Of all the things you can open up your bluebird house to find, wasps are some of the most annoying. Wasps are not usually a problem once bluebirds have established a nest in the box, but if wasps find the nest box first, they’ll definitely keep the bluebirds away! I’ve dealt with wasps in my bird houses before, and luckily, the solution to getting rid of them is pretty simple and straight-forward. So, if you’re wondering how to keep wasps out of your bluebird houses, here’s how.
To keep wasps out of your bluebird houses, apply a thin layer of bar soap to the inside roof of the nest box. This slippery layer of soap will prevent wasps from building a nest inside of your bluebird house and they’ll look for a better home elsewhere. Unscented soap is the safest option.
Photo above by Monkey Mash Button is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Does this soap solution sound too simple to work? Well, it works. Soap is one of the easiest deterrents you can use in your nest boxes to keep undesirable critters out. If only it worked on House Sparrows like it does on wasps!
In the rest of this article, I will explain a few steps you’ll need to take to keep wasps out of your bluebird houses.
Steps to Wasp-Proof Your Bluebird House
1. Use a Quality Bluebird Nest Box
2. Place the Nest Box in the Right Location
3. Remove Any Old Wasp Nests from the Nest Box
4. Apply a Layer of Bar Soap to the Nest Box Ceiling
1. Use a Quality Bluebird Nest Box
First, you will need to be using a quality nest box designed specifically with bluebirds in mind. If you are using an ornate, decorative bird house, you might be unintentionally attracting wasps by mistake. So, make sure you are using a style of nest box that is meant for bluebirds. Nest boxes made of cedar or PVC pipe are my favorite.
My all-around favorite bluebird house is the Nature’s Way model CWH4. This model has good ventilation built-in to the bird house, it has a side-opening door, and it even has a plastic divider that allows you to view the nest without disturbing the eggs or chicks. Click here to get one of these bluebird nest boxes on Amazon. I highly recommend them.
I also love this Gilbertson-style nest box made out of PVC pipe. It’s a great model that claims to deter House Sparrows. I’ve used this nest box as well and it’s worked great for bluebirds and tree swallows. Click here to check out this nest box on Amazon.
Having the right nest box is the first step in keeping wasps out of your bluebird house. Now let’s talk about where to put that nest box.
2. Place the Nest Box in the Right Location
To keep wasps out of your bluebird house you’ll need to put the nest box in the right location. If you tack the nest box onto the side of your house, or even nail it to a wooden fence post, you’re asking for just asking for undesirable creatures to come and visit. You want to put the nest box where bluebirds want to be, and where wasps won’t even notice it.
Mount your bluebird nest box in an open location, like in your back yard or at the edge of a field. Bluebirds seek out open spaces with short grass where they can hunt for insects. Don’t put it too close to houses, barns, or other buildings – this could unintentionally keep bluebirds away and invite other creatures to check out the box. Remember, once bluebirds start using the nest box, wasps will be more likely to leave it alone!
Click here to read my article about the best location to place your bluebird house.
3. Remove Any Old Wasp Nests from the Nest Box
If you find an old or unused wasps nest in your bluebird house, remove it and sweep the nest box clean of any debris. This will make the nest box attractive again as a nesting place for bluebirds. Once you remove any old wasp nests, you can move on to step four on this list.
If you find an active wasp nest in a bluebird house, leave the nest box alone and put up a new nest box in a different location. It can be tempting to remove the wasps with foam or spray, but the chemicals in these products can be potentially harmful to birds, so it’s best not to do this.
Put up a different nest box and allow the wasps to inhabit the bluebird house for the season. As the weather gets colder and the wasps leave, remove their old nest and move on to step four to prevent them from returning the following year.
4. Apply a Layer of Bar Soap to the Nest Box Ceiling
To keep wasps out of your bluebird house, rub a thin layer of unscented bar soap on the interior ceiling of the nest box. You can also apply a layer to the sides of the nest box as well, for good measure. This slippery layer of soap will prevent wasps from building their nests on the inside of your bluebird house. It shouldn’t have any negative effect on your bluebirds.
Using unscented soap is the safest option for bluebirds. Any brand will work, but I prefer to use unscented Ivory soap. Click here to get a few bars of it on Amazon.
This step should set your bluebird nest box up for success and keep wasps out!
Can I apply soap to a bluebird house with an active nest?
To apply soap to a bluebird house with an active nest, cover up the nest with a paper towel while you’re rubbing the soap on the ceiling and sides of the box. This will keep any falling bits of soap from landing in the nest. When you’re done, carefully remove the paper towel and close up the nest box.
Conclusion
As you can see, this is a fairly simple solution to effectively keep wasps out of your bluebird houses. Give it a try with all of your nest boxes today! Luckily, it’s cheap and effective.
Keeping sparrows out of your bluebird houses is the hard part. Click here to read my article about keeping House Sparrows out of your bluebird houses.