This is my review of the Bluebird Nest Box Model CWH4 from Nature’s Way. I own two of these nest boxes and I have been using them over the last three years along with a few other nest box styles. In this review, I’ll explain why I think the CWH4 is the best bluebird house on the market and why you should highly consider buying one if you want to attract bluebirds to your yard.
You can buy this nest box directly on the Nature’s Way website, but I find that it’s usually available for a lower price on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I’ll tell you what I like most about this nest box compared to the nest boxes I used to use. Then, I’ll include a video down below demonstrating how the nest box is used.
Click here to skip down to the video review.
Let’s start with the features I love.
Why the CWH4 is the Best Bluebird House (6 Features I Love)
1. You can adjust the entrance hole size.
This nest box comes with a standard predator guard installed on top of the entrance hole. In itself, this guard helps keep raccoons and cats from being able to reach down into the nest box.
With the predator guard kept in place, the entrance hole is 1 1/2 inches – perfect for Eastern Bluebirds. If you remove the predator guard, the entrance hole underneath becomes 1 9/16 inches. This is ideal for Western Bluebirds and Mountain Bluebirds.
So, if you live west of the Rocky Mountains, you can remove the predator guard and the nest box will be perfectly suited for the birds in your area. You can also attach a larger 1 9/16 inch predator guard back onto the box if you want want – Nature’s Way offers one on their website here.
2. The forward-slanting roof keeps the nest box dry.
Generally, a forward-slanting roof will keep a nest box drier than a roof that slants backwards or to the sides. That’s why I like the forward-slanting roof on the CWH4 bluebird house.
The nest box stays nice and dry, and I don’t have to worry about the bluebird nest getting soaked. Plus, I think it looks more attractive than a roof that tilts backwards, or one of those triangle-shaped roofs.
3. The side-opening door allows quick and easy monitoring.
Having an easy-to-open door on the side of the nest box is one of my favorite simple features of the CWH4. All you do is turn a latch, flip the door upward, and you can see into the nest box.
Some homemade bird houses I’ve used required pulling a nail out of the wood and replacing it after closing the door. It’s much better to have a latch that stays in the wood. This way, you don’t have to worry about misplacing a nail while you’re monitoring your bluebird houses.
4. A plastic viewing window provides an extra layer of separation.
The plastic viewing window in the CWH4 gives an extra layer of separation between you the nest/bluebirds when you’re monitoring the box. This viewing window is also easily removable if you need to clean out the nest box.
Note: I have used this nest box for a few seasons and it is currently still dirty from a previous nest. Consider that a testament to the effectiveness of the nest box! We cleaned the nest box out after the bluebirds left and after filming this review. Please forgive our mess.
5. The notches under the entrance hole help nestlings fledge.
The CWH4 also has three notches (fledgling “kerfs”) built into the nest box on the inside. This can help some nestlings climb out of the nest box when the time comes for them to leave.
While the texture of the cedar wood in the nest box itself is enough for the bluebirds to grip onto, it’s comforting to know that these notches are in the box, just in case the birds need a little extra help.
6. The elevated mesh floor helps protect nests from blowfly larvae.
This might be an unnecessary feature, but I like that the CWH4 has an elevated mesh floor to separate the nest from the bottom of the nest box. This can help keep the nest cooler, dryer, and more protected from blowfly larvae.
Bluebirds seem to have no problem with building their nests directly on the mesh flooring, which is something I was initially worried about. They treat it just as if it were the actual bottom of the bluebird house.
In theory, this elevated mesh floor allows air to circulate underneath the nest, keeping the nest cooler and dryer. This is meant to keep the nest at a comfortable temperature. It also to protects against potential blowfly larvae infestations, which can often be a problem for bluebird nests.
The mesh floor is a small feature I like, and the mesh easily slides out of the box for cleaning too.
Nest Box Styles I Used Before This One
In the past, I mostly used homemade wooden nest boxes that opened in the front. Multiple of these I made myself and some I got from locals who sold them at the side of the road.
These homemade nest boxes worked perfectly fine, except I didn’t like how much I felt like I was disturbing the female bluebird when I would open up the box. If she was sitting on the nest and I didn’t notice her right away, she would sometimes fly out of the open box, startled. This didn’t happen every time, but occasionally.
I much prefer the side-opening feature and the plastic viewing window on the CWH4. This provides an extra layer of separation between me and the nest box and the female bluebird almost never seems disturbed when I find her on the nest.
Other Things I Like about This Nest Box
- The design is approved by the North American Bluebird Society.
- It is made of cedar wood, which is very resistant to rot and decay.
- It has a five-inch distance from entrance hole to floor (perfect for bluebird nests).
- There are drainage holes/air vents on the bottom of the nest box and ventilation slots between the sides and the roof of the nest box.
- It available at an affordable price ($21.50 on Amazon, at the time of writing this review)
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Video Review: Bluebird Box Model CWH4 from Nature’s Way
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