn't attractive since I see a lot of bats flying around every evening around dusk. Maybe the image of a giant bat on the front scared them off
I might add, I love bats! We have two large ponds and 2 creeks - and NO mosquitoes. The bats absolutely wipe out the mosquito population.
My failure was building one about 4" x 18" x 18", painted black and in the shape of a bat. Hung that one about 12' high on the side of our pump house. No bats. I'm assuming that 'no bats' was because the house wasn't attractive since I see a lot of bats flying around every evening around dusk. Maybe the image of a giant bat on the front scared them off
I might add, I love bats! We have two large ponds and 2 creeks - and NO mosquitoes. The bats absolutely wipe out the mosquito population.
Marbleman
New member
I have had limited success with bat houses. Our best success was a large wooden framed cloth covered picnic table umbrella, green. The umbrella was in the closed-down position for a couple of weeks. We ended up with about 23 baby bats in it with several adult females set up a nursery. It was quite successful at increasing the bat population around our house.
hslogger
Platinum Member
One real good suggestion is NOT to put them up in the proximity of barns that have owls in them. The owls will go after them.
teejk
Veteran Member
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- Merrillan, WI
- Tractor
- JD 2020, IH CC 1250, Ariens 926 Snowthrower
Built one years ago for my sister from some plan she found. Made from cedar. Rather than pegs or other climbing mechanism the plan called for a series of shallow kerf cuts (easy to do with a radial arm saw). She got bats right away. My FIL built one and it didn't see a bat for several years but then all of a sudden they appeared. Never figured out the reason.
teejk
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2012
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- Location
- Merrillan, WI
- Tractor
- JD 2020, IH CC 1250, Ariens 926 Snowthrower
Both attached to trees. Both were left natural. The construction on both was a rather tight sandwich and when they "huddle-up" they provide their own heat, plus they have the ability to go into a hibernation mode. I'm in Wisconsin and I think they are somewhat migratory so they don't have to deal with our winters in the bat houses (they eat flying insects and not many around here when the temps drop). Interesting read: WDNR - Wisconsin's Bats
BarnieTrk
Silver Member
I have built bat houses and had good luck with getting bats to live in them.
Bats like the heat. so either paint the exterior black or I when using scrap lumber, it was easier to simply wrap the exterior with black tar/felt paper. Mount the bat house high, like over 20ft if you can and have the box face the south or direct sunlight. If you use rough-sawed lumber on the inside or make the saw kerf cuts as mentioned earlier the bats will be able to climb up into it in fine fashion. I hung mine on the side of a light pole. I started to notice bat droppings at the base of the pole after about 3 weeks. Near sundown time, and with a bright hand-held light, I could shine the light up into the bottom of the box and see the bats inside. Here are some styles and ideas:
Bat Houses, Bat House Sale - BestNest.com!
Good luck!
BarnieTrk :2cents:
Bats like the heat. so either paint the exterior black or I when using scrap lumber, it was easier to simply wrap the exterior with black tar/felt paper. Mount the bat house high, like over 20ft if you can and have the box face the south or direct sunlight. If you use rough-sawed lumber on the inside or make the saw kerf cuts as mentioned earlier the bats will be able to climb up into it in fine fashion. I hung mine on the side of a light pole. I started to notice bat droppings at the base of the pole after about 3 weeks. Near sundown time, and with a bright hand-held light, I could shine the light up into the bottom of the box and see the bats inside. Here are some styles and ideas:
Bat Houses, Bat House Sale - BestNest.com!
Good luck!
BarnieTrk :2cents:
